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.

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.