SIX the Musical has been a favorite on the Chicago stage since late March and recently some students from Stages Chicago had the amazing opportunity to see the show and then sit down with some of the Queens for a discussion over zoom. Luckily for me, I got to tag along on this adventure and am excited to share with you SIX lessons learned!
First, let’s set the scene for those who may not be familiar with the show:
SIX the Musical takes the audience to an energizing concert, set in modern times, yet featuring the six Tudor Queens of Henry VIII. One by one the wives take to the mic to have their moment in the spotlight to compete for which wife “wins” as the one who had it the hardest being married to the King. Through pop-inspired songs, we learn about who they were separate from their identities as the one who was divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, or survived. I have seen the show twice and was impressed with what a great show it can be for adults and children alike! My ten-year-old son, who despite playing it cool in true tween fashion, was overheard him singing “Get Down” and “Six” to himself in the days following and loved the historical aspect of the show. Proving the correlation between music and learning is a powerful tool. The night the Stages students attended my five-year-old daughter and I tagged along and she was consumed with the set, the costumes, and the performances - she thought she was at an actual concert versus a musical. And for those who are concerned about the adult themes that are undoubtedly part of the Tudor Queen’s stories - well, I can say that they went right over both of my kids’ heads.
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Next, let’s meet the players of this epic adventure:
Joining us for the performance and interview from Stages Chicago, a non-profit performing arts program, were two of their oldest students.
- Janelle, a junior at Kenwood High School and currently the oldest student. She recently was accepted to the Steppenwolf Theatre’s Young Adult Council and SIX was her first musical.
- Sophia, an eighth-grader at Old St Mary’s, has been with Stages Chicago since their very first year in 2017, and based on the amazing wall that was behind her during our zoom meeting, she has a gift for more than just the performing arts.
Both Janelle and Sophia worked to create a great list of questions and lead the conversation with the following members of The Queendom (in Queen order):
- Jasmine Forsberg, who portrays Jane Seymour (died) and brings the audience to an emotional place with her song “Heart of Stone”, night after night.
- Olivia Donalson, who as Anna of Cleves (divorced) gets everyone grooving with “Get Down” and lets us all know just why she IS “the queen of the castle”.
- Didi Romero, known to us commoners as the hot pink high-pony sporting Katherine Howard (beheaded) may make you lose your mind when you hear her sing “All you Wanna Do”. To say it is an infectious song is an understatement.
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These three LOVELY, and genuine, women gave us thirty minutes of their very limited time and allowed Janelle and Sophie to take turns asking a handful of the questions they had prepared. One of their instructors and I joined them - under the guise of being the “responsible adults” for the students, but the truth is we were having our own #FanGirl moment that day. As I lurked in the zoom corners I just sat and listened to what these Queens had to share and noticed that their experiences and insight aren’t just for the future generation of rising theatre stars, but for all of us, no matter if we are young, old or somewhere in between. Here are my takeaways:
Lesson 1: It’s Never Too Late to Recognize Your True Interests and Chase Them Down
I admit it. I made assumptions that Jasmine, Olivia, and Didi all were going to present a similar response. From a very young age they had a passion for entertaining the world and were chasing their broadway star from the time they were born. Well, shame on me. It stuck with me when Olivia shared that while she felt “artsy” and was playing the oboe in the band at a Fine Arts school, it wasn’t until her junior year of high school that she recognized that she just wasn’t doing what she truly wanted to be doing. That struck me because she is just so darn great at what she puts out on stage night after night and I couldn’t help but think, “what a loss if we never got to see her and hear her perform in this role”. This doesn’t diminish those of us, like Didi and Jasmine, who knew from a much earlier age that performing and singing on stage was something they wanted to pursue. This just reminds all of us how important it is to know yourself, listen to yourself, and find your genuine interests.
Lesson 2: Opportunities and their Lessons Come in Multiple Ways
The original question asked was about the different opportunities taken in their teen years that helped them each get to where they are today. Jasmine spoke about her younger years, about finding her niche after her family relocated from Illinois to Florida. She was drawn to the element of storytelling that performing and music allowed and she joined a non-profit community theatre where she was exposed to multiple opportunities to perform. Olvia, who we now know came upon her passion for performing on stage while in high school, started searching for different opportunities and maybe they weren’t all on stage, but she got to hone her skills for communication and leadership along the way. Didi shared that her experience with social media as a tool has opened so many doors for her as an influencer, artist, and performer. She wisely shared that it wasn’t about the number of followers or amount of content created and shared, as much as it is about the unique avenue it provides to connect with a broader audience of people and interests. It also provides an outlet for an interest in creating and sharing art beyond the SIX stage.
