From Tudor Queens to pop icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power! This original new musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.
SIX will take the stage for eight performances at Walton Arts Center Sept. 12-17, but before you see the show, use this guide to catch up on a 16th century her-story lesson.
Catherine of Aragon
Birth and death
December 15, 1485 – January 7, 1536
Marriage
One: to Arthur (Henry's older brother), November 14, 1501 (age 15).
Two: to Henry VIII ( June 11, 1509 (age 23).
Children
Mary, born February 18, 1516 (later Queen Mary I).
Catherine also had two other children who died as infants, three stillborn children and several miscarriages.
Interests
Religion, sewing, dancing, a bit more religion.
Cause of death
Maybe a type of cancer.
Remembered for …
Her refusal to accept that her marriage to Henry was invalid; her faith; her dramatic speech to Henry when he had her brought to court to seek the annulment of their marriage.
Did you know?
While Henry fought in France in 1513, Catherine was regent during the Battle of Flodden; when James IV of Scotland was killed in the battle, Catherine wanted to send his body to Henry as a present.
Queenspiration
Beyoncé and Shakira.
Anne Boleyn
Birth and death
c. 1501 – May 19, 1536
Marriage
January 25, 1533 (age 31)
Children
Elizabeth, born September 7, 1533 (later Queen Elizabeth I). Anne also had at least two miscarriages.
Interests
Fashion, dancing, flirtation, collecting evangelical works.
Queen Links
Lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon.
Cause of death
Executed on Tower Green, London.
Remembered for …
Headlessness; bringing about England’s break with the Pope, having a sixth fingernail.
Did you know?
Because she was fluent in French, Anne would have acted as a translator during the visit of Emperor Charles V to court in 1522.
Queenspiration
Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne.
Jane Seymour
Birth and death
1507 or 1508 – October 24, 1537
Marriage
May 30, 1536 (age 28 or 29)
Children
Edward, born October 12, 1537 (later King Edward VI).
Interests
Religious Faith, obedience.
Queen Links
Lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn.
Cause of death
Hemorrhage after the birth of Prince Edward; her child with Henry.
Remembered for …
Being the “only one he truly loved,” having two troublesome brothers who fought over the regency of the young Prince Edward after King Henry’s death.
Did you know?
While Anne Boleyn was still alive, Henry sent Jane a gift of money which she refused, apparently saying there “was no treasure in this world that she valued so much as her honor.”
Queenspiration
Adele and Sia.
Anna of Cleves
Birth and death
1515 – July 16, 1557
Marriage
January 6. 1540 (age 24)
Children
None.
Interests
Staying alive.
Queen links
Anna visited Katherine Howard once she became queen and bowed to her.
Cause of death
Probably cancer.
Remembered for …
Being chosen from her portrait and then rejected when Henry met her.
Did you know?
When Henry first met Anna of Cleves, he disguised himself, possibly imagining some sort of romantic reaction. According to a witness, when Henry kissed Anna, she turned away coldly from the hideous stranger molesting her. The witness, Lord Russel, observed that he “never saw His Highness so marvelously astonished.”
Queenspiration
Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.
Katherine Howard
Birth and death
c. 1523 – February 13, 1542
Marriage
July 28, 1540 (age 17)
Children
None.
Interests
Religious faith, obedience.
Queen Links
Lady-in-waiting to Anna of Cleves; cousin to Anne Boleyn.
Cause of death
Executed on the Tower Green, London.
Remembered for …
Being completely used (and abused) by those with power over her.
Did you know?
From her arrest on November 8, 1541 until her execution three months later, Katherine stayed under arrest at Syon House; in late January 1542, an act was passed in Parliament that rendered it treason for a woman to become the king’s wife without “plain declaration before her unchaste life,” meaning Henry could have her killed.
Queenspiration
Ariana Grande and Britney Spears.
Catherine Parr
Birth and death
c. 1512 – September 5, 1548
Marriage
One: to Sir Edward Burg, a courtier, 1529-1533
Two: to John Neville, Lord Latimer, 1534-1543
Three: To Henry VIII, July 12, 1543
Four: in secret to Thomas Seymour, May, 1547
Children
A daughter (to Thomas Seymour) who died as an infant.
Interests
Writing books, encouraging education, the Reformation.
Queen Links
Catherine’s mother was lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon, and Catherine Parr was friendly with Aragon's daughter, Princess Mary.
Cause of death
Childbirth.
Remembered for …
Surviving.
Did you know?
Catherine was the first woman in England to publish books under her own name and in English.
Queenspiration
Alicia Keys and Emili Sandé.
Photo credits: Joan Marcus
Single tickets to SIX and the rest of 2023-24 Broadway and regular season shows will be available later this summer.
Broadway subscriptions are on sale now, and a subscription is the best way to guarantee tickets to all shows. Six-show Broadway subscription packages range from $301 to $458 for Tuesday and Wednesday evening and Thursday matinee, and $366 to $533 for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, and Saturday and Sunday matinees. Subscriptions are available now for a limited time and can be renewed or purchased online at waltonartscenter.org, by calling the subscriber concierge at 479.571.2785 or in person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am until 2 pm.