News flash, Costa Mesa! “Chicago” bursts its way into Orange County with high-kicking sizzle of sensational pizazz! Greed, sex, and murder take the stage in a gratifying symphony of jazz, dance, and poetic atmosphere.
Set in Chicago, Illinois in the late 1920s, housewife Roxie Hart finds herself fighting not only for her life but also fame and fortune. After committing adultery and homicide, Roxie gets locked up alongside other female inmates in the Cook County Jail. There she navigates the corrupt and sleazy business of climbing to the top using her infamy to light up the bustling city of Chicago and slapping her name across the newspaper headlines.
Reaching for stardom always comes with a price and using the right people to focus on her goals.
“Chicago” drips with a sparkling cast and ensemble that will leave you fanning from the flaming heat and jaws dropped to the dance floor. The scantily clad men and women leap into the sinister parts of your soul and court them to life upon the dramatically lit stage for a provocative night to paint the town red. Red with passion and sexual appeal.
Caught in Roxie’s laces of treachery are bewildered husband Amos, persuasive lawyer Billy Flynn, opportunist Velma Kelly, overseer Mama, and journalist Mary Sunshine.
All while dancing to the beats and horns of a 10-piece orchestra playing live on an elevated stage set. Logan Floyd plays Velma Kelly. Katie Frieden as Roxie Hart. Jeff Brooks as Billy Flynn. Brian Kalinowski as Amos Hart. Christina Wells as Matron “Mama” Morton. G.A. James as Mary Sunshine.
The sensual show-stopping numbers include Broadway fan-favorites such as “All That Jazz”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “Razzle Dazzle”. It’s no wonder that in April 2023, “Chicago” surpass “Phantom of the Opera” as the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history. The Tony-award-winning show (including Best Musical) celebrates 25 years since its debut with 32 million people worldwide.
Now performing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from now until May 21, 2023.
Box Office In-person
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Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa has a new breakfast menu available at Off the Hook poolside dining and it’s available now! Tasty grab-and-go breakfast fare (like magical Mickey waffles) is now available daily from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. so you can fuel up for fun in Hawai‘i’s sun.
The full breakfast menu features options for the whole family to enjoy. Let’s look at just a few of the delicious entrees
Sweet Bread French Toast – Sweet bread makes the best French toast, and this dish comes topped with fresh berries and maple syrup.
Three Egg Omelet with Aulani Potatoes – First, you choose three toppings from a wide variety of ingredients – including bacon, Portuguese sausage, tomato, onion, red bell pepper, cheddar, Swiss and more – and then enjoy your made-to-order omelet with a side of flavor-packed Aulani potatoes.
Mickey Waffles – Caramelized bananas and country cream adds a tropical twist to this iconic treat.
Seasonal Fruits and Berries – A colorful selection of fresh fruits and berries paired perfectly with banana bread and country cream.
The coffee bar previously located at Wailana Bar has now moved to Off the Hook, so all your caffeine and breakfast needs are in one place. This full-service coffee bar has everything from drip coffee to espresso drinks to hot chocolate – and don’t forget to try the Aulani Special, a Macadamia nut-flavored mocha! It’s so ‘ono (delicious)!
The keiki (kids) menu offers similar treats with perfect portions for guests ages nine and under.
Off the Hook will continue to offer lunch and dinner for dining in or via Mobile Order to go, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and full bar service starting at 10 a.m. The wide variety of convenient menu options makes this pool-adjacent location a great choice for on-the-go guests. So, whether you’re relaxing in the sun soaking up the ocean view or heading back to your room to enjoy a comfy breakfast in bed, this casual quick-service option is great for all your needs.
Learn more about Aulani’s delicious dining options and plan your magical Hawai‘i getaway today. Get a FREE QUOTE to book your magical vacation.
Universal Orlando Resort has shared new details about all the ways guests can eat, laugh and make mischief with the Minions in the highly anticipated Minion Land on Illumination Ave. – an immersive new area created in partnership between Universal’s award-winning creative team and the acclaimed filmmakers from Illumination. Opening this summer at Universal Studios Florida, the new land expands upon the wildly popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction and will debut a new collection of experiences for guests of all ages inspired by the beloved Minions franchise.
