NYC: SIX the Musical on Broadway

The clever hook of SIX is simple: Henry VIII’s six wives stop being footnotes in his story and take the microphone for themselves. Each queen becomes a pop star, and their Tudor marriages turn into a lively contest over whose experience was the worst.

I like the 80-minute running time, which makes this an easy evening plan without an intermission. I also like the all-female band, the Ladies in Waiting, because the music is not background decoration. It drives the entire show. The main consideration is its age and style: this is a modern concert-style musical, not a traditional historical drama, and children under 4 are not admitted.

Key points about SIX on Broadway

• Six queens become pop performers, each making her case through original songs.
• The Ladies in Waiting are an all-female band, providing the live musical backbone.
• The show lasts 80 minutes with no intermission, useful for a compact Broadway outing.
• The music won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score.
• A Broadway cast album reached No. 1 on the Billboard cast album chart and has passed 100 million worldwide streams.
• The production is recommended for ages 10 and up, with children under 4 not admitted.

Six queens, one microphone, and a very different Tudor story

Most people know the old rhyme: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. SIX takes that familiar list and gives each woman a voice, a personality, and a musical style.

The queens are Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. Instead of letting Henry VIII remain the center of attention, the show asks the six women to compare their marriages and decide who suffered most.

That setup gives the musical its shape. You are not watching a long historical pageant with elaborate scenes and heavy exposition. You are watching a competition between six performers who want control of their own stories. The history provides the subject, but the form is modern pop concert.

I like that choice because it makes the material easy to follow. You do not need a detailed knowledge of Tudor England before arriving. The basic circumstances are clear, and the music carries much of the character work.

At the same time, you should not book SIX expecting a detailed account of Henry VIII’s reign or a careful lesson in sixteenth-century politics. The show uses history as a springboard. Its main interest is identity, public image, and the right of these women to be remembered as more than wives.

The music is the main event

The original score is the heart of SIX. The queens perform songs shaped by modern pop-diva styles, turning each appearance into a short concert set. The result is fast, direct, and designed to keep the audience focused on the performers.

The score won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score, and the show also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Those honors matter here because the music is not a side feature attached to a historical story. It is the story’s main engine.

The Broadway cast album, SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT, reached No. 1 on the Billboard cast album chart and has been streamed more than 100 million times worldwide. That gives you a useful clue about the show’s appeal. SIX works well for people who like musical theater, but it also has a strong pull for anyone who would rather attend a polished live concert than a conventional book musical.

I would expect the songs to move quickly from one queen to the next, with the performers using rhythm, humor, and competition to keep the story moving. The production is built around performance energy rather than long dialogue scenes.

That can be a strength or a limitation. If you enjoy catchy original music and strong vocal personalities, the format is a good match. If you prefer extended character scenes, quiet dramatic pauses, or a large historical setting, SIX may feel slight because the show is intentionally compact.

Why the all-female band matters

The queens are backed by the Ladies in Waiting, an all-female band. That detail is more than a line in the program. It supports the musical’s larger idea: the women are taking back the story, and the performers onstage are creating the sound as well as delivering the words.

The band gives the show a concert feel. Rather than hiding the music behind the production, SIX places the pop performance at the center. You are meant to watch the queens as singers and stage performers, not simply as actors reciting a historical script.

I also find the band concept useful for understanding the tone before you book. This is not a quiet chamber musical. The production is built around live rhythm, vocal competition, and the energy of a modern pop show.

The available information does not name individual performers or band members, so I would not plan around a particular cast member. The lasting feature is the format itself: six female performers, an all-female backing band, and a score designed for a concert setting.

What happens during the 80-minute show

SIX runs for 80 minutes without an intermission. That is one of its most practical advantages. You can fit it into an evening without stopping midway for a break, and the shorter format may work well if you are combining Broadway with dinner or another New York activity.

The show begins with the six queens presenting themselves as performers with competing claims. From there, each woman gets space to tell her own story and make her case. The structure resembles a pop concert with a built-in contest, rather than a conventional musical divided into two acts.

As the queens take turns, the audience learns how each marriage shaped her life and reputation. The focus stays on the women’s experiences, not on Henry VIII’s point of view. Their stories are presented through songs, quick exchanges, and a strong sense of performance rivalry.

