MTA Presents “Six the Musical Teen Edition” | Culture & Leisure

The Broadway musical “SIX” changed the theater trend, attracting younger audiences, thanks to its pop concert atmosphere.

A modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII's six wives — Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr — “SIX” is presented in the form of a singing competition. The king divorced two of his wives and beheaded two others. Jane Seymour died shortly after giving birth and his last wife, Catherine Parr, survived Henry VIII.

Local children will stage “SIX” through the Anthem Musical Theater from Thursday, June 20 to Saturday, June 22.

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the show has won 23 awards, including the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics).

The MTA cast includes 18-year-old Libby Ikesaki, who plays Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife.

The New River teen and recent Boulder Creek High School graduate has worked with MTA since she was 7 years old. His mother is the company's costume designer and his father helps design the sets.

Ikesaki is a long-time fan of “SIX,” so this role makes sense for her.

“I’ve always listened to music,” Ikesaki said.

“Since the musical came out, I’ve loved it. …I love that it’s a show about female empowerment. …By the end of the series, they realize that we base our entire lives on this man. Why don't we create our own history and tell our own stories? It becomes a story of female empowerment, which is cool. »

The MTA production was directed and choreographed by Lyndsie Clymer. Jackie Hammond served as vocal director.

The actresses in the show are between 14 and 19 years old.

Ikesaki called the musical vocally difficult, as it requires three- and four-part harmonies as well as lapses and runs. His character is very outgoing and loud.

“This is definitely not who I am in real life, but it will be super fun to play this,” she said.

“In the real story, she continued to be called the Queen until her death, even though she was divorced and no longer the Queen. So that’s what his song is about.

Ikesaki said the show's costumes and sets were inspired by the Broadway version. The costumes are modern in design with a nod to Renaissance styles.

The show is like the adult version, but some of the language has been changed.

“The only thing that was changed were some of the more inappropriate jokes from the original, just to make it more community friendly. It still feels like the same musical,” Ikesaki said.

Ikesaki has performed in MTA musicals and plays such as “A Chorus Line,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “Cats,” “Chicago,” “The Giver,” “Mean Girls,” and “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.”

She developed her dancing, singing and acting skills through MTA classes. She also taught improvisation to students.

Ikesaki has been an ambassador for the theater's outreach group, which performs at veterans and holiday celebrations.

“MTA is great for getting involved in the community. I wouldn’t have the connection I have with the Anthem community without MTA,” Ikesaki said.

Ikesaki auditioned for “Six” via video while she was on vacation. For her audition, she performed Adele's “Set Fire to the Rain.”

During the audition, she was up for several roles, including Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr. She didn't have much to fall back on, in terms of “Six” video footage. There's not much yet. Although difficult, it allowed her to find her own version of Catherine of Aragon.

“This series is so much about being an individual that it definitely helped to have the freedom to interpret the character however you want without the pressure of having other role models,” Ikesaki said.

Ikesaki said the cast members developed their own characters, but it was also important that these women's personalities fit their songs.

“Boleyn, the second queen, sings a very optimistic song. This will make your character more energetic. As Seymour, she sings a ballad. She’s a little more contained,” Ikesaki said.

“It’s really an interesting retelling of history. They tell their own stories rather than talking about the king, which is what you normally hear in history books.

Over the years, Ikesaki worked with the other actresses in the series. They developed an even deeper connection during the rehearsal process for “SIX” through a group text, sleepovers and a night of dazzling costumes.

“About a year ago we went to this competition and six of us performed a six-song medley. We made costumes for it. This year it’s different people playing different roles, but we’re going to imitate these costumes,” Ikesaki said.

Ikesani said being part of an all-female cast was special, but MTA creates a great environment.

“I've always felt close to the cast of my shows because we've all become really good friends over the years. I would definitely say all of my closest friends I've made through MTA. So, I definitely felt that with other series and with other actors,” Ikesaki said.