I don't understand what a rehearsal swing is or why they're needed. Can you explain that to me?

The very, very short explanation is that they’re actors who join rehearsals to learn the show and don’t immediately go onboard with the cast, but are prepared to do so later if they’re needed due to injury/illness/etc. Ships typically try to minimize the number of people who need to be onboard to try and limit the number of resources required - housing, food, dressing room space, etc all has to be provided by cruise ships for their employees. Since space and resources is limited, the number of actors they bring onboard also had to be. But only being able to have one onboard cover for each role also puts them at risk of not having enough coverage. If there's just a temporary issue that will be resolved with a week or two, they usually just cancel shows until they have enough actors. Of course you know from personal experience that that happened quite a bit with the first casts coming back from Covid lockdowns - they had some Covid outbreaks and between that illness and the initial longer quarantine periods, there were quite a few shows that got cancelled. Six usually only performs 3-4 shows per week and cruise attendees pay for the cruise rather than the specific show, so it is disappointing but won't be a major issue for them. If there's a significant longer-term issue, like an actor getting a major injury that requires them to leave the ship, they're in a tough spot. That's where the rehearsal swings come in - if any are available, one of them can jump on board to replace that actor (although it's not always as straightforward as a 1-1 substitution). That rehearsal alt allows them to have someone on hand who already knows the show and can quickly join and get into the swing of things with minimal rehearsal. All around it's much easier (and much more cost-effective) than having to re-cast the role, sign the contracts, fly someone in for fittings, teach them the whole show, and have them tech it.

With Six, a rehearsal alt has only gone onboard in that capacity once. In Bliss 1.0, Alicia (Howard) had to leave the ship about halfway through the run. Bryony Duncan (B/S/H alt) took over as principal Howard. They brought in Lori McLare (rehearsal alt A/C/H) as an understudy Howard, but since she didn't know B/S they actually had Bryony continue to understudy B/S while acting as principal Howard, and Lori just understudied Howard. And to make alllll of that more complicated...Caitlin Tipping (Seymour) had to temporarily leave the show for a few weeks, but Bryony was now Howard and Amy Bridges (rehearsal B/S/P) had already joined Breakaway 1.0 as Seymour, so neither of them could replace/join. They actually wound up having Natalie Pilkington add Seymour as her fourth cover, to act as a temporary replacement. At that point they still had alt costumes so she was just able to wear her black Parr variation with no issue. (Noting here that all of this was more complicated than that, but for the sake of keeping things as condensed as possible this is the simpler version)

It does seem like it would have made the most sense for Lori to take over as principal Howard and Bryony to just continue as B/S/H (and maybe take over as S instead). Not sure why that didn't happen. Might have been a costume thing.

Anyway. That's the very shortened version of what their basic, as-advertised role is and the one time we've seen that happen! There is more complexity to it than that, and I did just write up a longer post on some of that here if you're curious! But I hope that's helpful as a Rehearsal Swings 101!

all nonbinary six queens (so far) and what pronouns they use!

aja simone baitey (they/she) - bliss 4.0 parr

alicia corrales-connor (they/she) - bliss 1.0 howard/uk tour 2.0 understudy howard

baylie carson (they/them) - west end 4.0 boleyn

claudia kariuki (she/they) - west end 3.0/4.0 seymour

hazel karooma-brooker (they/she) - bliss 1.0 boleyn

maddison bulleyment (they/them) - uk tour 2.0/3.0 boleyn

oliver wickham (they/them) - student run cleves

shannen alyce quan (they/she) - australian tour 1.0/2.0 swing

toby marlow (he/him) - co-writer/composer/west end emergency cover parr (july 2019)

willow dougherty (she/they) - bliss 4.0 swing

Day forty-eight of posting every six queen

DAY FORTY-EIGHT - ALICIA CORRALES-CONNOR - KATHERINE HOWARD

Alicia Corrales if they returned to SIX! (Realistically they are not getting the bangs but…shhhh)

if i had a dime every time a principal howard became some kind of cover i would have four dimes, which isn't much but it is weird it's happened four times

365 Days of Six Queens

↳ Day 143 → Alicia Corrales-Connor as Katherine Howard

i also just think that alicia corrales-connor <3

Oldest Aragon - Olga Szomanska (40) Youngest Aragon - Renee Lamb (19)

Oldest Boleyn - Ji-woo Kim (39) Youngest Boleyns - Hazel Karooma-Brooker, Maddison Bulleyment, Millie O'Connell (21)

