Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (musical)

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The Musical
Music	Various Artists
Lyrics	Various Artists
Book	Stephan Elliott Allan Scott
Basis	The 1994 motion picture The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert written by Stephan Elliott
Productions	2006 Sydney 2008 Auckland 2009 London 2010 Toronto (tryout) 2011 Broadway 2011 Milan 2012 São Paulo 2013 US Tour 2013 UK Tour 2013 Stockholm 2014 Buenos Aires* 2014 Athens 2014 Manila* 2014 Seoul 2014 Madrid 2015 Italy Tour 2015 UK Tour 2015 Norwegian Cruise Line 2016 Auckland 2016 Tokyo 2017 Paris * Non-replica productions

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a musical with a book by Australian film director-writer Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, using well-known pop songs as its score. Adapted from Elliott's 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the musical tells the story of two drag queens and a transgender woman, who contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. As they head west from Sydney aboard their lavender bus, Priscilla, the three friends come to the forefront of a comedy of errors, encountering a number of strange characters, as well as incidents of homophobia, while widening comfort zones and finding new horizons.

Produced by Allan Scott in coalition with Back Row Productions, Michael Chugg, Michael Hamlyn and John Frost, the Simon Phillips-directed and Ross Coleman-choreographed original production of Priscilla debuted in Australia at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney in October 2006. Having had a successful run in Sydney, the production transferred to Melbourne in 2007 and then Auckland, New Zealand in 2008, before returning to Sydney for a limited engagement for its second anniversary. The Australasian success of Priscilla provoked a two-year strong West End production in addition to its Bette Midler-produced Broadway debut in 2011. While the original production received one out of its seven Helpmann Award nominations, Priscilla was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical as well as two Tony Awards, winning these awards in the costume design categories.

Synopsis

Act I

The drag queen Mitzi Mitosis – whose real name is Anthony "Tick" Belrose – is performing at a club ("Downtown" [Australia and London]/"I've Never Been to Me"; "It's Raining Men" [Broadway]) when his wife Marion, whom he has been separated from for several years because of his homosexuality, calls in for a favour. While Tick is offstage, fellow drag queen Miss Understanding performs her own number ("What's Love Got to Do With It?"). From the phone in Tick's dressing room, Marion reveals that she needs an act for a few weeks at her business in distant Alice Springs, Australia. Tick is at first reluctant, but Marion informs him that part of the reason she's asking is because their now eight-year-old son Benji wants to meet his father ("I Say A Little Prayer"). Tick confides in another fellow drag queen Farrah, before deciding he will leave for Alice Springs. After he decides to do the job, Tick calls a friend, a transsexual named Bernadette – whose birth name is Ralph – to join him but sadly, Bernadette's husband has just died. The pair meet at the funeral ("Don't Leave Me This Way") where Bernadette agrees to join him. Tick also asks a friend Felicia – whose real name is Adam Whitely – to come with them ("Venus"/"Material Girl"), with Bernadette taking an immediate dislike to his show-off performance style. Nonetheless, the newly formed trio buy a "budget Barbie campervan" they nickname "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" ("Go West"). Tick informs them that the trip is a favour to his wife, but does not tell them it is also to meet his son who wants to see him ("I Say A Little Prayer (Reprise)"). As the journey to Alice Springs begins, Adam angers Bernadette after cracking jokes about her old life before being a transsexual. Later the group goes into a bar, in full drag, and start a bar dance party ("I Love the Nightlife"), but when they return to the bus learn that the townspeople wrote hateful statements on the bus in spray paint. Tick is very upset, but Adam and Bernadette comfort him ("Both Sides, Now"/"True Colors"). While on the road, Adam practices his lip-syncing as Felicia sitting in the giant high heel on the roof of the van ("Follie! Delirio vano è questo! Sempre libera (from La traviata)"). The next morning, Priscilla breaks down and Adam buys lavender paint to erase the vandalism ("Colour My World"). They manage to get the locals of another town on their side and meet Bob, a mechanic from a small town nearby who agrees to help fix Priscilla. The group celebrates that they've found people that accept them ("I Will Survive").

