In advance of its 600th Broadway performance on March 26, the Tony Award-nominated musical “SIX” has recouped its investment. According to a release from the production, the new musical about the six wives of King Henry VIII made back its investment in December of 2022. (Its initial capitalization in 2020 was reportedly $5 million.) The show is the first Main Stem production to share news of its recoupment since the industry’s reopening in September 2021.
“We’re very proud it’s recouped,” producer Kevin McCollum told Broadway News from Las Vegas, where “SIX” just played its first preview of a seven-week engagement. “I think part of why it’s recouped, too, is not only that we’ve captured the public’s imagination, we have price points for every theatergoer.”
“SIX” features a book and Tony-winning score by Broadway novices Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. The musical was initially scheduled to open on March 12, 2020 (the day Broadway shut down due to COVID-19) and waited to reopen on Oct. 3, 2021, at the renamed Lena Horne Theatre (formerly the Brooks Atkinson).
McCollum said he’s proud to have brought more new voices, in Marlow and Moss, to Broadway. “To collaborate with [my co-producers] Kenny, Andy, Wendy and George has been a real gift to bring Toby and Lucy’s voices to this country.”
During the pandemic shutdown, the “SIX” studio album kept the show, which originated in London, relevant and present in the U.S., said McCollum.
“People were able to hear the music before it arrived [on Broadway], so people were familiar with it and wanted to see it live, and that helped, of course,” McCollum shared. “Any time you can distribute information about a work in any way — a performance, a recording, a video, an album — and excite an audience about a work it’s helpful.”
McCollum credits the musical’s financial success to its wide appeal: “I love seeing three different generations of a family come to the show together and have a good time, regardless of gender, identity or politics — that’s why we recouped, because it’s a show for everyone.
The current cast features Hailee Kaleem Wright as Catherine of Aragon, Leandra Ellis-Gaston as Anne Boleyn, Bella Coppola as Jane Seymour, Nasia Thomas as Anna of Cleves, Zoe Jensen as Katherine Howard and Taylor Iman Jones as Catherine Parr. The company also includes Marilyn Caserta, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Holli’ Conway, Kristina Leopold and Aubrey Matalon as alternates. The company will present a special curtain call after the March 26 matinée in celebration of the 600th performance.
In addition to McCollum, “SIX” is produced on Broadway by Kenny Wax, Wendy and Andy Barnes and George Stiles. Theater Matters serves as general manager with Sam Levy as associate producer and Lucas McMahon as executive producer.