Oldest Seymour - Anna Peller (42) Youngest Seymours - Caitlin Tipping, Jasmine Forsberg, Lucinda Wilson (22)

Oldest Cleves - Ji-sun Kim (42) Youngest Cleves' - Kenedy Small, Maya Christian, Sophie Golden (23)

Oldest Howards - Anna Terpiłowska, Ryeo-won Kim (35) Youngest Howards - Alicia Corrales-Connor, Caroline Siegrist (20)

Oldest Parr - Nikolett Gallusz (49) Youngest Parr - Jarynn Whitney (19)

Full list of Principal - Alt occurrences:

Courtney Mack: Howard on Tour - Alternate on Broadway

Alicia Corrales Connor: Howard on Bliss - U/S Howard on UKT

Bryony Duncan: Howard on Bliss - Universal Super Swing

Abigail Sparrow: Howard on Breakaway - Standby in Canada

Gabriella Stylianou: Seymour on Bliss - A/S in the West End

Wesley Carpenter: Seymour on Bliss - Universal Alternate

Every Single Duplicate Costume Combo (May 2023)

Harriet Caplan-Dean and Esme Rothero both performed on the West End yesterday, which meant we saw the first double silver performance! Here’s the rundown of every combo we’ve seen so far:

L-R:

Collette Guitart and Cassandra Lee, UK Tour. These queens only played one show together, as Aragon and Cleves (pictured) when Collette was an emergency cover in Dec 2019. They never performed a show together in their primary costume.

Liv Alexander and Collette Guitart, West End. These queens performed a few shows together in two combos of queens. Note that Liv has Grace Mouat’s 2.0 costume while Collette’s is her 3.0 redesign. (photo by @/shonalouise_photography)

Cassandra Lee and Natalie Pilkington, UK Tour. These queens performed in the same production in black alt for nine months and did numerous shows together. They never had the same variations, which seems to have been intentional.

Jennifer Caldwell and Cherelle Jay, West End. These two queens played many shows together in various queen combos. Despite both wearing shorts and the primary top for Boleyn/Parr, they never got to do a show together both in that variation. (not sure on photo origin, please link me if aware!)

Bryony Duncan and Cherelle Jay, West End. These queens also played a few shows as various queen combos, as well as performing in West End Live together. They never had any of the same variations.

Shannen Alyce Quan and Madeline Fansler, Australia Tour. These queens performed together as Parr/Boleyn and Aragon/Howard. They never had any of the same variations.

Lauren Drew and Alicia Corrales-Connor, UK Tour. Back in winter 2019-20, Lauren Drew wore a temporary costume made out of modified pieces of former band costumes while she waited for a new Aragon costume. A few weeks later, Alicia left the Norwegian Bliss and temporarily joined the UK Tour as Howard understudy. However, her costume was left on the Bliss for Bryony Duncan to wear, so she also wore a modified band costume when she performed. Alicia went on twice and both times the two of them were on in their modified band costumes. (photo from @/aliciatyra_cc, unsure of origin)

Hana Stewart and Harriet Watson, West End Live. These queens only performed together for West End Live. They both wore their only variation, which were identical.

Esme Rothero and Harriet Caplan-Dean, West End. The newest addition to this post! These queens performed together yesterday for one show as Howard and Parr, respectively. Esme wore her A/H skirt and Harriet wore her pants. (photo from @/elliemaxx)

And a few honorable mentions:

Pictured: Grace Mouat and Collette Guitart (West End), Jennifer Caldwell and Bryony Duncan (UK Tour). Despite us having behind the scenes photos of these queens together in their costumes, these two sets of queens never actually got to perform together onstage in these costumes.

The other day I mentioned that 22-23 UK Tour was now the first to have each of its' alts perform in another production, or in that scenario specifically emergency cover on the West End. Here's where others are at. 2019 West End: Vicki Manser (Tour principal promo), Shekinah McFarlane (pre-cast Tour promo); Grace Mouat (none), Courtney Stapleton (none)

19-21 West End: Collette Guitart (UK Tour), Cherelle Jay (UK Tour), Hana Stewart (Broadway); Zara MacIntosh (none)

21-22 West End: Roxanne Couch (standby for UK Tour), Rachel Rawlinson (standby for Hampton Court/proshot); Esme Rothero (none), Paisley Billings (none), Danielle Rose (none)

