Write-Up by: Kaylee Guinigundo
Photos by: Joan Marcus, Bond Theatrical
(Dr. Phillips, Orlando FL) Walking into SIX at the Dr. Phillips Center, I expected a fun night of catchy songs and impressive vocals. Instead, I found myself completely captivated by a production that blended storytelling, historical references, and powerful performances to share something far more meaningful than I had in mind. For those unfamiliar with the show, SIX reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as modern pop stars competing to be the “leading lady of the band” based on audience’s opinions of who had it worst during their marriages to the king. As the show progresses, it shifts from a competition of women to a universal experience of reclaiming voices that are often reduced under the patriarchy. The script itself is filled with jokes for all ages, allowing each queen’s story to feel more entertaining and relevant.
One of my favorite things about this production was how each queen represented a different kind of strength. Some were bold and unapologetic, while others were vulnerable, resilient, or quietly powerful. Together, they showed that there is no single way to be a strong woman, and I think that’s what made the show’s message so impactful. It was a reminder to young girls and women everywhere that strength can look different on everyone. Each queen perfectly exemplified strong femininity in a unique way, which made their obvious differences feel more united than divided. The actresses did an amazing job in telling the story of these historical wives while adding their own modern twist to their character.
Just like all of the different portrayals of Henry VII’s wives, each actress brought a different experience for the audience members. Emma Elizabeth Smith’s portrayal of Catherine of Aragon started off the show with an undeniably strong stage presence. As she is the first queen, Smith set the level of performance high for the entire show. Her strong vocal and acting abilities perfectly matched the strength of Catherine of Aragon, and she continued to shine throughout the show.
The actress playing Anne Boleyn was especially memorable. Nella Cole perfectly captured the youthful, chaotic energy of the queen who often used her perceived innocence to manipulate the court to her advantage. Her performance was adorable and hilarious without ever crossing into being overly childish. It would have been easy for the character to become one-dimensional, but she found a balance that made Anne feel playful, charming, and genuinely funny.
Alizé Cruz’s portrayal of Katherine Howard was one of the most emotional parts of the night for me. This queen is particularly characterized as a young girl who hides behind her cool girl act to mask the constant sexual exploitation and abuse she experienced by older men from a young age. Throughout the show, Cruz’s portrayal of Katherine Howard was extremely likeable and easy to connect with, which is what made her solo even more devastating when considering the reality of her oversexualization. During her song, you could feel the weight of everything her character had experienced. Her acting made the story feel incredibly real, and it highlighted one of the show’s most important themes: how each queen experienced different forms of abuse and exploitation under a patriarchal system. Cruz had the entire theatre holding their breath as the song “All You Wanna Do” took a darker and darker turn. Her performances delicately conveyed the tragic reality of a situation many women have unfortunately experienced, serving as a representative and voice for them as well.
Tasia Jungbauer’s portrayal of Catherine Parr was another standout moment. The soul and power in her voice immediately reminded me of Alicia Keys, and the unique vocal quality and power captivated everyone in the audience’s attention tonight. Catherine Parr, the final wife of Henry VII, tells her story of surviving through the abuse of men. She puts an end to the competition amongst the queens and encourages them to redefine their stories by taking back their own narrative in history. It was impossible to not be moved by the captivating performance Jungbauer put on of a young woman finally stepping into her own power.
In addition to the emotional impact that the queens had, Kelly Denice Taylor’s performance as Jane Seymour had my heart genuinely breaking for this queen. As each queen brought her own side of feminism to show her strength, Jane Seymour reminds us that being in love does not weaken our ability to be a strong and independent woman. Taylor’s character conveyed the hurt and happiness of purely loving someone, and the grief that came with not getting to fulfill a life with them. Her vocals in “Heart of Stone” was exceptional, as she was able to create a musical arc within the soft verses and intense belting moments throughout the song. Taylor’s Jane Seymour deeply resonated with me, a young woman who has often heard that love makes one weak, and empowered me with the belief that a woman in love is equally as strong and capable as anyone.
Despite all of the hardships that were sung about in this concert-like show, Hailey Alexis Lewis’ character of Anna of Cleves brought another layer of concert fun to SIX. Anne of Cleves is characterized as the German queen who boasts about the rich life that came with the divorce of the king through a hip-hop song. Since this queen is the only one sought outside of England, there was a different vibe to her introduction. This production of SIX depicted this difference through a rave-like performance, differentiating the switch to Germany through concert types. This spin on the show made it even more fun as an audience member, and Lewis’ Anna of Cleves was truly hilarious to watch partying and hitting insane high notes onstage.
What made the show truly special, though, was the undeniable chemistry between all six queens. Even though the premise begins as a competition, their connection with one another ultimately becomes the heart of the story. This specific group of actresses beautifully represented the feeling of girlhood and true female friendship through their mannerisms and vocal abilities. Not only was their body language comfortable with each other, but their vocal blend was truly phenomenal to hear live. Each sustained harmony consisted of perfectly balanced voices. Although they all have different, unique voices, they somehow united as one, solidified voice every time they sang in unison and in harmony. This truly made the show and cast the most special to experience, because the unity of the queens and women in general was evident amongst all possible aspects. Especially with how engaging each queen was to every single audience member, it really felt like an immersive experience for all women to understand the universal feeling of girlhood and how much stronger we can be when we choose to support one another.
By the end of the night, SIX felt like much more than a musical. It was a celebration of women reclaiming their stories, finding their voices, and refusing to let others define them. Between the incredible performances, the concert-like atmosphere, and the deeply empowering message, it was one of those productions that stays with you long after the curtain comes down. As a young woman watching these six queens take back their narratives, I left the theater feeling inspired, and that’s something far more powerful than entertainment alone.
