From pop royalty to royalty royalty, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ musical hits the right notes.

Possibly the most famous playboy in all of history, King Henry VIII had six Queens, who, all but one, met with an unfortunate fate. The first was divorced. The second beheaded. The third died from childbirth. From there, the King had another divorce, beheaded the fifth, and finally, the last survived.

Now it’s the Queens’ time to shine and for us to meet them. In Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ musical, each gets her own voice through the power of beloved pop stars. But instead of just sharing who they are, the show is presented as a singing competition that also serves as a way to decide who suffered the most by the King’s hand.

Hear their tales yourself by heading to the Buell Theatre January 7-11 for an encore engagement of the Tony Award-winning musical, SIX. In it, each Queen channels a current star through her voice, musical style, and even words.

Wife #1: Catherine of Aragon

The first Queen and longest reigning, Catherine of Aragon was the Queen’s Queen. Who better to inspire the character than Queen Bey herself. “No Way,” her song featured in SIX, radiates with Beyonce’s powerful female energy. It’s all about asserting dominance in the relationship while taking an independent stance. While Catherine may have only made it 24 years as Queen, Beyonce continues her sovereignty going on more than 30 years.

Wife #2: Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn may have been the most famous of all of Henry’s wives. She did, after all, get him to divorce Catherine of Aragon, which changed how the country dealt with divorce in general. The pop princess who mirrors Anne’s rebellious nature and need to find her own throne can be found in Lily Allen, who famously wrote the song “Smile” in 2006, a half singing/half talking song that’s like a conversation with the listener.

In SIX, Anne’s feature song is “Don’t Lose Ur Head” and has the same candace and feel to it. Lily Allen in the real world has always been outspoken about her feelings, which often come through in her music. Unfortunately for Anne, this same boisterousness caused her to actually lose her head.

Wife #3: Jane Seymour

With a more reserved mode of operation, Jane Seymour softly seduced King Henry VIII away from wild child Anne Boleyn. Her level-headed message fits in with powerhouse diva Adele, and if you close your eyes, you may sense it’s actually the musical star singing.

The emotional honesty Jane shares in SIX gives her a sweetness set apart from the other wives, and the ballad “Heart of Stone” showcases the juxtaposition perfectly. She is also the only wife to not face animosity from the King (save for his final wife who outlived him) and died shortly after birthing the only male heir.

Wife #4: Anna of Cleves

Apparently Henry VIII didn’t like the way Anna of Cleves looked so he had the marriage annulled. Lucky her, she went on to live in luxury, which can be heard through her song “Get Down.” But who inspired this Queen? We hear a lot of Nicki Minaj and her no-holds-bar hip hop and rapping style when Anna sings. There’s also a touch of that bold confidence both women display perfectly, and go figure, both like bling.

Wife #5: Katherine Howard

Don’t be surprised if you hear Britney Spears in Katherine Howard’s song “All You Wanna Do.” If the pop princess was alive in the 1500s, maybe she would be singing this tune. Katherine was a young woman who knew how attractive she was, the king be damned. In SIX, she flirts with this song, describing how other people desired to touch her. In the end, she lost her head, much how Spears metaphorically lost her own. But unlike Katherine, Spears could, and did, make a dazzling comeback.

Wife #6: Katherine Parr 

Katherine Parr’s biggest claim to fame was outliving her husband. What better way to showcase her power than by channeling Alicia Keys and the pop stars’ soulful style of song. Even as Katherine sings “I Don’t Need Your Love,” you will hear a sorrowful and radiant piano in the background, something for which Keys is known.

Unlike the other Queens, Katherine Parr mimics her pop princess counterpart in today’s life. The Queen was in her early 30s when she wed Henry VIII, and an experienced widow. Keys, though not widowed, also continues to reign the music scene well into her 40s.

DETAILS
SIX
Jan 7-11, 2026 • Buell Theatre
Tickets