"SIX" - by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss - Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts (Worcester, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Image of the Broadway CAST of the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical "SIX" with the National Tour playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. until October 19, 2025. Photo Courtesy Tour Website)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“"You thought you knew OUR story, but it was all HIS story!”
- ("SIX") / Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
Presents the Broadway Megahit
"SIX"
Limited Engagement!
Book, Music and Lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Based upon the Wives of Henry VIII
Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage
Music Supervision by Joe Beighton
Choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille
Cast Includes: Emma Elizabeth Smith as “Catherine Of Aragon,” Nella Cole as “Anne Boleyn,” Kelly Denice Taylor as “Jane Seymour,” Hailey Alexis Lewis as “Anna Of Cleves,” Alizé Cruz as “Katherine Howard,” Tasia Jungbauer as “Catherine Parr.”
Alternates: Anna Hertel, Carlina Parker, Abigail Sparrow, Annaliese Wilbur.
(Information from tour website and subject to change)
Additional Creative Team:
Producers - Kenny Wax, Wendy Barnes, Andy Barnes, George Stiles and Kevin McCollum in Association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Scenic Design - Emma Bailey; Costume Design - Gabriella Slade;Lighting Design - Tim Deiling;Sound Design - Paul Gatehouse; Orchestrations - Tom Curran; Music Supervision (U.S.) - Roberta Duchak; Production Management - Brian Lynch; Casting - The TRC Company, Peter Van Dam, CSA; Production Stage Manager – Jay Carey; Company Manager – Stephanie Smith; Associate Producer - Sam Levy; General Management - Theater Matters, John E. Gendron; Executive Producer (U.S.) - Lucas McMahon.
Performances:
October 14, 2025 through October 19, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Presented at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA.
TICKETS:
For More Information: 877-571-SHOW (7469) info@thehanovertheatre.org
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
The Hanover Theatre launches into their latest Broadway series in triumphant fashion with the juggernaut musical comedy "SIX" now playing in Worcester.
By the way, right off the bat I just want to emphasize that I am not using the terms “megahit” and “juggernaut” lightly.
This show has absolutely struck a chord that has elevated "SIX" far above mere musical.
"SIX" is part rock concert, part pep rally, part music competition, part social movement – it is unlike any other show to hit the stage in a long time and seemingly was an instant hit right out of the gate or even from the moment it was conceived.
It taps into an audience very much in need of its fun, its message and its vibrancy - and it has that audience in spades everywhere "SIX" plays.
The show can be played anywhere and seemingly has – Broadway, on the road, theme parks, cruise ships - and let’s be honest, Worcester – isn’t it surprising that it has taken THIS LONG for "SIX" to reach the Hanover Theatre stage?
More on that in a moment, but first:
In February, 2020 "SIX" began Broadway previews and just before its scheduled Broadway opening date in March all Broadway theatres shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As "SIX" resumed on Broadway in 2021, it became the first new musical to open on Broadway post-pandemic.
With music, book, and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, “SIX” is a retelling of the lives of the “SIX” wives of Henry VIII from the perspective of reclaiming their roles in histo…er, “herstory.”
Already the above concept seems especially relevant today.
The "SIX" (aka the “Queens”) discuss what it was like centuries ago when dealing with unfeeling patriarchal norms of an ignorant society that saw women as mere birthing vessels designed exclusively to produce heirs for the men and then, if needed, be discarded (and very nasty ways).
Thank goodness we Americans have evolved as a society, moving beyond such outmoded, antiquated thinking (that is before election years 2016 and 2024).
Fueling the above concept is an electrified infusion of estrogen-empowered moments that has men in the audience looking around at one another asking the question, “dudes – are we safe here?”
I know – I was one of them.
(Photo: Image of the Broadway CAST of the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical "SIX" with the National Tour playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. until October 19, 2025. Photo Courtesy Tour Website)
The Hanover Theatre musical is short, roughly 90 minutes (no intermission) and is presented in the form of a concert style singing competition.
Each of the “Queens” takes a turn telling their story in effort to reveal the winner (or loser, as the case may be) for who suffered the most during their time married to King Henry VIII.
What results from the competition, though, is a surprise to them as it helps them to reclaim their individual identities and rewrite their stories (at least as written in history books predominantly written by men).
By the way, some might think the color scheme for the musical "SIX" is awfully similar to the color scheme used by the Power Rangers.
Okay, maybe it was just me, but when you have costumes of yellow, pink, blue, etc. it kind of leans in that direction…or in the direction of the Wiggles…or Teletubbies…yet, still…
However, in fact, it was original costume designer Gabriella Slade who drew inspiration to combine imagery from historical Tudor portraits and modern pop stars to create the distinctive blend of outfits for the “Queens” displaying historical elements with a modern pop concert aesthetic.