Photos by: Joan Marcus, Bond Theatrical
(Dr. Phillips, Orlando FL) Walking into SIX at the Dr. Phillips Center, I expected a fun night of catchy songs and impressive vocals. Instead, I found myself completely captivated by a production that blended storytelling, historical references, and powerful performances to share something far more meaningful than I had in mind. For those unfamiliar with the show, SIX reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as modern pop stars competing to be the “leading lady of the band” based on audience’s opinions of who had it worst during their marriages to the king. As the show progresses, it shifts from a competition of women to a universal experience of reclaiming voices that are often reduced under the patriarchy. The script itself is filled with jokes for all ages, allowing each queen’s story to feel more entertaining and relevant.
One of my favorite things about this production was how each queen represented a different kind of strength. Some were bold and unapologetic, while others were vulnerable, resilient, or quietly powerful. Together, they showed that there is no single way to be a strong woman, and I think that’s what made the show’s message so impactful. It was a reminder to young girls and women everywhere that strength can look different on everyone. Each queen perfectly exemplified strong femininity in a unique way, which made their obvious differences feel more united than divided. The actresses did an amazing job in telling the story of these historical wives while adding their own modern twist to their character.
Just like all of the different portrayals of Henry VII’s wives, each actress brought a different experience for the audience members. Emma Elizabeth Smith’s portrayal of Catherine of Aragon started off the show with an undeniably strong stage presence. As she is the first queen, Smith set the level of performance high for the entire show. Her strong vocal and acting abilities perfectly matched the strength of Catherine of Aragon, and she continued to shine throughout the show.
The actress playing Anne Boleyn was especially memorable. Nella Cole perfectly captured the youthful, chaotic energy of the queen who often used her perceived innocence to manipulate the court to her advantage. Her performance was adorable and hilarious without ever crossing into being overly childish. It would have been easy for the character to become one-dimensional, but she found a balance that made Anne feel playful, charming, and genuinely funny.
Alizé Cruz’s portrayal of Katherine Howard was one of the most emotional parts of the night for me. This queen is particularly characterized as a young girl who hides behind her cool girl act to mask the constant sexual exploitation and abuse she experienced by older men from a young age. Throughout the show, Cruz’s portrayal of Katherine Howard was extremely likeable and easy to connect with, which is what made her solo even more devastating when considering the reality of her oversexualization. During her song, you could feel the weight of everything her character had experienced. Her acting made the story feel incredibly real, and it highlighted one of the show’s most important themes: how each queen experienced different forms of abuse and exploitation under a patriarchal system. Cruz had the entire theatre holding their breath as the song “All You Wanna Do” took a darker and darker turn. Her performances delicately conveyed the tragic reality of a situation many women have unfortunately experienced, serving as a representative and voice for them as well.
Tasia Jungbauer’s portrayal of Catherine Parr was another standout moment. The soul and power in her voice immediately reminded me of Alicia Keys, and the unique vocal quality and power captivated everyone in the audience’s attention tonight. Catherine Parr, the final wife of Henry VII, tells her story of surviving through the abuse of men. She puts an end to the competition amongst the queens and encourages them to redefine their stories by taking back their own narrative in history. It was impossible to not be moved by the captivating performance Jungbauer put on of a young woman finally stepping into her own power.
In addition to the emotional impact that the queens had, Kelly Denice Taylor’s performance as Jane Seymour had my heart genuinely breaking for this queen. As each queen brought her own side of feminism to show her strength, Jane Seymour reminds us that being in love does not weaken our ability to be a strong and independent woman. Taylor’s character conveyed the hurt and happiness of purely loving someone, and the grief that came with not getting to fulfill a life with them. Her vocals in “Heart of Stone” was exceptional, as she was able to create a musical arc within the soft verses and intense belting moments throughout the song. Taylor’s Jane Seymour deeply resonated with me, a young woman who has often heard that love makes one weak, and empowered me with the belief that a woman in love is equally as strong and capable as anyone.
Despite all of the hardships that were sung about in this concert-like show, Hailey Alexis Lewis’ character of Anna of Cleves brought another layer of concert fun to SIX. Anne of Cleves is characterized as the German queen who boasts about the rich life that came with the divorce of the king through a hip-hop song. Since this queen is the only one sought outside of England, there was a different vibe to her introduction. This production of SIX depicted this difference through a rave-like performance, differentiating the switch to Germany through concert types. This spin on the show made it even more fun as an audience member, and Lewis’ Anna of Cleves was truly hilarious to watch partying and hitting insane high notes onstage.
What made the show truly special, though, was the undeniable chemistry between all six queens. Even though the premise begins as a competition, their connection with one another ultimately becomes the heart of the story. This specific group of actresses beautifully represented the feeling of girlhood and true female friendship through their mannerisms and vocal abilities. Not only was their body language comfortable with each other, but their vocal blend was truly phenomenal to hear live. Each sustained harmony consisted of perfectly balanced voices. Although they all have different, unique voices, they somehow united as one, solidified voice every time they sang in unison and in harmony. This truly made the show and cast the most special to experience, because the unity of the queens and women in general was evident amongst all possible aspects. Especially with how engaging each queen was to every single audience member, it really felt like an immersive experience for all women to understand the universal feeling of girlhood and how much stronger we can be when we choose to support one another.
By the end of the night, SIX felt like much more than a musical. It was a celebration of women reclaiming their stories, finding their voices, and refusing to let others define them. Between the incredible performances, the concert-like atmosphere, and the deeply empowering message, it was one of those productions that stays with you long after the curtain comes down. As a young woman watching these six queens take back their narratives, I left the theater feeling inspired, and that’s something far more powerful than entertainment alone.
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