As soon as guests enter the land, they’ll be greeted by a fun, photo-worthy “Minion Land” marquee featuring 22 Minions before embarking on the mischief that awaits along Illumination Ave. From blasting their way to supervillain stardom in Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast to savoring tasty dishes at the Minion Cafe to snacking on banana-flavored popcorn at Pop-a-Nana and meeting fan-favorite characters along the way, here are details about the exciting new experiences that await in Minion Land:
ILLUMINATION’S VILLAIN-CON MINION BLAST Guests can put their villainous skills to the test in Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast – an all-new attraction where guests compete against each other in a fully interactive gaming experience that’s so much fun, it’s a crime. Afterward, guests exit through Evil Stuff, an all-new retail location where they can stock up on Villain-Con and Minions merchandise. More details about Villain-Con Minion Blast will be revealed soon.
ILLUMINATION’S MINION CAFE It’s Minions in the kitchen, mischief in the dining room, and tons of tasty food at the new Illumination’s Minion Cafe – the marquee dining location within Minion Land. This immersive new eatery offers something for every palate in a highly-entertaining dining experience that features three themed areas designed after beloved Minions Kevin, Stuart, Bob and Otto: the Kitchen – where guests will get a glimpse of the equipment and gear the Minions have used to whip up the cafe’s menu; the Breakroom – where guests can dine in the Minions’ break space that includes everything from “Office Safety Tips” to a vending machine stocked with mischievous items; and the Dining Room – a vibrant space adorned with colorful artwork courtesy of the Minions and more. Guests can also enjoy their meal on an outdoor patio that overlooks the fun of Minion Land.
Just as eye-catching as Minion Cafe’s incredibly-themed surroundings is its delicious menu – the latest example of how Universal Orlando’s award-winning culinary team continues to raise the bar when it comes to theme park dining. Guests of all ages can enjoy inventive, family-friendly fare featuring nearly 20 items inspired by memorable characters and staples from the Minions franchise, including eclectic “despica-bowls” such as Otto’s Noodle Bowl, Agnes’s Honeymoon Soup and Carl’s Crispy Cauliflower (vegan offering); delectable handhelds such as the Steak & “Cheese Ray” Sandwich; adorable desserts such as Bob’s Teddy Bear Chocolate Cream Puff; a kids’ menu for the “mini Minions” in the family that includes items like the Mini Boss’ Mega Melt; and so much more.
The Minion Cafe will also feature an express window with a limited menu for those looking to satisfy their mischievous cravings quickly and return to the mayhem in Minion Land.
BAKE MY DAY Topped with a massive pink cupcake that’s visible from anywhere in the land, Bake My Day is a whimsical retail location and bakery featuring a selection of Minion-themed sweet treats, including cupcakes, macarons, s’mores and more, along with exclusive Minion-inspired merchandise like apparel, plush, drinkware, accessories, keychains and more.
POP-A-NANA Banana-flavored popcorn, anyone? This walkup location features sweet and savory popcorn inspired by the Minions’ love for bananas. Here, guests may also find an assortment of cute popcorn buckets, including the Minion Selfie bucket.
FREEZE RAY POPS Guests can cool off with a visit to Freeze Ray Pops, featuring a variety of colorful popsicles inspired by Gru, the Minions and Vector – along with beverages.
ILLUMINATION THEATER Guests can meet, greet and interact with beloved characters like the Minions, Gru, Margo, Edith and Agnes, plus new additions from the hit film “Sing” – Rosita, Gunter and Johnny – at an outdoor Illumination Theater facade.
Guests can also discover murals, photo ops and more throughout Minion Land that celebrate additional characters from popular Illumination films.
Minion Land is yet another example of how Universal Destinations & Experiences is raising the bar on immersive storytelling for the entire family using beloved stories and franchises often seen in films. This follows exciting news earlier in the year where the company announced plans to build a one-of-kind, original theme park for families with young children in Frisco, Texas.
Release dates have been announced for the next slate of Marvel shows coming to Disney+. Also a first for Marvel will see one of their show drop a full season all at once, which deviates from the traditional form of weekly episode releases on the streaming channel. During the Walt Disney Company Upfront presentation in New York on May 16, these new series dates were announced by Kevin Feige, President, and Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Studios.
The official return date for the smash hit series “Loki”, will premiere on Oct. 6. Following the next month will be “Echo” the much-anticipated series that will premiere on Nov. 29. The series will follow its lead the newly introduced character to the MCU. The character known as Echo (Maya Lopez) portrayed by Alaqua Cox debuted in another Disney+ project over a year ago, “Hawkeye”.
Echo sought vengeance for the death of her father, one that ended with her being pitted against the infamous Kingpin played by Vincent D’Onofrio. D’Onofrio reprised his role for “Hawkeye” and will do so once so again in this new series. More fan favorites are attached to return in the series such as Charlie Cox as Daredevil. The MCU show’s inspiration comes from the world of the Daredevil comics which has fans excited for more grounded storytelling in these projects.