22-23 West End: Rachel Rawlinson, Esme Rothero, Monique Ashe-Palmer, Danielle Rose, Leah Vassell (all none)

19-22 UK Tour: Natalie Pilkington (West End and UKT), Jennifer Caldwell (West End), Harriet Watson (West End and universal), Alicia Corrales-Connor (standby for West End); Cassandra Lee (none)

22-23 UK Tour: Harriet Caplan-Dean (West End), Grace Melville (West End), Leesa Tulley (West End), Natalie Pilkington (West End and UKT)

23-24 UK Tour: Izi Maxwell (West End); Shakira Simpson (none), Ellie Jane Grant (none), Tamara Morgan (none)

20-22 Broadway: Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert (standby for Broadway), Courtney Mack (principal promo for Aragon Tour), Keirsten Hodgens (Aragon Tour); Mallory Maedke (none)

Aragon Tour: Cassie Silva (Broadway and Boleyn Tour), Kelly Denice Taylor (Broadway and Boleyn Tour), Kelsee Kimmel (Broadway); Erin Palmer Ramirez (none)

22-23 Boleyn Tour: Aryn Bohannon (Aragon Tour); Cecilia Snow (none), Jana Larell Glover (none), Taylor Pearlstein (none)

Bliss 1.0: Natalie Pilkington (joined UKT/see above), Bryony Duncan (UK universal), Lori McLare (joined onboard), Amy Bridges (principal promo for Breakaway 1.0)

Bliss 3.0: Marilyn Caserta (US universal)

Breakaway 1.0: Liv Alexander (UK universal, principal promo for Breakaway 2.0), Elizabeth Walker (principal promo for Breakaway 2.0), Maddison Firth (planned principal promo for original Breakaway 2.0); Laura Blair (none) Breakaway 3.0: Madeline Fansler (Aus); Channing Weir, Princess Victome, Sunayna Smith (none)

Queens wearing other queen's costumes.

Because I think the when and why of this is extremely interesting.

Courtney Mack: (who could have made this photoset by herself) Courtney wore parts of four different costumes that weren't originally made for her while one was planned, one was an emergency cover and two were early debuts before the Broadway alt costumes were finished.

Sam Pauly's North American tour skirt: when Courtney joined as principal, she wore Sam's Howard skirt with a new top made for her. She wore the same combination for the Boston run as principal and during the Edmonton run as alternate

Sam Pauly's first Broadway skirt: on her early Broadway debut Courtney wore again her tour top with Sam's 2020 Broadway skirt.

Andrea Macasaet's NAT costume: Courtney rejoined the cast as an alternate for the St. Paul run where she started covering Boleyn, she wore Andrea's full costume for this as her joining was last minute due to cast injuries.

Andrea Macasaet's NAT and Broadway costumes: when Courtney debuted Boleyn early in Broadway previews, she wore a mix Andrea's tour top, sleeves, and Broadway skirt.

Nicole Kyoung mi-Lambert: wore two costumes in Broadway previews that were made for other queens as alt costumes weren't ready by that point.

Adrianna Hick's NAT costume: When she debuted Aragon early in Broadway previews, she Wore Adrianna's tour costume.

Brittney Mack's NAT costume: She debuted Cleves early too during previews wearing Brittney's costume.

Mallory Maedke in Abby Mueller's NAT costume: Mallory debuted Seymour early in previews wearing Abby's costume as alt costumes weren't completed by that point. Interestingly she would have made her Parr debut in Anna Uzele's costume in Broadway previews as she was first cover Parr in 2020 but Anna's costume was said to be broken at the time, so Nicole went on in her own teal alt costume, later when the show returned in 2021 Mallory didn't cover Parr anymore meaning she never played the role despite covering it for a while.

Cassie Silva in parts of Courtney Mack's costumes: Cassie did a short run as alternate for the Broadway production before the start of the Aragon tour. She never went on, but did at least one dress run as Howard. For this she wore parts of Courtney Mack's Howard costumes, what was most likely her 2020 Broadway costume with added studs on the collar trim (not pictured), and her current skirt full breakdown.

Hana Stewart in Mallory Maedke's Aragon costume: Hana did a short run as an alternate in the Broadway company, in her only show as Aragon she wore Mallory's costume with a new leotard as her run was too short for her to have a new costume made full long breakdown in here. She wore her orange alt as Parr too (most likely because no other existing Parr costume was a good enough fit for her).

