Canadian lands plum role in hit musical Six
West End hit Six arrives at the Citadel Theatre for eagerly anticipated Canadian premiere
One day you’re a young Winnipeg artist with a handful of respectable credits and a passion for musical theatre. The next, you’re Anne Boleyn.
That’s the remarkable trajectory of Andrea Macasaet, the only Canadian star of the West End musical hit, Six — making its Canadian premiere at the Citadel Theatre Nov. 7.
The production crossed the pond to Chicago with a new cast this past spring in a co-production between the Citadel and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.
Six is the reimagined tale of the six wives of King Henry VIII, who were variously beheaded and divorced at the whim of the lusty Tudor.
This telling sees the queens kick back, with high heels and a feisty emphasis on their own powerful backstories.
Macasaet, a graduate of Victoria’s Canadian College of Performing Arts, had appeared in multiple musicals at the Winnipeg Studio Theatre, including Avenue Q and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, when she read of the open call in Toronto for Six. A few weeks later, she landed the role of
Anne Boleyn, which takes her to Broadway for an open run starting in March 2020.
Boleyn is the second wife of Henry VIII, occupying the throne from 1533 to 1536 before being executed for high treason so Henry could marry a third time. She gave birth to Queen Elizabeth I, and her marriage to the king against the advice of the Pope lead to the creation of the Church of England.
Plus, Boleyn had six fingers on one hand and was obviously a witch. Who would not yearn for this role?
The Journal spoke to Macasaet, 25, about assertive queens, why royal purple is a risky fashion choice, and making her Broadway debut. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Q Tell us about the Six audition. A I had no agent under my name, I was just a fan of the show like everyone else. I saw the notice on the last day to submit. Next day, I got a call from one of the casting directors. I booked a last-minute flight from Winnipeg to Toronto — and it wasn’t cheap — to sing only 32 bars, about a minute of my best vocals. It was a great experience and I had no expectations. I was sure they were going to find their stars in New York and I was just grateful for the opportunity.
But after New York and Toronto auditions, they said ‘we’d like to fly you out to Chicago.’ I felt I won the lottery, just to be surrounded by amazing women with insane vocals and dance moves. It kept me inspired the entire time. Two or three weeks later, I got the offer. And life has really changed.
Q How demanding is the role technically?
A We are dancing throughout the entire show; we don’t leave the stage. We’re all in beautiful bedazzled heels, between three and five inches, and awesome costumes. We’re dancing and belting our buns off. It’s visually so stunning.
Q What’s Anne Boleyn like as a character?
A I knew very little of her when I was introduced to the show.
But all the queens had to make formal presentations before one another about our queens. What I discovered was that Anne Boleyn was really educated in fashion and music. She grew up in the French court and had a lot to say about lots of things. For a woman to do that was wild in
those times — now, we see that’s crazy, that’s how we should all be.
So I get to celebrate that part of her every single night. It’s really inspiring, to showcase her in a light that doesn’t shame her for saying what she feels.
Q Do you have other favourite queens?
A That changes almost weekly. Every queen represents something to somebody. I get to go into work and, based on how I feel every day, I get my therapy. One day I’ll lean into Catherine of Aragon, and some days I feel like Katherine Parr. Sometimes Anne of Cleves is speaking to my soul. She’s the German one; everybody falls in love with Cleves.
It’s so nice to go into an environment where I get to be with these women every day, and get my cup filled with exactly what I need. Every single queen you meet, once that music starts, you are locked in and I’m not joking. It’s the ride of your life.