In "SIX" we meet each of the “Queens” who as a group debate their respective tumultuous marriages to Henry VIII:
Catherine of Aragon (Emma Elizabeth) dressed in gold and was inspired by Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé.
In the song "No Way" Catherine details how Henry wished to annul their marriage and place her in a nunnery when he began pursuing Anne Boleyn (Nella Cole), in spite of her devotion to him.
Cole as Anne Boleyn is clad in green and was inspired by Avril Lavigne and Lily Allen.
Boleyn brags to the others about how Henry wanted her instead of Catherine, then complains of Henry's infidelity, which led to Anne's own flirtations with other men in the song "Don't Lose Ur Head."
(Photo: Image of the Broadway CAST of the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical "SIX" with the National Tour playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. until October 19, 2025. Photo Courtesy Tour Website)
The choreography for all the numbers in "SIX" is fun and exceptionally clever and this cast nails every beat supported by a tremendous back-up band.
Jane Seymour (Kelly Denice Taylor) dressed in a light blue and silver, is inspired by Adele and Sia.
The others resent her as she had a better relationship with their husband, but Seymour reveals through the song "Heart of Stone" that this was only because she provided Henry with a male heir, while giving him a pass despite his many faults.
During the group number "Haus of Holbein" the “Queens” parody a dating app by presenting a choice of potential brides.
For his fourth wife, Henry chooses Anna of Cleves (Hailey Alexis Lewis), dressed in orange and black, inspired by Nicki Minaj and Rihanna (perhaps with a slight costuming nod to “Orange is the New Black”?)
Setting up the song "Get Down" Anna brags to the others of having an enormous fortune with no husband telling her what to do, not making her a contender for the prize in their eyes.
(Photo: Image of the Broadway CAST of the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical "SIX" with the National Tour playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. until October 19, 2025. Photo Courtesy Tour Website)
Katherine Howard (Alizé Cruz), dressed in pink and inspired by Ariana Grande, apparently had many (older) suitors even as a child, but during the song "All You Wanna Do" she makes it clear that, while being the object of these men, she also experienced emotional trauma and sexual abuse.
The final contestant we hear from is a quite reluctant Catherine Parr (Tasia Jungbauer), clad in turquoise and inspired by Alicia Keys, a mature design reflecting Parr’s status as the Queen who "survived" after forsaking her love for another due to her arranged marriage to Henry.
In the song "I Don't Need Your Love" she acknowledges her accomplishments independent of her husband.
It is at this point, after we have been introduced to them all, that the show takes a turn and reflects on a number of higher themes such as historians reducing their contributions to world history to mere footnotes as spouses.
We need to keep clearly in mind these women were real persons - and those "SIX" lives and whatever their time was on this Earth - that truth must always be respected.
Is that truth here with the Queens in this musical?
That's a tough call yet, while their representation (beyond the Wiki-ed historical "bullet point" details) may not be the most biographically accurate, the intent of the show and its accompanying message for today is certainly on point.
(Photo: Image of the Broadway CAST of the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical "SIX" with the National Tour playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. until October 19, 2025. Photo Courtesy Tour Website)
With an electrifying score, "SIX" will have many feeling like the show is being broadcast in 360-degree “Surround Sound” because of the sheer volume of people singing along in the audience all around you (I'm looking back at you, dudes).
However, the musical "SIX" also cleverly provides a substantive message by helping us look at and re-examine what history is and what has been excluded from it…for centuries.
Moving forward, this omitted information needs to be included so that ALL feel represented in fair and just manner.
"SIX" the musical continues at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester until October 19th, 2025 and is certainly no old wives tale.
Coming up next in the Hanover Theatre Broadway Series will be another blockbuster musical “CHICAGO” beginning January 9th, 2026.
For More Information call the Hanover Theatre in Worcester at # 877-571-SHOW (7469) or email info@thehanovertheatre.org.
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Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the "SIX" wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power!
This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!
The New York Times says "SIX"“TOTALLY RULES!” (Critic’s Pick) and The Washington Post hails "SIX" as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for!”
The "SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT"Broadway album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed one billion streams worldwide!
"SIX" is recommended for ages 10 and up, but “Don’t Lose Ur Head”, we love our Queens of all ages.
Approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.
For More Information: 877-571-SHOW (7469)
BUY TICKETS
ABOUT HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
2 Southbridge Street
Worcester, MA. 01608
# 877-571-SHOW (7469)
