BLOOMINGTON – Prepare for a fresh and vibrant take on one of history’s most compelling figures. Constellation Stage & Screen will present the premiere production of The King’s Wife: A New Musical, running from June 5th to June 29th at the Waldron Auditorium in Bloomington.
This revolutionary pop musical offers a bold new perspective on Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII, as she navigates the complexities of queenship and fights to secure her legacy. Directed by Tamilla Woodard, the Associate Director of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Hadestown, The King’s Wife promises to explore Katherine’s resilience and the lasting impact of extraordinary women with heart, humor, and powerful harmonies.
The musical is the creation of an impressive all-star creative team. The book is by award-winning Welsh playwright Mêlisa Annis, a frequent BBC contributor with development credits at Playwrights Horizons and Primary Stages. The electrifying pop score comes from three-time Grammy-nominated Nashville songwriter Jamie Floyd, whose songs have been performed by artists like Kelly Clarkson and Dolly Parton. Music supervision and orchestration are by Jared Stein, whose Broadway credits include Spring Awakening and Hair.
Playwright Mêlisa Annis shared her inspiration for the musical: “‘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… 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.”
The Constellation premiere features a talented cast, including Emma Hunton (Broadway’s Spring Awakening, Wicked National Tour) as Queen Katherine, alongside Lauren Drewello, Ricky Moyer, Kayla Quiroz, Andrew Keeler, Isabel Barredo, and Jonah Broscow in various roles. Namisa Mdlalose Bizana, recently seen in the Hadestown National Tour at IU Auditorium, will also make her Constellation debut as Lady Maria Salinas. Returning Constellation favorites include Laura Rong and Eric Olson.
The creative team includes 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 offer a week of preview performances (June 5-12) with a Pay What You Will ticketing option (starting at $5 plus fees). Audience members attending previews will be asked to provide feedback to help the creative team refine the show before its official opening night on Friday, June 13th.
Adding to the excitement, Constellation will host The Queen’s Bash, an enhanced fundraiser performance, on Saturday, June 7th and Saturday, June 14th at 5:30 p.m. This royal affair will feature a themed pre-show meal, pre-show entertainment, multiple bars with featured craft cocktails, and a performance of The King’s Wife, all benefiting Constellation’s community engagement efforts.
Tickets for The King’s Wife, which runs June 5-29, are on sale now. In addition to preview performances, all Thursday evening performances will feature Pay What You Will pricing. Tickets can be purchased through Constellation’s website (seeconstellation.org), by phone at 812-336-9300 (Mon-Fri 12-5 p.m.), or in person at 122 S Walnut St (open Wed-Fri 12-5 p.m.). Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a fresh and powerful retelling of a pivotal historical figure’s story.
