Covers (also referred to as Swings and Alternates or SwAlts for short) refers to the offstage performers in Six the Musical that perform when the principal actors are unavailable. There are several different types of covers, and it is important to note that the terms change based on the production and the region it is located it. It is also important to note that the terms used in Six are different than traditional theatre definitions.
The Covers are often recognized through their use of the alternate costumes.
West End & UK Tours[]
Alternate[]
Alternates in the West End & UK Tour productions cover all six Queens, broken up into three tiers with two Queens per tier: labelled "First Covers", "Second Covers", and "Third Covers". Alternates only perform when needed, and they wear principal costumes for their First Covers and alternate costumes for their Second and Third Covers.
- In the 2019 & 2019-21 West End Productions, and the 2018, 2019-20, and 2021-22 UK Tours, Alternates wore alternate costumes for all of their covers.
- In the 2019, 2019-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 West End Productions, Alternates had weekly scheduled performances for both of their First Covers.
- In the current 2023-25 West End Production, Alternates only cover three Queens: two First Covers and one Second Cover.
- In the current 2023-25 West End Production, Danielle Rose had three First Covers due to being a temporary addition.
Examples: Grace Mouat, Vicki Manser, Courtney Stapleton, Shekinah McFarlane, Cherelle Jay, Hana Stewart, Zara MacIntosh, Paisley Billings, Danielle Rose, Roxanne Couch, Monique Ashe-Palmer, Leah Vassell, Gabriella Stylianou, Naomi Alade, Hannah Lowther, Cassandra Lee, Jennifer Caldwell, Harriet Watson, Grace Melville, Leesa Tulley, Ellie Jane Grant, Izi Maxwell, Tamara Morgan, Milly Willows, Erin Summerhayes, and Lorren Santo-Quinn.
Super Swing[]
Super Swings (or simply "Swings") in the West End & UK Tour productions cover all six Queens equally with no specific order. Super Swings only perform when needed, usually if the First Cover Alternate is unavailable. Super Swings wear alternate costumes for all of their covers, typically the Black or Silver costume.
- In the 2021-22 UK Tour, Cherelle Jay only covered four Queens due to being a temporary addition.
- In the current 2023-25 West End Production, Ellie Jane Grant wears a mix of principal and alternate costumes due to formerly being an Alternate.
Examples: Grace Mouat, Collette Guitart, Esme Rothero, Rachel Rawlinson, Meg Dixon-Brasil, Hana Stewart, Ellie Jane Grant, Natalie Pilkington, Cherelle Jay, Harriet Caplan-Dean, Shakira Simpson, and Izzy Formby-Jackson.
Universal Swing[]
Universal Swings in the West End & UK Tour productions cover all six Queens equally with no specific order in both the West End & UK Tour productions. Universal Swings only perform when needed, usually if the Alternates and Super Swings are unavailable. Universal Swings wear a mix of principal and alternate costumes for all of their covers, depending on the performer.
Examples: Liv Alexander, Bryony Duncan, Harriet Watson, and Natalie Pilkington.
Broadway & North American Tours[]
Alternate[]
Alternates in the Broadway and North American Tour productions cover three Queens equally with no specific order. Alternates only perform when needed, and they wear principal costumes for all of their covers.
- In the Pre-Broadway Tour, Alternates wore alternate costumes for all of their roles, with the exception of Courtney Mack due to originally being a principal.
- In the 2020 Broadway Previews, Alternates covered five Queens.
- There have been two instances of alternate costumes being worn on Broadway: Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert and Hana Stewart both wore their old alternate costumes when they covered Catherine Parr.
- In the current 2023-24 Broadway Production, Jana Larell Glover covers four Queens due to a difference in cover orders between the Boleyn Tour and Broadway.
Examples: Mallory Maedke, Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Courtney Mack, Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Cassie Silva, Hana Stewart, Erin Ramirez, Kelsee Kimmel, Kelly Denice Taylor, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Holli' Conway, Cecilia Snow, Aryn Bohannon, Jana Larell Glover, Taylor Pearlstein, Kristina Leopold, Aubrey Matalon, Sierra Fermin, Jenny Mollet, Jessie Davidson, Taylor Sage Evans, Carlina Parker, Amaya White, Hailey Lewis, and Caroline Siegrist.
