A Coronation Years in the Making
The energy inside the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on March 12, 2020, was fit for royalty. After a trailblazing journey from a student production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to sold-out runs in London and Chicago, "Six" was finally conquering Broadway.
The show, a high-octane pop concert retelling of the stories of Henry VIII's six wives, was a global phenomenon. Inside the theater, opening night gifts were lined up, the red carpet was ready for photographers, and an after-party for hundreds was booked. The cast, a powerhouse sextet of performers, were preparing for the biggest night of their professional lives—the moment they would officially be crowned the new queens of Broadway.
The Day the Rumors Became Real
The true reason the night would be memorable for all the wrong reasons was unfolding across the city and the globe. For days, whispers about the growing COVID-19 pandemic had been getting louder. The day before, a New York Times article revealed a theater usher had tested positive. For the company of "Six," the threat suddenly felt immediate. While the cast tried to maintain a sense of normalcy—getting hair and makeup done for the premiere—producers were in emergency meetings. The pivotal moment came in the afternoon: New York’s governor announced an immediate shutdown of all Broadway theaters. The announcement was set for 5 p.m., just 90 minutes before "Six"'s curtain was scheduled to rise.
Queens Without a Castle
The news hit the company like a tidal wave. Adrianna Hicks, who plays Catherine of Aragon, described it as a "whiplash of a moment." For some, it was a sad confirmation of the inevitable. Actress Abby Mueller, playing Jane Seymour, recalled thinking there was nothing to do but accept the disappointing timing. Co-creator Lucy Moss heard the news on the radio in a cab on her way to get her hair done for the opening. It was so sudden it wasn't even on the internet yet. The dream wasn't just deferred; it was canceled at the very last second. Critics who had already seen previews were asked to hold their reviews indefinitely. The cast and their families, who had flown in from around the world, were left in shock.
The Long Road to the Throne
The shutdown, initially announced for a month, stretched into an unprecedented 18-month closure for all of Broadway. The set for "Six" remained on the stage, the costumes hung on their racks, and the marquee stayed lit—a ghost light for a show that had almost opened. But the story of "Six" is one of resilience, both on stage and off. On October 3, 2021, 580 days after their planned opening, the queens finally had their coronation. The show officially opened on Broadway, becoming the first new musical to do so since the pandemic began. The night was a celebration not just for the musical, but for the defiant spirit of New York theater. It was, as the cast reflected, the night they were always supposed to have, just with a much longer intermission.
