SIX musical opens at Bass Concert Hall, runs through Jan. 25 as part of Texas Performing Arts series

January 22, 2026

SIX began its Austin run Tuesday night at Bass Concert Hall, presented by Texas Performing Arts. The production clocks in at about an hour and a half and stages the lives of Henry VIII's six wives through contemporary pop songs and theatrical storytelling.

The show arranges the queens in the order of Henry's marriages, giving each woman a solo slot to argue that her union was the worst. Performers address the audience directly, inviting clapping and dancing, which shifts the experience away from a traditional passive musical and toward a concert-like atmosphere.

Emma Elizabeth Smith opened the sequence as Catherine of Aragon in the number "No Way," demonstrating a wide vocal range that moved from deep lower notes to intricate high runs. Nella Cole followed as Anne Boleyn with "Don't Lose Ur Head," a performance that compressed a complex arc, from affair to the break with Rome to execution, into a single dynamic song.

Kelly Denice Taylor offered a contrasting tone with "Heart of Stone," a ballad centered on Jane Seymour's love and loss, while the ensemble delivered "Haus of Holbein," a German-influenced electronic piece that leaned into playful staging and commentary on impossible beauty standards. The shifts in musical style kept the evening lively and underscored the show's blend of humor and historical weight.

Alizé Cruz performed "All You Wanna Do," which reframed Katherine Howard's story through contemporary language about predatory relationships and abuse. The show's writers use popular music textures and direct lyrics to connect those darker themes to issues many audience members recognize today.

The cast closed with a powerful group number, highlighting tight harmonies and the chemistry among the six leads. After revisiting and reframing each queen's fate, the production left much of the crowd on their feet, the staging and pop references, including nods to dating apps and modern icons, helping bridge the 480-year gap between audience and subject.

Overall, the Austin opening showcased vocal talent, comedic timing and an energetic staging that favors interaction. SIX at Bass Concert Hall offers a contemporary lens on historical figures, and its run through Jan. 25 gives local audiences multiple chances to see the show.