Universal Alternate[]
Universal Alternates in the Broadway & North American Tour productions cover four Queens equally with no specific order in both the Broadway & North American Tour productions. Universal Alternates only perform when needed, usually if the Alternates are unavailable. Universal Alternates wear principal costumes for all of their roles.
Examples: Marilyn Caserta, Cassie Silva, and Wesley Carpenter.
Bliss & Breakaway Cruise Productions[]
Onboard Swing[]
Onboard Swings (or simply "Swings") in the Bliss & Breakaway Cruise productions cover three Queens equally with no specific order. Onboard Swings get two scheduled shows per cover, and perform when needed. Onboard Swings wear principal costumes for all of their covers.
- In the first Bliss & Breakaway Cruise productions, Onboard Swings wore alternate costumes for all of their roles.
Examples: Natalie Pilkington, Bryony Duncan, Liv Alexander, Elizabeth Walker, Abbi Hodgson, Sophie-Rose Middleton, Marilyn Caserta, Ashlee Wauldbauer, Ellie Sharpe, Madeline Fansler, Channing Weir, Willow Dougherty, Kayla McSorely, Jillian Worthing, Bethany McDonald, Gabriella Boumford, Giulia Marolda, Izzy Formby-Jackson, Princess Victomé, Eden Holmes, Deirdre Dunkin and Audrey Fisher.
Rehearsal Swing[]
Rehearsal Swings in the Bliss & Breakaway Cruise productions cover a varying amount of Queens equally with no specific order. Rehearsal Swings are only involved with the show during the rehearsal process, therefore they do not perform in the productions and are only brought onboard as replacements, if needed. Rehearsal Swings are sometimes brought in for future productions. Rehearsal Swings' covers often change during the rehearsal process.
Examples: Lori McLare, Amy Bridges, Kara-Ami McCreanor, Emily Harrigan, Adrianna Glover, Alizé Cruz, Kristina Walz, Emily Rose Lyons, Chelsea Wargo, Hannah Taylor, Haley Izurieta, Lois Ellise, Alyssa Giannetti, Jasmine Smith, Audrey Fisher, Brooke Aneece, Hannah Lawton, Laura Blair, Maddison Firth, Sadie Hurst, Princess Victomé, Sunayna Smith, Reca Oakley, Meg Dixon-Brasil, Sarah McFarlane, Jaelle Laguerre, Kate Zulauf and Giulia Marolda.
Australia[]
Swing[]
Swings in the Australian Tours cover all six Queens equally with no specific order. Swings only perform when needed. Swings wear alternate costumes for all of their covers.
Examples: Ella Burns, Karis Oka, Shannen Alyce Quan, Chiara Assetta, Madeline Fansler, Gabriella Boumford and Thalia Smith.
Alternate Swing[]
Alternate Swings in the Australian Tours cover all six Queens equally with no specific order. Alternate Swings only perform if the Swings are unavailable. Alternate Swings wear alternate costumes for all of their covers.
Example: Cristina D'Agostino.
Canada[]
Standby[]
Standbys in the Canadian Production cover three Queens equally with no specific order. Standbys only perform when needed, and they wear principal costumes for all of their covers.
Examples: Hailey Lewis, Julia McLellan, Abigail Sparrow and Darcy Stewart.
General[]
Understudy[]
Understudies only cover one Queen, and are usually former cast members or cast members from different productions. Understudies only perform when needed, usually replacing other Covers who are unavailable or as additional coverage.
Examples: Courtney Mack, Shantel Cribbs, Lori McLare, Alicia Corrales, and Keri René Fuller.
Emergency Cover[]
Emergency Covers are former cast members or cast members from different productions who are brought in to perform or cover in emergency circumstances.
Examples: Renee Lamb, Genesis Lynea, Toby Marlow, Collette Guitart, Courtney Mack, Maiya Quansah-Breed, Elena Gyasi, Hana Stewart, Jennifer Caldwell, Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Cassie Silva, Kelly Denice Taylor, Courtney Bowman, Casey Al-Shaqsy, Natalie Pilkington, Harriet Watson, Harriet Caplan-Dean, Izi Maxwell, Kelsee Kimmel, Esme Rothero, Leesa Tulley, Hannah Lowther, Tamara Morgan, Taylor Pearlstein, Aubrey Matalon, Ellie Jane Grant, and Shakira Simpson.