(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — It wasn't your ordinary last day of school at Portage Park Elementary School Thursday.
"Hey everyone, let's do it one more time. Five, six, seven eight," leads Aryn Bohannon, dance captain on the North American tour of "SIX the Musical".
"I want to see it one more time and then one time without me."
"SIX The Musical" has gained a bit of a cult following since it debuted in 2019.
"It's incredible, especially to be a part of this. It's very surreal to see how far it's come since then." she said.
On their last day of school before summer break, boys and girls at Portage Park Elementary spent the morning in the gymnasium dancing and learning the routines of the Broadway show.
"I loved it," said Daisy Polo, 11, who is a dancer who's appeared in the Joffrey Ballet's "Nutcracker".
"It's so cool to learn the routines. It was so fun."
Bohannon says she tries to lead these dance workshops in every city she visits and performs.
"Every city where they are available to us, I always say yes, when they ask me to do it because I love seeing the community of children who want to pursue this career."
“SIX” is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, presented in the form of a singing competition.
"The moral of our story is about owning your narrative, being proud of who you are, and being who you are is very impactful on these children and to see that in these children is very inspiring to me."
Bohannon says the energy is always incredible at every school she visits.
"I hope these kids get confidence out of this because they always do such a good job. I think it's such an uplifting show and they get the confidence bug from it so I think they hopefully get that from these workshops. I want to encourage them to pursue this career.
“I was in their position 10-15 years ago and thankfully I get to spread encouragement and come full circle. To see myself in the reflection of these children and to understand that this career feels so far away and not tangible but then to be on the other side of it and it can happen to anybody if you never give up and see that happen through their eyes," Bohannon said.
The musical premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, where it was performed by students from Cambridge University.
“SIX” premiered in the West End at the Arts Theatre in January 2019 and made its North American debut at Chicago's Shakespeare Theater. It's since been on Broadway and toured the world.
“SIX” is at the Nederlander Theater through July 14.