Act II

The second act opens with a group of bogans singing ("Thank God I'm A Country Boy"). Bernadette talks with Bob and learns that when he was in Paris, he saw her when she was a young "Les Girl" ("A Fine Romance"). The two begin to grow feelings for each other. Later in a bar ("Thank God I'm A Country Boy Reprise"), the trio is about to perform ("Shake Your Groove Thing") when Cynthia, Bob's wife, interrupts their act by "popping" ping-pong balls ("Pop Muzik"). After this, the trio leaves, leaving Bob to wonder about his feelings for Bernadette ("A Fine Romance (Reprise)"). All of a sudden, Bernadette asks if he wants a free ride back to his real home, in which he agrees ("Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"). Later when they arrive, Adam dresses up like a woman to try to meet men ("Hot Stuff"), but ends up getting chased and nearly becomes the victim of a hate crime until Bernadette rescues him by kicking one of his attackers. Later as they arrive in Alice Springs, Tick reflects on the trip after someone literally leaves the cake out in the rain ("MacArthur Park"). As another act performs first ("Boogie Wonderland"), the trio gets ready to perform a variety of songs that they sang or lip-synced on their journey ("The Floor Show"). Afterwards, Tick finally meets his son, who accepts his father's sexuality and lifestyle ("Always on My Mind/I Say a Little Prayer") and Adam gets to perform his own solo Madonna hit, ("Like A Prayer" [Broadway]; "Confide in Me/Kylie Medley" [Australia and London]), his favorite singer. Afterwards the gang talks about their plans after Alice Springs, and realize they can't leave each other ("We Belong"). They go off stage together and the company performs a medley of songs to close the show ("Finally (Finale)").

Cast information

Original casts
Character	Australia	New Zealand	London	Broadway	São Paulo	Original UK Tour	Original US Tour	Italy	Buenos Aires	New Zealand, (2016)
Anthony "Tick" Belrose ("Mitzi Mitosis")	Jeremy Stanford		Jason Donovan	Will Swenson	Luciano Andrey	Jason Donovan, Noel Sullivan	Wade McCollum	Antonello Angiolillo	Alejandro Paker	Bryan Buscher-West
Bernadette Bassenger	Tony Sheldon				Ruben Gabira	Richard Grieve	Scott Willis	Simone Leonardi, Marco D'alberti (National Tour)	Pepe Cibrián Campoy	Simon Green
Adam Whitely ("Felicia Jollygoodfellow")	Daniel Scott		Oliver Thornton	Nick Adams	André Torquato	Graham Weaver	Bryan Buscher-West	it:Mirko Ranù, Riccardo Sinisi (National Tour)	Juan Gil Navarro	André Torquato
Bob	Michael Caton	Bill Hunter	Clive Carter	C. David Johnson	Saulo Vasconcelos	Giles Watling	Joe Hart	Maurizio Arena, Nicola Ciulla (in Trieste)	Omar Calicchio	Ray Meagher
The Divas	Danielle Barnes, Sophie Carter, Amelia Cormack	Sophie Carter, Amelia Cormack, Josie Lane	Zoe Birkett, Kate Gillespie, Emma Lindars	Jacqueline Arnold, Anastacia McCleskey, Ashley Spencer	Simone Gutierrez, Priscila Borges, Lívia Graciano	Emma Kingston, Laura Mansell, Ellie Leah	Emily Afton, Bre Jackson, Brit West	Loredana Fadda, Valentina Ferrari, Elena Nieri, Martina Pezzoli (in Trieste)	Florencia Benítez, Gisela Lepio, Claudia Tejada	Bleu Woodward, Ellie Leah, Amy Di Bartolomeo
Miss Understanding	Trevor Ashley	Michael Lindner	Wesley Sebastian	Nathan Lee Graham	Leandro Luna	Alan Hunter	Nik Alexzander	Andrea Verzicco, Andrea Rossi	Luis Podestá	Regan Shepherd
Marion	Marney McQueen	Danielle Barnes	Amy Field, Yvette Robinson*	Jessica Phillips	Naíma	Julie Stark	Christy Faber	Alice Mistroni, Valeria Belleudi	Romina Groppo	Erin Bruce
Cynthia	Lena Cruz		Kanako Nakano	J. Elaine Marcos	Lissah Martins	Frances Mayli McCann	Chelsea Zeno	Giada D'Auria	Sabrina Artaza	Lena Cruz
***Farrah / Young Bernadette	Damien Ross		*Steven Cleverley	*Steve Schepis	Dito Leite	*Regan Shepherd	Travis Taber	Gianluca Sticotti, Luca Buttiglieri	Daniela Pantano	*Martin Harding
Shirley	Genevieve Lemon	Colette Mann	Daniele Coombe	Keala Settle	Andrezza Massei	Ellie Leah	Babs Rubenstein	Elisa Musso	Mirta Wons	Ellie Leah
Jimmy	Kirk Page		Tristan Temple	James Brown III	Marcelo Vasquez	n/a	Taurean Everett	Cesar Josè Piombo, Pedro Gonzalez	Juan José Marco	n/a
Frank	Ben Lewis	Andrew Broadbent	John Brannoch	Mike McGowan	Beto Marque	Leon Kay	David Koch	Gianluca Briganti	Pablo Juin	Craig Ryder
Benjamin**	Joshua Arkey, Alec Epsimos, Rowan Scott, Joel Slater	Kieran Bevan, Caleb Griffiths, Jeremy King, Harry Stanbridge	Gene Goodman, Red Walker, Cameron Sayers, Darius Caple	Trek Buccino (Toronto), Luke Mannikus, Ashton Woerz	Pedro Henrique, Lucas Cavalcante, Ricardo Carmo	Various	Shane Davis, Will B.	Various (in Trieste: Giorgio Borghesi, Giulio Marino, Gabriele Pacini and Filippo Zoppolato)	Tadeo Viano Galve, Xavier Nazar Dutka	Various