The final shape of the show is a celebration of shared identity. The queens begin by competing over who had the worst marriage, but the idea grows beyond that contest. The women are no longer defined only by their relationship to one man.

Because there is no intermission, plan ahead before taking your seat. If you need a break during a show, this format gives you no scheduled pause. On the other hand, the uninterrupted pacing helps the production maintain its concert momentum.

A good Broadway choice for a shorter night out

Broadway tickets can be a major part of a New York budget, so value depends on what kind of evening you want. SIX gives you a full Broadway production in a compact package, with a live band, an original score, and award-winning music.

The 80-minute length can make the ticket easier to justify if you want to add another activity around it. You are paying for a focused production rather than a long evening with multiple acts and an intermission.

That shorter format may also suit first-time Broadway audiences who are unsure about committing to a three-hour production. You get the shared energy of a major musical without spending most of the night in the theater.

Still, a shorter running time does not automatically mean a lower ticket price. The value depends on your interest in the music and style. If you want a large-scale spectacle with extensive scenery and a long plot, you may feel the show is brief. If you want polished live music and a clear concept, the concentrated format works in its favor.

Transportation is not included, so you will need to arrange your own way to the Broadway theater. Food and drinks are also not included, though they are available for purchase. That makes it easy to keep the evening flexible, but you should budget separately for anything you buy at the venue.

Who will enjoy SIX most

I would recommend SIX to anyone who likes pop music, concert staging, and musicals with a strong central idea. It is especially suitable if you want a show that treats famous historical women as active storytellers rather than supporting figures.

The production is recommended for ages 10 and up. That guidance makes it a better choice for older children, teenagers, and adults than for very young children. Children under 4 will not be admitted.

Families should also consider the show’s style. The production is built around modern music and a lively contest between the queens. A child who enjoys pop concerts may connect with it quickly, while a child expecting a traditional fairy-tale musical may not.

History fans can enjoy the clever use of Tudor material, but you should view the show as entertainment inspired by history. It is not intended to replace a history lesson. The central question is not simply what happened to the queens. It is how their lives change when they are finally allowed to tell the story themselves.

A production with a clear point of view

The strongest feature of SIX is its focus. Every major element supports the same idea: these six women deserve names, personalities, and agency beyond their marriages to Henry VIII.

The show also benefits from its modern language. By presenting the queens as pop icons, it brings a distant period into a form that feels immediate. You do not need to know every date or title to understand the competition, the frustration, or the need for recognition.

I appreciate that the musical does not pretend to be neutral. It has a point of view, and it makes that point with humor, music, and direct performance. That clarity is likely a major reason it received a Critic’s Pick designation and strong praise from major entertainment publications, including a New York Times assessment that it totally rules and a Variety rating of solid 10.

Those endorsements should not replace your own taste, though. Awards and strong press attention tell you the production has made an impact, but the real question is simple: do you want a pop concert about Tudor queens? If yes, SIX offers a very focused version of that idea.

Should you book SIX on Broadway?

Book SIX if you want award-winning original music, a fast-moving concert format, and a fresh take on the six wives of Henry VIII. The all-female Ladies in Waiting band and the 80-minute, no-intermission structure make it a practical pick for a compact Broadway night.

Think twice if you want detailed historical storytelling, a long dramatic arc, or a traditional musical with extended scenes between songs. SIX is not trying to be that kind of show.

For most people choosing between several New York productions, I would use age, music taste, and available time as the deciding factors. For audiences 10 and up who like pop performance and sharp historical revision, this is a strong choice. You leave with six names to remember, not just one king at the center of the story.

FAQ

Where does SIX take place?

SIX is a Broadway musical in New York, New York, United States.

What is SIX about?

The musical follows the six wives of Henry VIII as they reclaim their identities and tell their own stories through modern pop-inspired songs.

How long is the show?

The performance lasts 80 minutes.

Does SIX have an intermission?

No. SIX is performed without an intermission.

What is included with admission?

Admission to the Broadway performance is included.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but they are available for purchase.

What age is SIX recommended for?

The show is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Are children under 4 allowed to attend?

No. Children under 4 will not be admitted.