The new series tells the origin story of Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown. She must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.
Loki Season 2 will bring back most of the cast from season one while also focusing on the repercussions of the shocking finale, which introduced Kang the Conquer to the MCU. Kang could have his story further explored in this latest season, as portrayed in an end credits scene from the latest Ant-Man film “Quantamania”.
That scene has given us one of the only story teases for this newest season as well as the return of series lead Loki portrayed by Tom Hiddleston and the fan-favorite TVA agent Mobius portrayed by Owen Wilson, who is on the tail of another Kang Variant. Whatever the series brings with this season fans are sure to be in for an unexpected story this fall.
“The second season of Marvel Studios’ Loki with arrive on Disney+ on October 6, 2023. Picking up immediately where Season 1 left off, during 2022’s D23 Expo star Tom Hiddleston teased that viewers will find Loki in a familiar, but strange, place. “Loki is back at the TVA, he’s had a very difficult confrontation with Sylvie, and Mobius and Hunter B-15 don’t know who he is.” Only time will tell what happens next.”
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has announced at The Walt Disney Company’s Upfronts Presentation that the iconic “Indiana Jones” movies and series will be available to stream on Disney+ starting May 31. Fans can stream “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and the television series “The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones” before the final installment of the beloved franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” opens exclusively in theaters June 30.
“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”
In this first installment of the series, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards® including Best Picture and won four, archeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked by Army Intelligence to track down an invaluable staff that is the key to locating the Ark of the Covenant, which is being sought by the Nazis.
“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”
After fleeing a nightclub shooting and being dropped out of an abandoned plane, Professor Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and 12-year-old Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) find themselves in a starving Indian village who blame their plight on the loss of three mystical stones that have always brought the village prosperity. Jones vows to return the stolen rocks — which brings him and his unlikely cohorts face-to-face with a deadly cult.
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
There’s nothing more exciting than trying to keep up with the Joneses in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Indy’s Nazi enemies are back and have kidnapped his father, Professor Henry Jones, Sr. (Sean Connery), in their effort to locate the sacred Holy Grail. Following a trail from America to Venice to the deserts of the Middle East, it’s up to Indy (Harrison Ford) to save his father, save the Grail and save the day in this non-stop, action-packed adventure the whole family will treasure.
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.
“The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones”
At the dawn of the 20th century, Indiana Jones (Sean Patrick Flanery) discovered the world. From globetrotting family expeditions as a 9-year-old to the battlefields of World War I as a teenager, Indy’s experiences shaped the heroic, whip-cracking archaeologist he would become. At every turn, Indy encounters history in the making, meeting true-life activists, soldiers, writers, artists, and thinkers who helped influence the world we live in today.
In celebration of the Indiana Jones movies and series launching on the service, Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. will receive special access to must-have Indiana Jones merchandise on shopDisney from May 31, 2023 – June 8, 2023. For a limited time, Disney+ subscribers in the US can purchase highly-anticipated items from the franchise before the general public.
During this special window, eligible subscribers can visit www.shopdisney.com/IndianaJones or navigate to the Shop tab within the details pages of select Indiana Jones content on Disney+ to scan QR codes or click on a link that will take users directly to the merchandise on shopDisney. The Shop tab will be available to Disney+ primary profiles in the U.S. that have been verified as 18 and older.
Special access will grant Disney+ subscribers early access to products including an Indiana Jones Ear Headband, RSVLTS Apparel, Pin, Funko Pop, and more!
Funko has announced the first wave of their new Pops! With Purpose Pride Collection with more to come, proceeds will aid the It Gets Better Project. Available exclusively at Funko.com, the latest Pops! With Purpose collection benefits the global nonprofit organization’s mission to uplift, empower and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. The first collection includes a new lineup of Pops! featuring the cast of Netflix’s hit series Queer Eye. Funko will donate $10 for every Queer Eye Pop! sold.
“Funko is committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and the Funko Cares program is a vital component in making that support possible,” said Laura Olson, Sr. Director of ESG. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the It Gets Better Project and look forward to future collaborations.”
“Funko has been a dedicated supporter of the It Gets Better Project for several years and we are excited for the partnership to continue with the Pops! With Purpose Pride Collection,” said Ross von Metzke, Director of Communications and PR for the It Gets Better Project. “Having the support of partners like Funko is critical to our efforts to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth.”
Pops! With Purpose is a part of the Funko Cares Program, a charity initiative that gives back to the community through both monetary and product donations. Funko Cares has partnered with Make-A-Wish®, ASPCA, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Operation Homefront, and more.
