Six: The Musical’s Latest Controversy Over Its Progressive Casting
By: Ellie Esquenazi
Six: The Musical announced its newest Broadway cast in mid January, sparking controversy for its choices, including transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.
Mulvaney, a well-known transgender activist and content creator, was announced as the next Anne Boleyn in the Broadway production of Six: The Musical. This sparked online backlash from critics who questioned a trans woman playing a historical female role. Some called it ‘stunt casting,’ leading the show’s producers to condemn bullying and place restrictions on the show’s social media accounts. Mulvaney and her supporters, however, are framing the situation as a significant moment for trans representation in theatre.
The show reimagines Henry VIII’s six wives as iconic pop stars, giving them a platform – or, rather, a stage – to tell their stories. The cast often features diverse, colorblind actors, aligning with empowerment of marginalized and underrepresented voices.
Criticism included questioning whether Mulvaney earned the role through talent, or if she was simply given the role based on her social media fame. Some critics also argued that a historical woman should not be portrayed by a transgender woman.
Following these comments, Six: The Musical’s account published this statement: “The producers of Six have chosen to temporarily limit access to the Broadway production’s X account following a number of comments made in response to recent Broadway casting news, which we felt crossed the line into bullying. The protection, safety, and support of the Six cast has always been, and remains, our highest priority. While we welcome passionate engagement with the show, aggressive, threatening or abusive behavior is never acceptable. As a production, we unequivocally condemn bullying in all its forms and remain committed to fostering a respectful, supportive environment for everyone involved. We are incredibly excited to welcome our incoming Broadway cast, and we cannot wait to see them take to the stage.”
On Jan. 19, Mulvaney posted a video onto her Instagram thanking her supporters within the trans and theatre communities, and addressing hate comments following her casting announcement. “Being a trans person in 2026, when this world is working against us in what feels like every way… for me to be able to step out onto a Broadway stage as Anne Boleyn and perform an iconic historical character’s role in a show that is so rooted in celebrating femininity, I think that’s a miracle,” Mulvaney said. “So, miracles are possible, and I know I have a lot of privilege working for me, and I have this platform, which no doubt helped me get here, but sometimes we have to take a different route to get where we’re supposed to go in life.”
This is not Mulvaney’s first time being centered in a controversial media topic. In April of 2023, Bud Light sent her a personalized can for March Madness to promote a contest. The social media partnership sparked major boycotts from conservative consumers of Bud Light over her trans identity, leading to a drop in sales and backlash against both Mulvaney herself and the brand. The TikToker faced intense hate and death threats, but later shared her journey toward healing through her memoir, Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer.
Despite the recoil from her casting announcement, Dylan Mulvaney will start her run as Anne Boleyn in Six: The Musical as planned on Feb. 16, alongside Abigail Barlow (Katherine Howard), original cast members Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon) and Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr), and 2024 cast member Olivia Donalson (Anna of Cleves). Casting for the role of Jane Seymour has yet to be announced.
