SIX: THE MUSICAL ON BROADWAY

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 2:13pm

So SIX is the retelling of Henry VIII's six wives told via a rock concert. It's a 75 minute production where each wife tells her story through a series of rock songs. 

It got great reviews in the West End and is currently on a UK tour but is due to have another limited West End run next year. 

I think people would love it if it played Off-Broadway.

Updated On: 2/12/20 at 02:13 PM

[Impossible2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 2:18pm

My best mate has been raving about this for months, I am going to catch it when it comes back in January.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 2:25pm

Sounds intriguing and like something I’d enjoy!

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 2:31pm

A cast recording is available on Spotify - although only two of the people on the recording are in the present cast.  My understanding is that the new London run is not a limited run - although they are only selling tickets for a limited period.  (Which I hope is true, because I'm not getting to the UK until June and tickets are on sale only through May 5.) SiX - Open Run at The Arts  This video from West End Live last June is most of the present cast, I think.  That is not the current Catherine Howard (#5 - Beheaded) - but is the swing.  My daughter is obsessed with the show.  

 

 

Updated On: 12/19/18 at 02:31 PM

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 2:32pm

Impossible2 said: "My best mate has been raving about this for months,I am going to catch it when it comes back in January."

I'm seeing it in Glasgow next week. Cannot WAIT as I'm obsessed with the cast recording. My mate saw it in Manchester and said it's incredible. 

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 3:22pm

I saw this at the Edinburgh Fringe this past August and LOVED it!! Would love to see it transfer to NYC, New World Stages maybe?

[Bobster159]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 4:22pm

It's a brilliant show that I'm sure has its sights set on New York. Not Broadway though, the London venue is small and it's a slight piece. I agree Emma, I could see it living very happily at New World Stages.

Updated On: 12/19/18 at 04:22 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 4:27pm

Would Ars Nova be a good fit?

[Impossible2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 4:34pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Would Ars Nova be a good fit?"

Don't they only show their own commissioned works?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 4:43pm

Oh, that might be! I’ve only seen The Great Comet (when it was in the tent near Broadway) via Ars Nova, but have great affection for the Barrow Street Theatre as I saw both Buyer and Cellar and Sweeney Todd there.

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 5:59pm

I had never heard of this musical before they made the announcement of it's return for the limited run a few days ago and I have been very interested since. I am fascinated by the wives of Henry the 8th thanks MAINLY in part to being into Renn Faires and my regular faire has been hosted by King Henry the last few seasons (Sidebar: It's been Henry and Katherine of Aragon but we've joked for years that each season he should have a new wife). I don't know if I could picture this, as it looks now, on Broadway. But I could see it being popular off for sure and perhaps developed in time to something bigger and more Broadway worthy. 

To those that know it, is it just songs or is there dialogue as well? God I hope there is dialogue, it would be amazing to have these women talking with one another. Sort of an Assassins vibe. Didn't all know one another but they identify with one another.

[littlemouse921]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 6:05pm

I had a chance to listen to the cast recording and the music is very catchy! Definitely a very pop-y sound. The songs themselves are also filled with some good with if you've heard the stories of the "six" before.

I don't know if this would do well in a Broadway space as it might get drowned out, but somewhere off-Broadway could be a lot of fun!

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 6:28pm

Scarlet Leigh said: "I had never heard of this musical before they made the announcement of it's return for the limited run a few days ago and I have been very interestedsince. I am fascinated by the wives of Henry the 8th thanks MAINLY in part to being into Renn Faires and my regular faire has been hosted by King Henry the last few seasons (Sidebar: It's been Henry and Katherine of Aragon but we've joked for years that each season he should have a new wife). I don't know if I could picture this, as it looks now, on Broadway. But I could see it being popular off for sure and perhaps developed in time to something bigger and more Broadway worthy.

To those that know it, is it just songs or is there dialogue as well? God I hope there is dialogue, it would be amazing to have these women talking with one another. Sort of an Assassins vibe. Didn't all know one another but they identify with one another."

Though it is predominantly sung there are short scenes of dialogue (and yes sort of an Assassins vibe but a bit lighter). 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:08pm

Just got some 20 quid front row tickets for Feb in the Tkts sale x

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 11:47pm

I definitely we get to see it in some form in NYC. It looks fascinating, and I've heard good things from a couple friends who have seen it. As others have said, I don't see any reason for this to go to Broadway, but I'm sure plenty of producers and theatre companies would love to put it up. 

I bet it would fit well at the Public. They could even do it at Joe's Pub. Aside from them, maybe Atlantic? MCC? or like others said, they could just pop it into NWS. 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 2:57am

Do you think this is something that could play well at New World Stage? Just putting that out there, has anything been announced to fill the space that Avenue Q is going to be vacating in the spring? Q closes April 28. The limited run (if it actually IS a limited run) of Six in London ends May 5. The two line up pretty well for one to move out and the other to move in.

Updated On: 12/20/18 at 02:57 AM

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 10:57am

The London run is not a "limited" run - but that doesn't mean there can't be a US cast.

Another tidbit- each of the Queen's songs is "inspired" by an existing recording artist. Per the Programme:

Catherine of Aragon - Beyonce and Shakira
Anne Boleyn - Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne 
Jane Seymour - Adele and Sia
Anna of Cleves - Nicki Minaj and Rihanna
Katherine Howard - Ariana Grande and Britney Spears
Catherine Parr - Alicia Keys and Emeli Sande

My daughter and I thought the inspirations were:

Anne Boleyn - Taylor Swift 
Jane Seymour - Adele 
Anna of Cleves - Beyoncé (although I thought more Janet Jackson); 
Katherine Howard - Britney Spears 
Catherine Parr - Whitney Houston 
 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 12:15pm

Looks like SIX is having a production at Chicago Shakespeare this summer with Broadway producers attached. Color me excited. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-six-chicago-shakespeare-1221-story.html

 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 12:41pm

Well this is spooky....

SIX is playing at Chicago Shakespeare from May 14th - June 30th with a possible Broadway transfer. Tickets go on sale on January 15th.


Clearly someone involved reads this board.

Updated On: 12/20/18 at 12:41 PM

[DCS]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 1:10pm

This is great.....LOVE the cast recording and excited to see it onstage.....with McCollum attached, it certainly appears to be a pre-Broadway tryout!!!

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 1:36pm

I have been playing the cast recording on loop all evening yesterday and all day today. The songs are not works of art but DAMN if they are not catchy as hell! 

The more I think about it, maybe not going in the direction of Assassins is where they should go but in the direction of Hedwig. Sort of a tell all 'Night with the Six Wives of Henry the 8th' where they talk and tell stories and interact with the audience between songs as well as some interaction with one another. I read that is runs 75 minutes so there is some wiggle room to add dialogue to take it to a 90 minute show. I could see the 6 them slowly getting frustrated with one another as they each tell their story only to pull it back in to a unified force by the end after Parr tells her story. 

I don't want them to change what is already pretty great but the material as is would need to get elevated beyond really fun rock concert if their ultimate aim is Broadway. It just would not sell with the Broadway crowd.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 3:31pm

I just noticed this took the place of the bedknobs and broomsticks musical adaptation. Anyone know whats up with that?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 3:53pm

Everyone who read the linked article knows what's up with that. 

Rachel Rockwell had been leading the process and she died. 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 4:48pm

I have season tickets and was sad to hear that Bedknobs & Broomsticks had to be replaced, but I'm genuinely intrigued by this.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/23/18 at 11:15pm

If this was to ever make it to NYC it would be kinda cool to see it at Circle In The Square, I think.

The opening number is really, really good and catchy. "Historemix" is my new favorite word.