Collette Guitart in one off Millie O'Connell's Boleyn costumes: When Collette made her six debut early than planned, she wore one of Millie's costumes since hers wasn't done yet, likely not the one pictured as Millie wore at least three different costumes during her Boleyn run. Collette probably wore this instead of a band costume (which she wore later) because the costume fitted and was not in use at the time.

Bryony Duncan in Alicia Corrales-Connor's Howard costume: When Alicia left Bliss 1.0 early Bryony took over as principal Howard wearing her costume (while still covering Boleyn too).

Lori McLare in Bryony Duncan's teal alt costume: Lori joined Bliss 1.0 for the final weeks of the run and wore the Howard variation of Bryony's costume. During this time, the K charm was attached to the top collar instead of the chocker which Bryony wore. Later Bryony wore the costume again during her UK universal swing run and the chocker came back.

Vicki Manser in Jodie Steele's Howard costume: When Vicki joined the UKT as Howard she wore Jodie's costume (with a new skirt waistband) instead of her own. There has never been an explanation as to why or as far as I know an acknowledgment to the switch. This lives on as one of the biggest mysteries in six history.

Natalie Pilkington in Liv Alexander's shorts: When Natalie joined the UKT she wore her cruise top (slightly altered at the bottom) with what seems to be Liv's shorts instead of her own. She also got new pants and a Cleves jacket instead of the ones she had on the ship.

Liv Alexander: during her run as universal swing Liv wore a band costume, and two old costumes instead of her cruise ones. Natalie Pilkington and Bryony Duncan did wear their cruise alt costumes. No reason given for Liv to not have hers, but it could have been damaged or simply not fit after over a year in storage, with how short her run was going to be not altering might not have been worth it. (note: there is a chance Liv's Boleyn costume from Breakaway 2.0 was originally made for someone else, but since there were two cancelled productions in 2020 with costumes in progress there is also a chance Liv was part of one of those. In that case the costume could have been made for her and only altered for Breakaway 2.0)

Grace Mouat's West End costume: Liv wore Grace's costume with a set of Cleves sleeves (almost certainly the same she wore for Cleves) as Aragon

Shekinah McFarlane's first Cleves costume: For Cleves she wore Shekinah's first costume which she had worn as an alt in WE and as principal on UKT and had recently been replaced with a new costume.

Chiara Assetta in Ella Burn's costumes: Chiara took over from Ella as orange alt in the Australian production and inherited most of her costumes too. She wears Ella's top and full Cleves. She wore a new peplum with pants (unconfirmed if new or Ella's) for promotional material and at least one dress run, but never for a show, she has worn the main top with shorts for all characters except Cleves.

Cristina D'agostino in Zara MacIntosh's pink alt costume: Cristina is resident Choreographer and assistant director for Six Australia and sometime late in the Sydney run she became alternate swing meaning she would go on in case the company didn't have enough alts to cover all roles (only in that case not as a regular swing). She currently has what looks like Zara's pink alt costume and wore it for a photoshoot (together with what might be Jodie Steele's or Vicki Manser's Howard boots) I go into more depth on this one in here. There is no information on whether Cristina will get a new costume or keep Zara's.

things from six that don't make sense to me:

why they didn't make shantel cribbs t/r cleves in st. paul

courtney became alt b/s/h and nicole could've went back to alt a/c/p after shantel was ready

why they didn't make alicia corrales-connor t/r howard between vicki & sophie on the west end

she knew the part, left the cruise during the time period, and jen could've stayed on tour

why they didn't hire a second universal alternate for north america

with aryn being on aragon tour it's clear they need one

why natalie pilkington didn't stay as the super swing for the 2022-23 uk tour

she had usable costumes with enough variations and she's dance captain anyway

why they're not sending the australian cast over for the seoul stint in march

they're much closer and their tour is ending in february anyway

cutting the get down reveal even when cleves still had the open jacket instead of the full reveal

the jacket strip was still fun even though it's not as exciting as the full reveal

Alicia Corrales-Connor uses the term queer rather than pansexual now :D

Hey, thank you so much for the update, but I actually just talked to Alicia about this personally (they know about the blog) and she said that she is still figuring things out but for now pansexual is what feels the closest for them, so we will be keeping it as pan until such time as she tells us otherwise!

Queen of the day:day 6

Alicia Corrales Connor (bliss cruise Howard)

THESE photos of millie-

@waterloobasin @dayy-dreamerrs y’all have both intensely gay panicked stuff in the past so i thought you’d appreciate it :)

i’m gay, your honor-