*In the London production, the role of Marion was played by Yvette Robinson whilst Amy Field was on maternity leave (1 December 2009 – 25 September 2010).
**In every production, the role of Benjamin is played by more than one actor, each alternating at certain performances, due to their young age. In the UK Tour the role of Benji was shared between around 30 different boys up and down the UK.

***In some productions (only) Farrah and Young Bernadette were played by the same Actor.

Productions

Australia (2006–08)

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert premiered on 7 October 2006 at the Lyric Theatre, Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia and ended its run on 2 September 2007.^[1] Directed by Melbourne Theatre Company artistic director Simon Phillips, it starred Tony Sheldon as Bernadette, Jeremy Stanford as Tick (Mitzi) and Daniel Scott as Adam (Felicia) with Michael Caton as Bob.

The Sydney production transferred to the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, beginning previews on 28 September 2007 before opening on 6 October 2007. The show closed on 27 April 2008 to make way for the Australian premiere of Wicked.^[2]

The Melbourne production transferred to Auckland in New Zealand for a limited run, opening on 28 May 2008 and closed on 6 July 2008.

The musical returned to the Star City Hotel and Casino in Sydney on 7 October 2008 for the second anniversary of the show's premiere and closed on 21 December 2008. The show starred original cast members Sheldon and Scott, alongside Todd McKenney as Tick and Bill Hunter as Bob.^[3]

London (2009–11)

A West End production started previews on 10 March 2009 at the Palace Theatre with the opening press night on 23 March. It is co-produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group and directed by Simon Phillips with musical arrangements by Stephen 'Spud' Murphy, choreography by Ross Coleman, costume designs by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, production designs by Brian Thomson, and lighting by Nick Schlieper.^[4] The original cast included Jason Donovan as Mitzi (aka "Tick"), Tony Sheldon as Bernadette, and Oliver Thornton as Adam (Felicia).^[4][5] Notable replacements include Ben Richards as Tick (Mitzi), Don Gallagher as Bernadette, Portia Emare as one of the DIVA's and Ray Meagher as Bob. The London production closed on 31 December 2011.^[6]

Toronto (2010–11)

The musical opened on 12 October 2010 at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto as a Pre-Broadway tryout. The musical featured all of the Broadway cast with a new production team. It received largely positive reviews and strong ticket sales. The musical played for 12 weeks, a month longer than originally planned, closing on 2 January 2011. Several modifications were made to the production.

