Following its celebrated U.K. debut, the new musical Six, about the six wives of King Henry VIII, will be staged at Chicago Shakespeare Theater beginning May 14.
Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, the production will play The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare through June 30. The all-woman cast, backed by the all-woman band the “Ladies in Waiting,” features Adrianna Hicks (The Color Purple) as Catherine of Aragon, Abby Mueller (Beautiful) as Jane Seymour, Andrea Macasaet as Anne Boleyn, Brittney Mack as Anna of Cleves, Samantha Pauly as Katherine Howard, and Anna Uzele (Once On This Island) as Catherine Parr. Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert and Mallory Maedke have been cast as the Alternate Queens.
The “Ladies in Waiting” include Julia Schade Armstrong (keyboard/conductor/assistant music director), Kimi Hayes (guitars), Stacy McMichael (electric bass), and Sarah Allen (drums).
In the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical, the queens of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse—remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak into a celebration of twenty-first-century girl power.
The production will also feature music direction by Roberta Duchak, assistant direction by Megan E. Farley, scenic design by Emma Bailey, costumes by Gabriella Slade, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, lighting by Tim Deiling, orchestrations by Tom Curran, vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton, and original choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, in addition to the work of associate choreographers Melody Sinclair and Dionna PridGeon.
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Originally slated for the 2019–2020 Season, Six replaces the previously announced world premiere of Bedknobs and Broomsticks—postponed following the passing of director Rachel Rockwell.
The Chicago venue is presenting the musical previously seen in London by arrangement with Kenny Wax, Global Musicals, George Stiles, and Kevin McCollum. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, the musical returned to London's Arts Theatre in January for an open-ended run.
