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Review: SIX IGNITES THE STAGE at Straz Center

On stage through May 17

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Review: SIX IGNITES THE STAGE at Straz Center

SIX at the Straz Center blasted open with the fire of a stadium‑level concert wrapped in Tudor crowns. Ex‑Wives hit like a declaration, the queens locking into perfect formation as the opening number set the pace for a night built on rhythm, wit, and unapologetic presence.

My favorite performances included Anne Boleyn’s (Nella Cole) "Don’t Lose Ur Head," a riot of charm and chaos, her green‑lit swagger turning every lyric into a punchline. Jane Seymour (Kelly Denice Taylor) performed "Heart of Stone," a ballad so controlled and soaring that the theatre seemed to hold still just to catch the final note. Then Anna of Cleves (Hailey Alexis Lewis) stormed the stage with "Get Down," a victory anthem delivered with a grin that said she knew exactly how hard she was ruling the room.

The green queen and red queen stole the night. Green lost her head. Red got the castle. Both commanded the stage with attitude that felt fearless and wickedly fun.

The costumes were a triumph, each look amplifying the queens’ identities while syncing the ensemble into a unified visual pulse. Every shimmer and structured silhouette helped the cast move as one fierce unit, a living mural of royalty rewritten.

The Ladies in Waiting matched the queens beat for beat, a band that drove the show with precision and fire. And those voices. They soared into notes I didn’t know existed, bending and blasting through the theatre with confidence that made the audience lean forward.

It was a night of attitude, rhythm, and reclamation, a production that turned history into something loud, clever, and joyfully unruly. I walked out feeling as strong and empowered as the six bad @sses on that stage. And I learned about these remarkable women in history in bite-sized, understandable pieces, something sadly missing from my high school history books.  Go see SIX. You will not regret it. 

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