Broadway (2011–12)

The musical opened on Broadway on 20 March 2011 at the Palace Theatre with previews beginning 28 February 2011.^[7] Priscilla, however, made its North American debut at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto for a limited 12-week pre-Broadway tryout; the last performance was on 2 January 2011.

The original Broadway cast includes Will Swenson as Tick (Mitzi), Tony Sheldon, again, reprising his role of Bernadette, and Nick Adams as Adam (Felicia).^[8] Choreography is by Ross Coleman, set design by Brian Thomson, lighting design by Nick Schlieper and costume designs by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner.^[7] Producers include Bette Midler, who joined the production team after seeing the London production;^[9] Liz Koops and Garry McQuinn for Back Row Productions; Michael Hamlyn for Specific Films; Allan Scott Productions; David Mirvish; Roy Furman; Terry Allen Kramer; James L. Nederlander; and Terri and Timothy Childs.^[7]

The Broadway cast album was recorded in late January 2011 on Rhino Records for release on 15 March 2011.^[10] The production released video footage from their North American premiere on Tuesday, 15 February.^[11] The Broadway production closed on 24 June 2012 after 23 previews and 526 performances.^[12]

Italy (2011–14)

In June 2011 M.A.S. Music, Arts & Show and Poltronissima Spa announced, only a few months after the Broadway Opening, the arrival of "Priscilla" in Milan – Italy – in December 2011 (Teatro Ciak). In January 2013 the show also opened in Rome (Teatro Brancaccio) ^[13] and in May 2013 in Trieste (Politeama Rossetti). The musical has an incredible talented cast led by its magnificent protagonists: Simone Leonardi simply perfect in the role of Bernadette; Antonello Angiolillo who plays the complicated role of Tick/Mitzi with great versatility; the sparkling it:Mirko Ranù, face (and body) of the irriverent character of Adam/Felicia; the tremendous voices of the Divas Loredana Fadda, Valentina Ferrari, Elena Nieri and Martina Pezzoli. Within few months in Italy is "Priscilla Mania": fans literally seduced by the magical of Priscilla, who want to see the show over and over (some of them more than 30 times!!) In 2014/2015 was produced the touring version, with a change of cast: Bernadette (Marco D'alberti) and Adam / Felicia (Riccardo Sinisi) the show has visited the main Italian cities, getting a great success.

São Paulo (2012)

The Brazilian production premiered in March 2012 at the Teatro Bradesco, São Paulo. The cast includes Ruben Gabira as Bernadette, Luciano Andrey as Tick/Mitzi, André Torquato as Adam/Felicia, Simone Gutierrez, Priscilla Borges and Livia Graciano as Divas, Andrezza Massei as Shirley, Lissah Martins as Cynthia, Leandro Luna as Miss Understanding and Saulo Vasconcelos as Bob. It is produced by GEO Produções Artísticas. The Brazilian disco anthem "Dancing Days" was added in the finale, also this production is the first Brazilian production to have the songs sung in English.

US National Tour (2013)

On 29 April 2011 it was announced that a national tour would begin Fall 2012. The tour will open 8 January 2013 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.

Cast List: Wade McCollum (Tick/Mitzi), Scott Willis (Bernadette), Bryan West (Adam/Felicia) and Joe Hart (Bob). Ensemble: Emily Afton, Nik Alexzander, John Capes, Andrew Chappelle, Shane Davis, Alex DeLeo, Taurean Everett, Christy Faber, Amy Hillner, Bre Jackson, Chris Klink, David Koch, Ralph Meitzler, Alex Ringler, Babs Rubenstein, Travis Taber, Brit West, Will B. Whitesell and Chelsea Zeno.