Disney and Pixar’s Elemental Tickets are now on sale at El Capitan Theatre including two fan event screenings.
Prior to the movie, guests can step into their element with an all-new H2Whoah Show, plus snap a picture at a themed photo op.
The fan event screenings will take place at 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 15, and Friday, June 16, each with their own exclusive items included with a ticket. The Thursday Fan Event is $40 and the Friday Fan Event is $50. Each screening is shown in Dolby Vision 3D.
Attendees at the Thursday Fan Event will receive one Elemental Mini Basketball Hoop, popcorn, beverage and event credential, and lanyard with their ticket.
Attendees at the Friday Fan Event will receive one set of 4 Elemental Color Changing Cups, popcorn, a beverage, an event credential, and a lanyard with their ticket.
Daily showtimes for “Elemental” in Dolby Vision 3D from June 16 through June 25 are 3:45 pm, 7:00 pm, and 10:15 pm. 2D screenings are available at 9:30 am and 12:30 pm daily. Dates and showtimes are subject to change.
Sensory Inclusive Screenings (shown in 2D) are available June 20 at 7:00 pm. Open Caption screenings (shown in 2D) are available June 21 at 7:00 pm. Spanish Dubbed screenings (shown in 3D) are available on June 25 at 12:30 pm.
The trailer and poster are now available for Disney’s frighteningly fun adventure “Haunted Mansion,” which opens in theaters on July 28.
Directed by Justin Simien, the film features an all-star cast ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon and Dan Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost.
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.
The film’s producers are Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, with Nick Reynolds and Tom Peitzman serving as executive producers.
Advance tickets are now available for Disney and Pixar’s all-new, original feature film “Elemental,” which opens only in theaters on June 16. Tickets can be purchased on Fandango, the nation’s leading online movie ticketing service, or wherever tickets are sold. Watch the new TV spot celebrating the innovative new characters and announcing advance ticket sales.
Disney and Pixar’s Elemental Experience
An exciting multi-city mall tour that invites fans into the world of “Elemental”—a stunning locale only Pixar artists could create—kicks off on Friday, May 19, in New York City’s Brookfield Place through May 21. Disney and Pixar’s Elemental Experience, which hits Chicago (May 26-28), Dallas (June 2-4), Los Angeles (June 10-12), and San Francisco (June 16-18), offers an immersive thematic environment for visitors of all ages.
Sponsored by Fandango, Dolby and I’m the Chef Too, the tour features fun film-themed activities like photo and video opportunities, a chance to draw with Pixar artists, a movie-ticket grab in a wind tunnel, plus giveaways, and special film content. A new image detailing the tour stops is available to download and share today.
Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental” is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where Fire-, Water-, Earth- and Air residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted, and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. Directed by Peter Sohn, produced by Denise Ream, p.g.a., and executive produced by Pete Docter, “Elemental” features a screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh with a story by Sohn, Hoberg & Likkel and Hsueh. The film’s original score was composed and conducted by Thomas Newman. “Elemental” opens only in theaters on June 16, 2023.
Shattering box-office records and generating over a billion dollars worldwide, Nintendo and Illumination’s animated spectacular The Super Marios Bros. MOVIE blasts into homes, on May 16, 2023, exclusively on digital platforms nationwide where you can buy or rent movies – from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Showcasing an all-star lineup to voice the iconic pop culture characters, The Super Marios Bros. MOVIE stars Chris Pratt (Jurassic World franchise), Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Lego Movie), Anya Taylor-Joy (Last Night in Soho, The Queen’s Gambit), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Seth Rogan (Neighbors, An American Pickle), Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda franchise) and Fred Armisen (“Wednesday,” Portlandia).
The movie tells the story of two Brooklyn plumbers who are brothers and best friends: Mario, the brave one with the “let’s-a go” attitude, and the perpetually anxious Luigi, who would prefer to go nowhere. We open with the Super Mario Brothers reckoning with their struggling plumbing business and wind up in a whirlwind adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom.
Through their journey, we meet a cast of familiar, lovable characters, ultimately uniting together to defeat the power-hungry villain, Bowser. The Super Mario Bros. Movie takes what millions of gamers worldwide have loved for thirty-five years and levels it up to a new and breathtaking cinematic experience.
Halle Bailey performed Part of Your World from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” The singer-actress, who stars as Ariel in the upcoming live-action film, performed the song for hundreds of fans in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at the Disneyland Resort. The Little Mermaid,” helmed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, opens exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 26, 2023.
“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden from interacting with humans, Ariel must follow her heart.
She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy. The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Eric; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.
“The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer.
