SIX: The Musical • High-Octane Pop-Concert Come to Midland Center Nov. 28-30th

SIX: The Musical — the high-octane, pop-concert-style retelling of the story of the six wives of Henry VIII — is coming to Midland Center For The Arts for a five show run from November 28-30^th.   It’s a show that transcends the typical musical theatre mold, with the national touring company bringing the Broadway hit to cities across North America.

Our best advice for those experiencing the show live for the first time is to “buckle up” .  Part musical, part pop concert and part “Girl Power” exaltation, Henry VIII’s six wives each take the mic to tell their stories, with the help of an all-female backing band dubbed the “Ladies In Waiting.”

As the story unfolds, each of the six “Queens” tell their story in song.  Each has a distinct style and backstory, which cast them as the protagonists - a viewpoint that has been largely missing in the telling of the sordid tale of the serial matrimony of King Henry.

We were able to catch up with actress Hailey Alexis Lewis, who plays Anna of Cleves, Henry’s fourth wife, as they embarked on the 34 city 2025 tour. 

With a resume that includes roles on stage and television, Lewis is described as a “triple threat entertainer” in her bio, owing to her skills as an actress, singer and dancer.  Her vocal training included formal study of everything from arias to classical music to pop styles.

She had a variety of credits in stage and television prior to her initial audition as a standby in the Broadway production of SIX.  While she did not initially gain that role, she knew she wanted to stay involved with the musical.

This continued interest was rewarded in 2023, when she was selected as a standby for three of the “Queen” roles and dance captain for the Toronto production at the Citadel and Royal Alexandra Theatres.

She took a similar position on the road with the national touring company in 2024, before assuming her current role in the main ensemble on the 2025 tour.

As Lewis tells it, “Cleves is like my alter ego. It is a different side than I normally show.  I’m more reserved, where she is ‘big energy,’ uplifting and there for the good times.”

Lewis also indicated that the vivacious personality of Anna of Cleves also provides one of the biggest challenges in the role.   “Cleves is such a high energy character that relies on the response of the audience.  I have to command the stage and tap into the energy of the crowd.”

Being a period piece, SIX also asked more of the performers in preparation than simply learning the songs or the choreography.   “It’s important that we honor the original stories.  They sent us documentaries and had us read books about Tudor times and about all of the wives.”

While SIX aims to stay true to the historical accounts of the wives of Henry VIII, it is probably fair to say that telling the stories from the standpoint of the women involved is a more modern take on the tale.

In fact, if there is one word that comes up the most in reviews of SIX, it is probably “empowerment.”  This owes to the fact that the Queens are each allowed to establish and flesh out their characters and voice their viewpoints through a series of strong songs.

Lewis’s hope on this aspect of the production is that she hopes it gives the patrons “permission to be free.  To stand free in who I am.  We want it to be an uplifting feeling.”

This is now a fairly well established outcome of the SIX franchise, as it has gained avid fans across broad and diverse demographics.  This is an aspect of the show that Lewis truly appreciates.

“I love seeing the little ones reacting to the show or the teens who know all the songs.  We’ll see middle-aged women who bring their husband out and by the end of the night he is on the edge of his seat, too.  We also have older people who appreciate the historical references.”

As exhilarating and the performances are, being in a touring company brings its own challenges and rewards. Some of these, according to Lewis, include scaling up the production in a new venue every week. “The sound changes, the balance on stage.  We have to dial in our in-ear monitors.”

This is in addition to the maintenance routine she has to keep up for her voice to last across runs that includes performances several days in a row.

“I stay hydrated.  Lots of water.  I make sure that I get vocal rest on off days.  I also still take weekly lessons.  I am singing pop music in SIX, but I want to make sure I keep my classical technique up.”

One small reward she has found as a touring performer is realizing she is working at venues that have been graced either by idols of hers or by friends she has worked with in previous productions.

“Maybe it will hit me that someone like Alicia Keys played the same stage.  Or recently I saw a poster for Harry Potter and The Cursed Child that included someone I had done the Toronto production with.  I snapped a picture of me with the poster and sent it to them.”

If you’re planning to attend the touring production of SIX, prepare for an 80-minute adrenaline rush through history, pop rhythms, and fierce performances. Whether you come for the music, the feminist spin, the theatricality, or simply a great night out, this version promises to bring the goods. Arrive ready to clap, laugh, perhaps dance, and leave uplifted.

When asked if she had a message or people coming out to the show, whether it is their first time or if they are a diehard Mega-Sixer, Lewis relayed the following.

“I’d want you to know you are walking into a safe environment.  We hope you take it all in and are able to leave with a sense of empowerment.”

Tickets for SIX are available at the Midland Center For The Arts box office or online by clicking this link.