Full Breakdown
Dylan Mulvaney’s Broadway Tenure in “Six” and the Debate Over Trans Casting
4/29/2026, 10:16:34 PM
Casting and Run Details
Dylan Mulvaney, a 29-year-old trans actress, was cast as Anne Boleyn in the Broadway production of Six at the Lena Horne Theatre. The casting was announced in early February 2026, and Mulvaney began performing the role that month. Six, a pop-styled retelling of Henry VIII’s six wives, is scheduled to run through May 31, 2026.
Mulvaney’s Experience and Production Adaptations
In a self-produced “Get Ready With Me” video, Mulvaney said she is “having the time of my damn life” and that she records from “a place of abundance and not scarcity.” She noted that most songs in Six remain in their original keys, while her solo “Don’t Lose Your Head” is lowered a half-step to suit her range. Mulvaney emphasized that the narrative’s delivery outweighs any key change.
Online Backlash and Criticism
The casting announcement provoked backlash from right-wing commentators who described the decision as “woke” and argued that the role should have gone to a performer assigned female at birth. After her debut, Mulvaney reported that viewers posted “very unkind things about my singing” based on a brief TikTok clip of a reprise. She said critics formed opinions on a “very small clip on the internet,” which made her “hate that moment in the show.”
Production Team’s Stance on Casting
Creators Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow clarified that Six’s songs were written to accommodate “many different voice types,” and that the story’s integrity takes precedence over key adjustments. Their guidance permitted Mulvaney to keep the original key for most numbers while lowering her solo as needed.
Implications for Trans Representation
Mulvaney described trans casting on Broadway as “extremely uncharted territory” and expressed hope that her visibility will encourage further opportunities for trans performers. She noted recent trans involvement in productions such as Cats: The Jellicle Ball, suggesting that broader acceptance could expand casting practices across the industry.
Upcoming Schedule
Mulvaney will continue as Anne Boleyn in Six until the production closes on May 31, 2026, at the Lena Horne Theatre.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Little by little, I think the industry is realising that when you make an effort to include someone with a different life experience it can give a character such a fresh and nuanced perspective,” — Dylan Mulvaney
- “When I started in February I was seeing comments from our first night where people were saying very unkind things about my singing and it took me a long time to realise that those people weren’t actually seeing me in the show,” — Dylan Mulvaney
- “I’m really glad to have taken back my power and I’m not really interested in criticism unless it’s coming from someone who is sitting in that theatre, seeing the show in its entirety and not just from a 16-second bootleg on TikTok.” — Dylan Mulvaney
- “I've now been in Six: The Musical for over two months, and I'm having the time of my damn life,” — Dylan Mulvaney
