A Pop-Powered History Lesson

What happens when the six wives of Henry VIII have the mic? You get SIX THE MUSICAL: TEEN EDITION, a fierce, funny and electrifying retelling of Tudor history. In February, FWCD’s Upper School Theatre Department turned the Scott Theater into a royal concert hall, with each queen stepping into the spotlight to sing her truth in a show that was part history lesson, part pop spectacle, and all heart.

Directed by Upper School Theatre Director Siouxsie Easter with Assistant Director Fiona Morris ’26, music direction by Middle School Choir Teacher Erin Ypya, and choreography by Ballet and Theatre Teacher Natalie Bracken ’05, SIX gave voice to the women often overshadowed by a notorious king. From the commanding Catherine of Aragon (Priscilla Lambis ’25) to the powerful Catherine Parr (Nara Acuña Guba ’25), the cast brought each queen’s distinct personality to life with standout performances and unforgettable vocals.

Adapted specifically for young performers, SIX: Teen Edition offered an exciting educational opportunity, engaging students with history through high-energy performances, contemporary language, and bold musical storytelling. Structured like a modern-day pop concert, the show channels the energy of global icons like Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Adele, and Ariana Grande.

Audience favorites included Anne Boleyn’s (Maya Branco Marques ’26) cheeky “Don’t Lose Ur Head,” Jane Seymour’s (Taylor Higgins ’27) emotional ballad “Heart of Stone,” Katherine Howard’s (Ava Vanderpoel ’26) haunting “All You Wanna Do,” and Anne of Cleves’ (Ellie Cady ’25) power anthem “Get Down.” The queens battled it out for the title of “who had it worse,” but ultimately discovered the strength of shared experiences and reclaimed their stories in the rousing finale “Six.”

“SIX was one of my favorite shows that I’ve ever directed,” Easter said. “The designers, production team and actors worked so well together to create an unforgettable performance. Night after night, audiences were on their feet for these queens as they told HER-story!”

Cady was excited to play such a spunky character.“‘Get Down’ was so much fun to perform, and I was able to really get into my character. It was so great to play an independent and strong female character who is content with living her lavish life in her own castle,” she said. “The best part of the whole experience was the community the cast and crew created. With this being my first year at FWCD, I wasn’t sure what to expect joining the musical, but it was by far a highlight for me at Country Day! I felt like the queens all became such great friends, along with every member of the ensemble and cast. The directors and everyone associated with the show were so kind and welcoming and fun, which just added so much to the experience itself. It was so fun to laugh backstage with friends or get ready in the green room together. I’ll never forget feeling like I had found a great community of people after joining SIX.”

The cast of 24 students, supported by an equally impressive crew of designers, technicians and stage managers, crafted a production that was fun, polished and passionate. Whether it was the razor-sharp lighting design, the concertready costumes, or the seamless sound engineering, every detail served the show’s high-octane energy.

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded … LIVE. History never sounded so good.