Avery Anderson | 18 minutes ago | 4 min read

The Queens’ Gambit: Why SIX is the High-Octane History Lesson Tampa Needs

by Avery Anderson

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you take five centuries of patriarchal trauma and run it through a glitter-filled, pop-synth woodchipper. It’s not "educational theater" in the way your eighth-grade history teacher intended—it’s something far more visceral.

Next week, the Morsani Hall stage at the Straz Center transforms into a neon-soaked arena as SIX rolls into town from May 12–17. Forget the dusty textbooks; this is Henry VIII’s wives reclaiming the microphone, turning historical heartbreak into a euphoric "girl power" manifesto.

I sat down with Nella Cole, who plays Anne Boleyn, to talk about life on the road and why this show feels less like a play and more like an interactive exorcism of the "divorced, beheaded, died" narrative.

The cast of the North American tour of *SIX* performs on stage. The musical, a pop-concert-inspired retelling of the stories of King Henry VIII’s six wives, is described by cast members as an interactive, "explosive" experience that breaks the fourth wall to engage directly with the audience. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

The Pop-Star POV

Nella Cole didn’t start in a rehearsal room; she started on a concert stage. A pop artist and dancer by trade, she spent years in the "land of pop music" before theater came calling. For her, SIX wasn't just another gig—it was the inevitable collision of her two worlds.

"When I learned about SIX, I was like, this is the most perfect combination of all my skills and all my desires," Cole told me. "I felt really strongly that I needed to be in it".

The result is a performance that breaks the fourth wall until it’s basically dust. Cole describes the show as a "roller coaster" of 90 high-octane minutes where the performers aren't just singing at you—they’re interacting with you. It’s a "cheeky, funny, and sexy" retelling of history that somehow makes beheadings feel like a club anthem.

The Next Generation of "Queens"

Perhaps the most potent part of the SIX phenomenon isn't the choreography or the costumes, but the way it resonates with a younger generation. For Cole, the impact is visible every night from the stage.

"I look out in the audience and I see it and people are singing back at me," she said, noting the energy of seeing young fans belt out the lyrics. She recalled a moment of "synchronicity" at a nail salon where she met a nail tech whose little cousins and sisters were heading to the show. After a quick FaceTime call with the girls—who were already singing the soundtrack—Cole was struck by the community impact.

"I'm getting to do this thing that really brings joy to people," she reflected. It’s a rare connection for a performer, seeing firsthand how the show’s message of reclamation empowers the next line of "queens".

The Grit of the Road

While the show looks like a shimmering video game from the audience's perspective, the reality of the tour is a bit more grounded. Cole has been living out of a suitcase since September, performing eight shows a week and spending her only day off—Monday—traveling to the next city.

"Touring is really hard," Cole admitted with a refreshing lack of PR gloss. "You have to almost be like, what kind of masochist am I? What kind of hard do I secretly kind of enjoy?".

But the "reward" isn't just the applause; it’s the weird, serendipitous moments in the wild. Cole recounted a story of getting her nails done in Pennsylvania, only to realize the nail tech’s entire family was coming to the show that night. A quick FaceTime call to some "freaking out" younger cousins later, and the barrier between "Broadway Star" and "Human Being" vanished.

Why Tampa Matters

This isn't Cole’s first trip through the 813. She previously visited with the Pretty Woman tour, but this time feels different. With friends and family in the area, the Straz stop is a homecoming of sorts.

For the Tampa audience, Cole has a message: don't be intimidated by the "pop" label. Whether you’re a history buff or someone who hasn't stepped into a theater in a decade, the "explosive" energy of these six queens is designed to turn passive observers into active participants.

On Our Radar: The Week Ahead

SIX at The Straz (Morsani Hall)
- When: May 12–17, 2026.
- Why it matters: It’s a global sensation with over a billion streams that manages to make 16th-century politics feel more relevant than your Twitter feed.