SIX is back at the Providence Performing Arts Center this weekend! It is a short run starting this Wednesday through Sunday so get your tickets now here: PPAC Six. It is the perfect show for busy moms because it runs 80 minutes straight through without any intermission. So tip for you is to go to the bathroom before because trust me you don’t want to miss any of it!
Photo credit:
Joan Marcus
ABOUT SIX:
SIX is a British musical comedy with a modern twist. It is a retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII in the form of a singing competition/pop concert. Each wive takes their turn telling the stories to determine who suffered the most from Henry VIII but in term they get to rewrite their own stories and tell their stores as inviduals.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus
In regards to history, Anne Boleyn is the one who gave birth to Queen Elizabeth. I had the chance to talk to Nella Cole who plays Anne Boleyn on this tour.
1. The first thing we talked about is her getting the role of Anne Boleyn. How was that process?
She told me she tried out for SIX various times but not for the role of Anne. On her last try out, they said why don’t you try singing for Anne and casting then said you are our Anne. She is so thrilled to be on tour playing such an iconic role and she can’t wait for all to see it this weeekend.
We then talked a lot about motherhood, the role, and what she wants audiences to take away from seeing this show.
2. Anne Boleyn was the mother of one of the most famous queens in history- Elizabeth I. When you perform her story, do you ever think of that side of her, the mother behind the crown?
She says she thinks of that all the time. Elizabeth I was such an iconic queen and she knows everytime she performs she has to do that role justice to portray how amazing Elizabeth I was. She is reclaiming their story from the history narrative but also to showcase it is not only a history lesson but to see her as a person.
3. If Anne could talk to her hypothetical daughter today, what do you think she’d say?
She would say not to be swept by men for promises of love. She should analyze her situation and be confident in herself. Also she would teach her daughter that her greatest asset in herself is independence and making sure a man does not take this away. Good relationships are also very important.
4. Do you ever feel that playing Anne makes you think differently about how women balance ambition, love, and family today?
She said absolutely! There is a lot going on in this world and women want to be in the stance to do it all. Also her story involves her inability to produce a male heir. This speaks to the modern world where women are faced with public scrutiny of many private decisions relating to fertiltiy, family, and life/work balance.
5. What message do you hope moms and daughters take home after seeing SIX?
SIX is a celebration of female empowerment telling women it is more than Okay to define themselves and make their own decisions without a male counterpart. Through the songs and the women, it celebrates women strengths and accomplishments. It showcases the importance of female friendships and the power of uplifting with women, rather than make it into a competition.
Thank you Nella Cole for the awesome interview. You can see her along with the other queens when SIX his the Providence Performing Arts Stage this weekend.
*Thanks to the PPAC for setting up this interview. All opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.*