From Tudor Tales to Pop Anthems: Queens ready to rock the town

The Tony Award-winning production SIX The Musical returns to the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) this week, running Wednesday, October 22, to Sunday, October 26. The musical tells the dramatic story of the six wives of King Henry VIII, with each queen sharing her unique narrative through song. It’s a tale of female empowerment that sees the six women reclaiming their place in history, all set to a killer soundtrack. Tickets to some shows are still available - learn more at PPAC.org.

Meet two members of the company: Kelly Denise Taylor, one of the six leads in this all-female production, who plays Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife, and Carlina Parker. “I'm divorced, beheaded, died, and survived,” laughs Parker, dance captain and an alternate in the production. 

If you didn’t pay much attention to the British Monarchy in high school world history class, you’re in luck. The story is designed to have universal appeal. The cast brings history to life through humor and song. The Tony Award-winning (2022, Best Original Score, Best Original Costume Design) show is a high-energy spectacle, featuring pop music influenced by contemporary artists including Beyonce, Adelle, Niki Minaj, and Alicia Keys. The music drives the production with each of the wives taking at least one solo during the show.

“We make a lot of different jokes here and there that we always hope people catch, even if they don't really know the story,” says Taylor. “I think what's so special about SIX is that you can come and see it multiple times and take new things from the show each time. Or you can listen to the album, take things from it, then see it on stage and put the pieces together. Even if you don't really understand the history, that's what you're coming to learn. So it's okay if you don't know anything about it.”

“I think it's lovely because everyone knows what it feels like to be hurt by someone you love,” adds Parker. “So, even if you might not know Henry VIII that much, it's still really a human story. Regardless of where it originated, it's a human experience. I think everyone can kind of see themselves in someone on stage.”

Both actors say they enjoy connecting with different audiences. “I think each audience is unique, and that's what keeps it fresh,” says Taylor. “On tour, we get a new audience every week, but we're also refreshed by the energy of the crowd every day. We'll have a different audience on a Tuesday night than we'll have on a Saturday night, and that keeps it fresh for us because we need that interaction in the show.”

“We've even had audiences that are dead silent,” says Parker. “So we are like - okay, new show. We have to do something different, give them something different each night so it doesn't get stale because every night, we get something back from the audience.”

Like other popular musicals, SIX has its share of devotees, many who attend repeatedly over several nights. “We see little kids that are dressed up as Anne Boleyn and Kay Howard, and sometimes, we see groups of women dressed up as all of the queens in full garb that they've made themselves,” says Taylor. “We've even seen a conference of men show up in the front row.”

SIX The Musical runs through Sunday, October 26. Learn more at PPAC.org.

Showtimes:

October 22: 7:00pm

October 23: 7:30pm

October 24: 7:30pm

October 25: 2:00pm, 8:00pm

October 26: 1:00pm, 6:30pm