When the bright-colored lights came up on Buchholz High School’s stage Thursday night, six young queens stepped forward — not just as the wives of King Henry VIII, but as storytellers reclaiming their place in history.
The school’s production of “Six: Teen Edition” featured pop-style music, flashing lights and choreography that mirrored a concert performance, showcasing local teen talent while highlighting voices from history.
Drama instructor Shannon Singley, now in her first year at Buchholz after nearly a decade teaching in Ocala, said students helped choose “Six” as the fall musical.
Entering her first year in the program, Singley had to get to know the students, so she asked what they wanted to put on. When they suggested “Six,” she was immediately on board.
The musical, created by Lucy Noss and Toby Marlow, reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as an all-girl band, each telling her story through witty pop songs. While it touches on their fates, including divorce and execution, the emphasis is on humor, empowerment and reclaiming their voices.
For Singley, the heart of the musical lies in its mission.
“The whole point of the show is to tell the stories of people who don’t get their stories told, people who would otherwise be lost to history,” Singley said.
Unlike other school productions where faculty take the lead behind the scenes, Buchholz’s “Six” has been shaped by student directors and choreographers. Benny Gurrala, a 17-year-old senior and co-director, said casting and staging was a collaborative effort.
“One big thing we were looking for was people who would blend well and work well together,” Gurrala said. “We had them sing harmonies together, because that’s a big part of the show: unity.”
Gurrala said the production was divided into two casts to give more students the opportunity to perform, while keeping both casts balanced in talent and ability.
The directing team also introduced creative choices in staging and design. Gurrala said their minimalist set, featuring only thrones onstage, ensured the queens’ voices and choreography took center stage.
Playing historical figures has both tested and excited the cast. Clara Fultz, a 15-year-old sophomore who plays Jane Seymour in Cast A, said she auditioned without expectations but was thrilled when she landed the part.
“Jane was a really good fit for me, and I instantly felt connected to the role,” Fultz said.
Rehearsals required hours of work on both the choreography and the music. But Fultz said the effort paid off: Long hours of practice not only helped sharpen the group’s timing and harmonies, but also built a sense of camaraderie among the performers. The bond between the queens, she said, became just as important as the technical precision of the show.
Her favorite moment comes in the finale number, “MegaSix.”
“It’s really a celebration of all the queens,” Fultz said. “It’s really nice to get everyone [to] have their own moment and hype up the audience at the same time.”
She added that the show’s themes still feel relevant for young audiences.
Because this is the teen version of the original musical, Fultz noted some elements were adjusted for a high school setting. That included removing suggestive language and toning down mature themes.
Even with those changes, she said, the storyline still connected with students her age, since the themes focus on resilience, respect and supporting one another.
“Sadly, a lot of people can still relate to the songs,” Fultz said. “But I also think the message at the end — there’s light at the end of the tunnel and you should build each other up — is so important.”
Buchholz High School’s production of “Six: Teen Edition” runs from Oct. 2 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 11 to Oct. 14.
Contact Aaliyah Evertz at aevertz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @aaliyahevertz1.
Aaliyah is a general assignment reporter for The Avenue. She's a second-year journalism student in her first semester at The Alligator. In her free time, she loves to bake, read and also write for Her Campus UFL.