Lesson 3: Find Moments of “New” in What Feels “Old”
“Do you ever get tired of singing the same song?” seems like a reasonable question. Often as humans, we can get bored and tired of performing the same task over and over again and SIX has been running in Chicago now for a few months. Same city, same stage - routines have been established. Lines are brief and few, each Queen has her solo and there are just three ensemble performances - to start, end, and mark the midpoint - of the show. That’s it. Apparently, this was a question The Queens had heard before, because they each gave a little chuckle, and shared how people, even those super close to them, have asked if they are tired of singing the same song everyday week after week. Surprisingly the answer was a unanimous “No” and they all agree on why that is. Every night the audience is new, providing new energy and reactions to their presence on the stage. Also helping are those times when alternates step into the roles and add a little of their own energy and style to the roles. Finally, come July the tour will move along to a new city and the cast will get to build new relationships within that location, perhaps see old friends or family along the way and inject each show with a dose of new.
Lesson #4: Your mental and physical well-being is not to be neglected
Life, in general, can be taxing to your health, but when you think of these performers who need to perform, non-stop, daily, and sometimes even twice a day you can’t help but wonder “how do they keep going and be able to give their best?” Turns out that as part of the show, each performer receives routine physical therapy sessions to help keep their physical selves healthy and strong. Didi, Jasmine, and Olivia also professed their appreciation of what seems to be an eternal supply of athletic tape, and between show naps. Yup, Naps! Jasmine even shared that she has created a little “nap nook” in her dressing room under a table - perfect for a snooze, or to just simply be removed from it all and relax. This is not only for her physical health, but her mental health too! All three of the performers shared that it is important to not lose connection to the things you enjoy outside of your job - hobbies, spending time with friends - or even taking the time for something more structured like regular therapy sessions. Jasmine emphasized that she is a big believer in therapy for all, even when you don’t feel stressed.
Lesson #5: Mistakes Happen and the Show Keeps Going
Not only does the show go on, but in the end, it’s all okay. If you have already seen SIX then it may be hard to believe that mistakes happen. The show ends with exhilarating style and the audience, most likely already on their feet, cheers and claps with exuberance. When asked if they have ever made a mistake while performing all three of the Queens chuckled and confessed, that not only have they each made a mistake while performing, it’s just part of life. In regards to this show, each Queen knows their role, and the story they are telling, so they can adjust on the go, and in true Queendom fashion - they have one another for support. Also, having humility, knowing you are human and not above making an error, can help you manage and move through the mistake and even prevent it from happening in the future. I didn’t know it at the time, but the is was the biggest lesson I took from our conversation with the Queens. Ideally, I would be sliding in a clip RIGHT HERE of Olivia, Jasmine, and Didi talking about how they handle mistakes, but I had my own mistake. I failed to notice at the moment that the recording of our conversation had stopped. In fact, it had barely recorded at all, capturing only 26 seconds before cutting out. I was so enthralled by what was being shared, the questions Sophia and Janelle were asking, and how naturally the dialogue was going, that I failed to notice my own blunder. So after I beat myself up and allowed myself to feel HORRIBLE; inspired by the three Queens themselves, I pulled myself together, filed this experience as one to learn from, made adjustments, and moved forward. After all, the show must go on!
Lesson #6: Focus on the BIG PICTURE
So what would Jasmine, Didi, and Olivia tell their younger selves, if they could, now that they have made it this far in their careers? To sum up their collective answers and the wisdom they have gained along their individual journies to the stage of SIX: keep focused on the BIG PICTURE. Each of these talented women had separate and unique paths to where they are now, and they encountered a variety of setbacks, encouragements, and surprising turns, but each step contained a lesson to learn from and each held fast onto their “big picture” - to be professionally performing for audiences. While I am certainly no expert on talent, I believe we will be seeing more and more of Jasmine, Olivia, and Didi - on the theatrical stage, on a movie set, or even in the studio to make their own albums - and they have made me a forever fan. Not just by their talent, but with their warm and generous hearts too. I know that my friends from Stages, and my daughter, will also never forget the personal connection the Queens gave to us.
Wondering if SIX is right for the people in your own little kingdom to see?
I would say without hesitation: YES! I have seen the show twice and was impressed with what a great show it can be for adults and children alike! So whether you are thinking of a Mom’s Night Out, Date Night, or Family Fun this is one to consider. Our ten-year-old son, who despite playing it cool in true tween fashion, was overheard singing “Get Down” and “Six” to himself in the days following and loved the historical aspect of the show. Proving the correlation between music and learning is a powerful tool, he has also been learning more about the Tudor time period and dropping random facts on me. Our five-year-old daughter was consumed with the set, the costumes, and the performances - she thought she was at an actual concert versus a musical.
And for those who are concerned about the inevitable adult themes that are part of the Tudor Queen’s stories - well, I can say that they went right over both of my kids’ heads.
SIX leaves Chicago on July 3, so grab your tickets HERE
