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CAST
Alexander Gemignani - Henry VIII
Judy Kaye - Catherine of Aragon, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Parr
Alexandra Silber - Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Kathryn Howard
Nick Wyman - Ministers 
Liam Forde - Messenger, Minstrel, Fool

 

In 1992, Janet Hayes Walker and The York Theatre Company produced the premiere of Six Wives as a mainstage production. It was presented in York's original home, The Church of the Heavenly Rest on 5th Ave. and 90th St. Directed by Maggie L. Harrer and music directed by Norman Weiss, it starred Steve Barton as Henry VIII, Tovah Feldshuh and Kim Crosby as the six wives, Rex D. Hays as the ministers and Buddy Crutchfield as the messenger.
James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director

 

When Joe Masteroff first mentioned Six Wives to me as a musical, I felt an interesting journey was about to begin. I was not to be disappointed. Shortly thereafter he provided me with a copy of the book and lyrics. The most interesting idea in the whole concept was that the Six Wives were to be played by only two women...indeed a challenge for the respective actresses. Besides the role of Henry VIII, the Ministers are played by the same actor and three other roles are played by one actor. In addition, the structure of the book and lyrics helped me considerably to come up with the appropriate music for each character. 

I’d like to extend my thanks to Jim Morgan, artistic director of the York Theatre in New York for producing workshop readings which helped considerably towards bringing Six Wives to its present state. And thanks to John Yap, of JAY Records London who produced this recording. Finally, very special thanks to co-producer Maria Candil of Madrid for her very significant participation.This recording is dedicated to Steve Barton, the original Henry in Six Wives.  A live recording of him singing is a special Bonus Track at the end of this complete recording.    
Edward Thomas

 

Steve Barton (June 26, 1954 - July 21, 2001)

Steve Barton began his career as a pianist before transitioning into onstage roles as a teenager. Excelling in acting, dancing, and singing (his voice was a beautiful baritone), he attended the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Drama on multiple scholarships. During this time, he performed leading male roles with the Austin Civic Ballet for four seasons. His ballet career took him to Europe, where he switched to primarily performing in plays and musicals, playing leading roles in dozens of shows, both classic and contemporary. The German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt called him “the Pavarotti of musical theater”.

He originated the role of Raoul in Andrew Lloyd Webber´s Phantom of the Opera in both the West End (1986) and on Broadway (1988); in 1990, he returned to the Broadway production, this time as the Phantom. Several years later, he would make his only other Broadway appearance, joining the cast of The Red Shoes in previews to take over the role of Boris Lermontov. His other theatre credits in the US included productions of Wright and Forrest’s Anastasia, The Threepenny Opera, Kiss Me, Kate, and Sweeney Todd. With the York Theatre Company, Steve played Henry VIII in their world premiere of Six Wives in 1992.  In Vienna, he played the Beast in the European premiere of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and originated the role of Count von Krolock in Tanz der Vampire, earning the 1998 IMAGE Award as Best Actor (the German-language Tony Award). He made frequent concert appearances on both continents.

He appeared on both The Young and the Restless and Another World, as well as numerous German and Austrian television shows and can be heard on recordings of Cats (Vienna), The Phantom of the Opera (London), Show Boat, Anastasia, and Tanz der Vampire, as well as the charity album Living Water, for which he wrote some of the songs and sang accompanied by the voice of Mother Teresa. His last performance was a concert in London’s Royal Albert Hall (May 2001), where he sang “If I Ruled the World” from Pickwick, among other pieces.     

More than fifteen years after his unexpected passing, Steve is remembered and missed, not only by those who were blessed to have the special person he was in their lives, but by the many fans he has around the world.

1. PROLOGUE
   Henry VIII
2. PICTURE MY PALACE
   Henry VIII
3. OH TELL ME WHY
   Anne Boleyn
4. OH TELL ME WHY (Coda)
   Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII
5. A GREAT KING / DO NOT DENY MY LOVE
   Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and Catherine
6. I COULD GIVE YOU SONS
   Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII
7. LEVITICUS
   Minister
8. EXAMINE THEM
   Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII and Minister
9. STORMS IN THE CHANNEL
   Messenger and Henry VIII
10. CHARLES EMPEROR OF SPAIN
    Minister and Henry VIII
11. PLAGUE ALL AROUND ME
    Messenger and Henry VIII
12. NOTHING CHANGES
    Henry VIII
13. ANOTHER GIRL
    Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII
14. OH COME SWEET MAID
    Messenger
15. I CANNOT ACCEPT
    Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII
16. I HAVE A SON
    Henry VIII
17. THE LADY OF CLEEVES
    Minister
18. ACH LIEBER GOTT
    Anne of Cleves
19. SHE HAD A WONDEROUS LAUGH
    Henry VIII
20. THE PERFECT WEDDING NIGHT
    Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves
21. IT’S COLD IN THE PALACE
    Henry VIII
22. SCROLL SONG
    Minister, Kathryn Howard and Messenger
23. I DO NOT WISH TO MARRY
    Henry VIII
24. AND SO BEGIN THE HAPPINESS
    Henry VIII
25. INTERROGATION
    Henry VIII and Kathryn Howard
26. EPILOGUE
    Henry VIII
27. ONLY FOOLS
    Henry VIII
28. OH COME SWEET MAID Reprise
    Messenger
29. BOWS
    Dennis Buck
30. Bonus Track
    Steve Barton