Kirstin Maldonado opens up about her Broadway debut as Anne Boleyn in SIX

• Kirstin Maldonado made her Broadway debut as Anne Boleyn in SIX from 1 June
• She first auditioned for the role in 2023 but did not land it until a later attempt
• Maldonado describes Boleyn as "super spicy" and wants to portray her as effortlessly badass
  

Kirstin Maldonado has spoken candidly about stepping onto Broadway for the first time and the considerable demands she has faced in bringing one of history's most iconic figures to the stage.

A long road to Anne Boleyn

Maldonado is portraying Anne Boleyn in the Broadway production of SIX, which opened on Monday. The show centres on the six wives of King Henry VIII, with Boleyn — his second wife — occupying one of its most dramatic roles. Boleyn's marriage to the monarch was annulled and she was beheaded in 1536 in one of history's most notorious royal endings.

The journey to the role was not straightforward for the 34-year-old American singer-songwriter. Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Maldonado revealed that she first auditioned for the part in 2023 but did not secure it at that time, returning later to successfully land the role.

She also shared details of her early preparation, saying, "I went [to New York] in February for a little bit and knocked some of the rehearsal out just to get a little head start on it."

A 'super spicy' character with a pop-punk edge

Maldonado was keen to bring her own distinct vision to the role, describing Boleyn as "super spicy" and outlining exactly how she intends to portray her on stage.

The Pentatonix member explained, "I want to play her like really badass, just kind of that effortless... And I think the comedy of her comes within her effortlessness and kind of style. I'm really looking forward to leaning into the pop-punk quality that she's based on, too."

Vocal and physical demands unlike anything before

Maldonado also acknowledged that the production presents challenges beyond simply embodying the character, describing SIX as an exceptionally demanding show on multiple fronts.

"This show is just really difficult vocally and physically. I'll definitely have to warm up my body, do some stretching, which I'm not quite used to, but I'm excited," she admitted.