Six Wives of Henry VIII

HAIRSPRAY: Okay, you wouldn’t be reading this column if you didn’t have at least a passing interest in musical theatre, and if you have a passing interest in musical theatre, you’ve almost certainly seen Hairspray by this time. It won the Best Musical Tony when it premiered in 2002 with Harvey Fierstein dragged out as Edna. The 2007 movie version was a hit and gave John Travolta an opportunity to explore his inner housewife. The current tour has been on the road for over a year and I happened to see it early on. It was like seeing it for the first time because of the energy this company produced. Leading the current cast is Nina West (or Andrew Levitt, depending on the time of day) from Season 11 of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. You can catch it at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center (SCFTA.org) April 18 – 30 and at the Hollywood Pantages (BroadwayInHollywood.com) May 2 – 21.

COME FROM AWAY: This Canadian Musical opened on Broadway in 2017 and played 1,695 performances. It is based on the true events in a small Newfoundland town during the week following the 9/11 attacks. 38 American planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at the tiny airport. The musical shows how the locals went above and beyond expectations to make their involuntary visitors feel comfortable. Most actors play multiple roles recreating actual participants on stage. They use minor set and costume changes, but the inventive theatricality kept the show alive on Broadway for four sold-out years. The show finishes with a reunion ten years later where the visitors and Canadians reunite to celebrate what was lost, but also what was gained. The national tour will play in Palm Desert at The McCallum Theatre (McCallumTheatre.com) April 4 – 9, and at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre (GoldenGateTheatreSF.com) April 11 – 23.

SIX: 20 % history lesson, 80% rock concert, 100% entertainment. This show puts the six wives of Henry VII in sexy modern costumes onstage with a loud rock band and has them tell their stories. From Tudor queens to pop icons, the Six wives take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a joyful celebration of 21st century girl power. This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their heads over. It won’t be in the southland until May and June but I wanted to give you advance notice so you can still catch good seats. It is in essence a 90-minute rock concert but my friends who have seen it on Broadway give it the highest marks of any show currently playing, and of course historical queens and modern ones belong together! The show is still playing on Broadway plus there are a couple of tours crisscrossing the country. The only southland dates are Hollywood Pantages May 9 – June 10 and Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center June 13- 25. Get your tickets today!