The “Part of Your World” single is available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and the visualizer video can be seen on YouTube. The brand new soundtrack for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” set for release on May 19, is available now to pre-add at Apple Music, for pre-order on vinyl at Disney Music Emporium, and for pre-order on CD.
Wow. What can I say about SIX the Musical? The number of costumes spotted in the audience told me this show has several fans already. I was really looking forward to this one from all the hype and boy did it deliver!
A word used in the show to describe the experience best is “Historemix”, as it’s a telling and retelling of the stories of the infamous six wives of King Henry VIII. However, the other important play on words they use is “Her-story” because the point of this show is to highlight the wives and retell their stories in a way that is not focused on Henry but focused on them as women. In fact, this show is so focused on spotlighting women, that the entire band and the conductor are also women!
If you are coming to this show not really knowing what to expect, expect to go through every emotion while watching a 90-minute concert chock-full of bangers with no intermission (you won’t miss it). The pacing is great, the energy is high, and WOW can these queens SING! While there are three great songs highlighting all six queens, each of them also has its own song to tell their story.
Please take an opportunity before the curtain to open the Playbill and read a quick synopsis of their legacy and a hint of what to expect from their performance. In 9 amazing songs, you are taken on a delightful and emotional journey that will—If you’re like me—send you down a Google rabbit hole when you get home about the other 5 wives (we all know Anne Boleyn).
The show begins with an upbeat musical summary of the outcomes for each of the wives and a proposal that they should compete to see which queen will win the night with the audience based on how unfortunate their story was compared to the others, later realizing that they now have the power in this retelling to rewrite their own endings and unite against Henry VIII instead of each other.
It’s difficult to really find a standout performer in this show. It honestly gives both the warm fuzzies of a musical and the rush of attending an A-list pop concert. The format allows each performer to showcase their insane vocal prowess. My favorite number was “Get Down” performed by Anna of Cleves (Olivia Donalson) because it was just SO good. It was well performed and funny with high-energy physical comedic and dancing.
It was preceded by, in my opinion, the most charmingly outrageous number in the show, “Haus of Holbein”. TikTokers may recognize this song as a sound that was viral in 2022, but if you’ve never heard it, you will be delighted by the silliness…don’t forget your green sunglasses! “No Way” sung by Catherine of Aragon (Khaila Wilcoxon) was the best way to open the competition.
Wilcoxon absolutely nails this song, and it’s so exciting and high-energy, people were already starting to dance in their seats, except for one who danced in the aisle! Storm Lever as Anne Boleyn is officially my favorite Anne Boleyn, her performance of “The One You’ve Been Waiting For” was just so bubbly and hilarious. It is wonderful to have Natalie Paris on the tour! As the original Jane Seymour, she expertly breaks your heart with her performance of “Heart of Stone”. Did I tear up? Yes, yes I did. “All You Wanna Do” is reminiscent of Britney Spears’ Circus era, and Courtney Mack as Katherine Howard does an amazing job of performing this song fully.
It’s raunchy, funny, and very physically demanding, and she just kills it. “I Don’t Need Your Love” sung by his final wife, Catherine Parr (Gabriela Carrillo) was another soulful and heartbreaking performance. Her marriage to King Henry VIII meant she couldn’t marry the man she really loved, Thomas Seymour and her song reminiscent of Alicia Keys reflects the torch she held for Thomas. Their “Histo-rewrite” is heartwarming, and I only wish it lasted longer.
The set was very simple and minimalist, relying on the performers to set the scene with some lightning design to fill in. Like many modern Broadway shows, the band was on stage with the performers the entire show and was sometimes looped into the performance. In fact, the performers broke the 4th wall not only in dialogue with their band but with the audience.
I found myself occasionally watching Drummer, Paige Durr, as she expertly switched between a physical drum kit and electronic drums to create the sounds for each song. Gabriella Slade’s costume design is really something and a critical part of the show. Many fans in the audience were wearing their own interpretations of her visions. The dresses worn by the queens were fun and modern with futuristic colors and historical nods.
SIX is modern, energetic, and wonderful! The lyrics are ridiculously clever with puns, wordplay, and suggestiveness that is honestly unmatched in anything I have ever seen. There are many nods to other musicals and musical acts. If you haven’t bought tickets to see it this month, don’t lose your head over it, go grab your tickets now. This is one to remember.
SIX will play five weeks in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from May 9 to June 10 with tickets available at www.BroadwayInHollywood.com and www.Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 982- 2787. The show will then play two weeks in Costa Mesa at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts from June 13 to 25 with tickets available at www.scfta.org and by phone at 1-714-556-2787.
