MILWAUKEE — Jana Larell Glover was quick to trade a grad cap for a crown.
She’s the youngest person on the “SIX” U.S. tour.
“SIX” tells the story of the six wives of King Henry VIII from their perspective, via a pop-concert style show.
“We’ve all heard the stories of the ex-wives of Henry VIII, and never ever told from their perspective,” Glover said. “It really humanizes these women and really validates what they went through. This show really gives them an opportunity to use their voice and to be heard and to be seen and to not be hidden behind the image of a man. They made him more famous.”
Glover graduated from Point Park University in the spring of 2022 and was announced as an alternate in “SIX’s” “The Boleyn Tour” that summer. As an alternate, Glover covers three queens in the cast as needed, including Catherine of Aragon, Catherine Parr and Anna of Cleves. She’s one of five alternates that travels with the tour’s six leading ladies.
With such a small cast, she’s had the chance to take the stage in each role.
Her favorite queen to rule as? Easy, she said. It has to be Catherine of Aragon.
“Catherine of Aragon is definitely my favorite. She’s the most Beyonce-esq for me. It’s a way to live my dream a little,” she said.
From Catherine of Aragon’s wig to her golden couture costume, she certainly gives off Beyonce’s energy. Actually, all the queens in the cast draw inspiration from a different pop sensation. Audiences will notice characteristics of Ariana Grande in Katherine Howard, Avril Lavigne in Anne Boleyn, Adele in Jane Seymour, Nicki Minaj in Anna of Cleves and Alicia Keys in Catherine Parr.
“[I’m inspired by her because of the] kind of the power that Beyonce holds. She has a way of just claiming the stage and being really confident and putting on a really great show,” Glover explained. “Throughout the show, she is reflected in other queens. She’s strong. She’s independent. She is all about female empowerment. She uses her voice.”
Glover said she’s found her voice on this tour. Actually, that’s what she said audiences can learn from the show, too.
“The biggest lesson is to not let anyone silence your voice and take your power,” Glover said.
She’s constantly absorbing guidance from her more senior queens, taking opportunities to learn and grow as much as she can. She said she’s never afraid to ask questions of the women around her. The parallels between the show and the behind the scenes of the tour are impossible to miss.
“That’s the whole point of the show and these queens, they create a space for each other to all find their power and I think that’s what we try to do in our real lives too. We stop comparing ourselves. We encourage each other; we empower each other; we stand behind each other,” Glover said.
The cast, including the all-female band that performs on stage, known as the “Ladies in Waiting,” even have a pre-show ritual. They gather together, look each other in the eyes and say, “We got your back.” Glover said the queendom makes a point to support one another both on and off stage.
From the 1500s, which is when Henry VIII wed six different women, to 2023, the promotion of unity and supporting other women still rings true.
“Women aren’t just placed in boxes. We are capable of so much and we have a place in every area of the world, every business, every piece of art. We have a voice in every area,” Glover said. “So I think any room you walk into, you automatically should have each other’s back as women, because a lot of systems weren’t designed for us to succeed. If we don’t have each other’s back, how can we expect for someone else to have ours or for us to make really more of an impact?”
While that’s something important for every audience member, Glover noted the urgency of instilling this idea in the next generation of little girls. She’s had the chance to meet quite a few young ladies while on tour. She said she wants them to stop comparing themselves to others, find their voice and embrace their individuality.
“It starts from a really young age. If we kind of change the culture of how we speak to ourselves and each other, I think that we will create a less toxic environment,” she said.
A handful of times, she said, she’s gotten to meet young Black girls, who look just like her.
“That was a beautiful moment for me personally because I don’t know that I’ve had a lot of moments like that,” she said. “I would just tell the little girl to keep dreaming. No dream is too big. You are capable of more than you think and be open, learn a lot, read, take care of yourself and you’re always preparing yourself for your future.”
Unlike other Broadway shows, not only does “SIX” tout an all-female case where each woman is highlighted in their own way, but it embraces actresses from a diverse set of backgrounds.
In real life, the six queens of the show were white. But women of color have stepped into nearly every role in the show at some point.
“It’s actually a really, really beautiful thing because it celebrates us for our differences. When you change the race of a character, it, one, proves that the story is impactful either way. The show speaks for itself but also it reaches different audiences. The same message is being portrayed, but you’re able to reach more people…” Glover said.
“‘SIX’ does a really good job of celebrating each other for our differences. If I say a monologue this way and someone else says it a different way, they’re both beautiful and they both deserve to be celebrated and they’re both equally as impactful… Everyone deserves an opportunity to tell a story somewhere. We can all relate. These are all universal experiences so I think that it does a really beautiful job.”
“SIX” takes the stage at the Marcus Performing Arts Center this Women’s History Month, from March 7 to 12. The show is nearly sold out. Limited tickets are available via the Marcus Center Box Office at 414-273-2706. "SIX" will return to Wisconsin in August at the Overture Center for the Arts. If you go to the show, be on the lookout for Glover’s favorite song.
“My personal favorite is when all of the queens sing ‘I Don’t Need Your Love: Part 2’ aka ‘The Remix.’ It’s kind of just a chance for all of them to be like, ‘You know what, we don’t need this man. We can take control of our own story and that’s when they all kind of find their power at the end of the show,” she said.
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