Kirstin Maldonado Opens Up About the Challenge of Broadway Ahead of Debut in “SIX”: 'It's a Workout!' (Exclusive)

Hedy PhillipsMon, June 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC

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Kirstin Maldonado in Feburary 2023, when Pentatonix was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty -

Pentatonix star Kirstin Maldonado steps into the role of Anne Boleyn in Broadway's SIX on June 1

She tells PEOPLE that she originally auditioned for the role in 2023

Maldonado takes over the role from Dylan Mulvaney, whose last show was May 31

Kirstin Maldonado's new stage role has been a long time coming.

The Grammy-winning Pentatonix star, 34, first auditioned for SIX — the show about Henry VIII's six wives — in 2023. However, the timing hadn't been right for her return to Broadway until now.

Starting June 1, Maldonado officially takes on the role of Anne Boleyn, the king's second wife whose marriage to the monarch ended with her infamous beheading in 1536.

Maldonado is ready. "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," she tells PEOPLE of her early days learning the character.

She already has a clear vision for how she wants to portray Boleyn. "I mean, she is super spicy," Maldonado says. "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."

In SIX, each of Henry VIII's wives gets her moment in the spotlight, performing a signature song inspired by her story. As Boleyn, Maldonado will take on the fan-favorite "Don't Lose Ur Head," a cheeky pop-punk number that references the queen's infamous fate.

But one of the unique aspects of SIX compared to other productions is that it's one act and everyone stays on stage for the whole 90-minute show — without any intermissions. And even though Maldonado is used to touring and performing on stage, this show is a whole other kind of difficult, she says.

To prepare, Maldonado has spent the months leading up to her first night training to keep up with the demanding schedule.

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

The original cast of 'SIX' on Broadway
Credit: Joan Marcus

She says that as she was running through the show learning it, she didn't feel like the singing and dancing was "unachievable," but it's certainly "a challenge." Each queen takes part in all the songs, so it's a lot of work from start to finish.

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Boleyn's solo comes after Catherine of Aragon's leadoff, which is a high-energy number with a lot of dancing. The fast push through the first few songs in the show has required a new level of stamina for the performer.

"I need to start running and singing at the same time so I can get prepared," Maldonado jokes of getting in shape to do the powerful songs. "It's a workout. I am definitely sweating."

Maldonado, who rose to fame in her a cappella group after they won season 3 of The Sing-Off in 2011, made her Broadway debut in 2018 as Lauren in Kinky Boots.

"The first time [on Broadway] was so exciting and amazing and came at such a good time in my life personally, where it was just a beautiful transition into something that was a return to self for me and a kid's dream come true," she says, adding that she always did theater growing up, including community theater and show choir. Her dream was always to move to New York, but The Sing-Off and Pentatonix took her to L.A. instead.

"When I go back to New York, though, I'm always like, 'Ah, my soul feels better here,' " she says, before adding with a laugh: "Not better. I'm not hating on L.A."

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Maldonado's run in SIX follows content creator Dylan Mulvaney's final performance as Boleyn on May 31.

"I am so excited to be back on Broadway and especially in this powerhouse show," Maldonado said on GMA3 in April, when her casting was announced. "I cannot wait and I hope you guys can come see!"

The Tony Award-winning musical, written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, officially opened on Oct. 3, 2021. Now in its fifth year, SIX continues to be one of Broadway's steadiest hits and is the longest-running show in the history of the Lena Horne Theatre.

Tickets to SIX are now on sale.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”