Gaby Albo brings ‘extra spice’ to Anne Boleyn role in ‘SIX’ at Popejoy

The Tony Award-winning musical “SIX” arrives at Popejoy Hall for eight performances from Tuesday, March 18, through Sunday, March 23.

The musical, by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as contestants in a 21st century singing competition, and audiences are encouraged to react as they would at a live concert.

“Usually in musicals, you’re behind the fourth wall. You’re in your own world, and the audience does not participate,” said Gaby Albo, who plays Anne Boleyn.

“This is the only musical theater show I’ve seen where it’s more like a very fine line between a concert and musical theater. We interact with the audience, and they react,” she said.

Albo’s journey from a childhood in Mexico to discovering a taste for musical theater to touring in what she calls her “dream show” has had many unexpected twists.

“I was actually very shy when I was little,” she said. “I would never imagine myself ending up doing this. I was more of a sporty girl. But a friend took me to a musical theater summer camp. She must have dragged me there, because I remember walking out of my classes. I had the worst time. But by the end of it, I was becoming a more extroverted person, even in my regular life.”

“So, one day, I was singing with my iPod in the hair salon,” she continued, “and the hairdresser came up to me and she’s like, ‘You’re such a bad singer. I have a friend that’s a voice teacher. Why don’t you go give it a try?’ I don’t even know why I went, but I did. And that completely changed my life forever.”

As Albo’s singing improved, she grew to love musical theater, and she started getting cast in lead roles. After a few years, she was ready to take an even bigger risk.

“I wanted to move to the U.S. and try my luck in the Big Apple,” she said. “But I was like, how am I gonna make the team notice me, when I know there’s a bunch of auditions happening for ‘SIX’? I know they travel all around the country, and they must have a million submissions. So, I remember doing a reel on Instagram, portraying all the queens. I dressed up as all of them. I made my own crowns. I did my own makeup. I did everything. And I tagged everybody from ‘SIX,’ hoping that somebody would repost it, and maybe the casting directors would see it.”

Her unconventional strategy paid off, because they did notice her.

“When I got to the audition room, one of them was like, ‘Oh, you’re the girl from the video.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, yes!’ So, that was really cool. I guess that let them know how much I wanted to be there. I went that extra above and beyond.”

“But then I did the regular process,” she said, “which took almost a year and a half.”

At one point, she and her dad were on vacation in Spain, celebrating his birthday, when she got a callback.

“I was like, ‘Dad, sorry, but I have to leave you here alone in Spain for your birthday,’ and I flew all the way to the United States and had the audition. I did crazy stuff like that,” she said. “I’m just glad it all paid off.”

Albo said she approached the role of Anne Boleyn differently than previous actors in “SIX.”

“My ‘queenspiration’ is like if Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus had a daughter, that would be Anne Boleyn,” she said. “I think she has a feistiness but also a cuteness to her. She reminds me of Glinda (Grande’s character in ‘Wicked’). She has a very broad (emotional) range. She’s usually played more ‘petty’ — which she is, also — but I gave her a little extra spice. And I’m enjoying her so much.”

Although the characters in “SIX” are based on Henry VIII’s six queens, all productions have employed race-blind casting with an eye toward inclusive representation.

“This show specifically works hard on making diversity be seen and having unheard voices be heard, and I think that’s hugely important nowadays,” Albo said.

Albo hopes young New Mexicans with Latin American heritage will feel inspired seeing her onstage.

“Maybe it opens their minds to think, I could be that one day,” she said.

As a Mexican living in the United States, Albo said she’s also been very concerned to see politicians using dehumanizing language against Mexicans, which can be especially hurtful for children and teens.

“I wish I could hug them all and let them know, you’re worth it,” she said. “I want them to know they have been on my mind and in my prayers, and I just hope things go smoothly for everybody.”

Although things have gone fairly smoothly for Albo, she said she did have a moment of panic recently when she temporarily misplaced her work visa.

“I went through all this stress and anxiousness and worry, because I was like, ‘Oh my God, I might lose my job!’ And I didn’t know if I could go back to my country anymore. It was a huge deal. But I knew it was nothing compared to what all of these other people are going through. I’m the lucky one. Like, I came here to pursue my dream, and I am getting to do it.”

Albo loves touring and said that she and her co-stars all admire each other.

“It’s just cool to be around so many talented, diverse powerhouses,” she said.

She also said the reaction has been “incredible.” Audiences enjoy the powerful music and humor of “SIX” and leave feeling uplifted.

“It has a very empowering message,” she said.

Gaby Albo brings ‘extra spice’ to Anne Boleyn role in ‘SIX’ at Popejoy

Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the Albuquerque Journal. He covers music, visual arts, books and more. You can reach him at lbeitmen@abqjournal.com.