Constellation Stage & Screen to Present the World Premiere of The King’s Wife: A New Musical

On stage June 5 - 29 at the Waldron Auditorium

She had the ring, the crown, and the throne—until history gave her the boot. Get a bold new perspective on Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, in The King’s Wife: A New Musical. Directed by Tamilla Woodard, Associate Director of the Tony Award-Winning Hadestown on Broadway, The King’s Wife is on stage June 5-29 at the Waldron Auditorium.

The King’s Wife follows Katherine of Aragon as she navigates the pressures of queenship and the fight to secure her legacy. A revolutionary pop musical by three-time Grammy-nominated songwriter Jamie Floyd and award-winning playwright Mêlisa Annis, this bold reimagining of history explores Katherine’s resilience and the enduring impact of extraordinary women.

The King’s Wife is brought to life by an all-star creative team: Bookwriter Mêlisa Annis, an award-winning Welsh playwright and frequent BBC contributor, has developed work with Playwrights Horizons, Primary Stages, and Rosalind Productions, and received honors including the True West Award and Ireland’s Spirit of the Festival Award. The electrifying pop score is by Jamie Floyd, a three-time Grammy-nominated Nashville songwriter whose work has been performed by Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, and Dolly Parton, and featured in the documentary The Last Songwriter. The production is directed by Tamilla Woodard, named one of 50 Women to Watch on Broadway and the Chair of the Acting program at Yale. Music supervision and orchestrations come from Jared Stein, whose Broadway credits include Spring Awakening, Hair, and American Idiot, and who recently produced music for Sundance’s Your Monster and Disney+’s Encore!. Together, this powerhouse team is rewriting history with heart, humor, and a whole lot of harmony.

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Playwright Mêlisa Annis describes how the play came to be, “The King’s Wife emerged from my deep desire to unearth and honor the voices of those whose stories have been relegated to the footnotes of history. In writing this musical, I embarked on a journey of research, imagination, and heartfelt collaboration—one that led me to dusty archives, forgotten letters, and whispered legends of resilience and quiet rebellion amongst the women of the sixteenth century Tudor Court. The King’s Wife reimagines a period in the life of Katherine of Aragon, not merely as a queen defined by her marriage, but as a resilient and dynamic force who tried to reshape the kingdom. As the first wife of Henry VIII, Katherine’s story unfolds amidst the turmoil of court politics and personal sacrifice, revealing the profound strength and determination that challenged the traditional roles imposed upon her.”

Constellation’s premiere production stars Emma Hunton, who was featured in the Broadway production of Spring Awakening and the 1st National Tour of Wicked as Elphaba, as Queen Katherine. Making their Constellation premieres are Lauren Drewello as Lady Anne Boleyn/Ensemble, Ricky Moyer as King Henry VIII, Kayla Quiroz as Lady Hastings/Ensemble, Andrew Keeler as Cardinal/Ensemble, Isabel Barredo as Princess Mary/Ensemble, and Jonah Broscow as Lord Thomas/Ensemble. Also making her first appearance on the Constellation Stage is Namisa Mdlalose Bizana, who played Persephone in the National Tour of Hadestown, recently seen at IU Auditorium, as Lady Maria Salinas. Returning to the Constellation Stage are Laura Rong, previously seen in Matilda and The Wizard of Oz, as an ensemble member, and Eric Olson, star of Fun Home, Ada and the Engine, and Elf the Musical, as Judge/Ensemble.

Rounding out the creative team are Choreographer Beatrice Capote, Assistant Music Director Andrew Becker, Scenic Designer Regina Garcia, Lighting Designer Alan C. Edwards, Costume Designer Dana Tzvetkov, Sound Designer Brandon Reed, and Stage Manager Mitchell Ward.

As a new work in active development, Constellation will be presenting a week of preview performances (June 5-12) before the official opening night on Friday, June 13. All preview performances are Pay What You Will, allowing audiences to choose their own ticket price (starting at just $5 plus fees). Audiences will receive feedback surveys so the creative team can make adjustments to the show based on the community’s reactions! 

Alongside, The King's Wife, Constellation is proud to announce The Queen’s Bash on Saturday June 7th and Saturday June 14th at 5:30pm! This enhanced fundraiser performance will feature a themed pre-show meal, pre-show entertainment, multiple bars with featured craft cocktails, AND a performance of The King’s Wife! This party fit for royalty is a benefit to support Constellation’s community engagement efforts.

The King’s Wife runs June 5-29 at the Waldron Auditorium and tickets are on sale now! In addition to preview performances, all Thursday evening performances feature Pay What You Will pricing. Tickets are available through Constellation’s website (seeconstellation.org), over the phone at (812) 336-9300 (Mon-Fri 12-5pm), or in-person at 122 S Walnut St (open Wed-Fri 12-5pm).

God Save the Queens!