Dates	City	Venue
8 January 2013 – 13 January 2013[14]	Minneapolis, MN	Orpheum Theatre
15 January 2013 – 27 January 2013	Cleveland, OH	State Theatre at Playhouse Square
29 January 2013 – 10 February 2013	St. Louis, MO	Fabulous Fox Theatre
12 February 2013 – 17 February 2013	Schenectady, NY	Proctors
19 February 2013 – 24 February 2013	Buffalo, NY	Shea's Performing Arts Center
26 February 2013 – 3 March 2013	Philadelphia, PA	Academy of Music (Kimmel Center)
5 March 2013 – 10 March 2013	Pittsburgh, PA	Benedum Centre
19 March 2013 – 31 March 2013	Chicago, IL	Auditorium Theatre
2 April 2013 – 7 April 2013	Miami, FL	Arsht Center
9 April 2013 – 14 April 2013	Tampa, FL	Straz Center
16 April 2013 – 21 April 2013	Orlando, FL	Bob Carr
23 April 2013 – 28 April 2013	West Palm Beach, FL	The Kravis Center
30 April 2013 – 5 May 2013	Durham, NC	Durham Performing Arts Center
8 May 2013 – 12 May 2013	Austin, TX	Bass Hall
14 May 2013 – 26 May 2013	Dallas, TX	Music Hall at Fair Park
28 May 2013 – 16 June 2013	Los Angeles, CA	Pantages Theatre
18 June 2013 – 18 August 2013	Las Vegas, NV	The Venetian Resort & Casino
21 August 2013 – 31 August 2013	San Francisco, CA	SHN Orpheum Theatre
3 September 2013 – 15 September 2013[15]	Denver, CO	Buell Theatre
17 September 2013 – 22 September 2013	Tempe, AZ	ASU Gammage
29 September 2013 – 12 October 2013	Houston, TX	The Hobby Center
15 October 2013 – 20 October 2013	San Diego, CA	San Diego Civic Theatre
22 October 2013 – 27 October 2013	Costa Mesa, CA	Segerstrom Center for the Arts
29 October 2013 – 3 November 2013	San Jose, CA	San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
5 November 2013 – 10 November 2013	Sacramento, CA	Community Center Theatre
12 November 2013 – 17 November 2013	Seattle, WA	Paramount Theatre

UK National Tour (2013–14)

In August 2012 it was announced that a national tour of the UK would begin in early 2013. The tour is produced by David Ian Productions and opened on 9 February 2013 at the Manchester Opera House and closed on 12 April 2014 at Theatre Royal, Plymouth.^[16][17]

Cast includes: Jason Donovan and Noel Sullivan (Tick/Mitzi) [depending on venue], Richard Grieve (Bernadette), Graham Weaver (Adam/Felicia), Giles Watling (Bob), Alan Hunter (Miss Understanding), Regan Shepherd (Farrah/Young Bernadette), Leon Kay (Frank).

Stockholm

The Swedish production premiered on 21 September 2013 at the Göta Lejon in Stockholm. The cast included Björn Kjellman as Bernadette, Pernilla Wahlgren as Diva, Patrik Martinsson as Tick/Mitzi, Erik Høiby as Adam/Felicia, Joel Almroth as Miss Understanding, David Sigfridsson as Farrah, Niklas Löjdmark as Frank, Caroline Sehm as Cynthia, Annika Herlitz as Marion and Jenny Asterius Persson as Shirley. The ensemble included Daniel Gill, Henrik Jessen, Magnus Borén, Nils Sundberg, Johan Klarbrandt, and Andrew Gordon Watkins. Tommy Englund and Henric Flodin were swings.

Athens

The Greek production premiered on 6 May 2014 at Badminton Theater in Athens. The cast includes Giorgos Kapoutzidis, Fotis Sergoulopoulos, Panayotis Petrakis, as well as the Greek pop singer Demy, Melina Vegas and Shaya among other performers.

Manila

The Philippine production premiered on 9 May 2014 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila.^[18] Directed by Jaime Del Mundo, the cast includes Leo Tavarro Valdez as Tick/Mitzi, Jon Santos as Bernadette, Red Concepción as Adam/Felicia, Bituin Escalante as Diva, Lani Ligot as Diva, Timmy Canlas as Diva, Henry Strzalkowski as Bob, Michael Williams as Miss Understanding, OJ Mariano as Farrah, Pinky Marquez as Shirley, Japs Treopaldo as Cynthia, Noel Rayos as Jimmy, Mako Alonzo as Frank, and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Marion.

Seoul (2014)

The Seoul production premiered on 3 July 2014 at the LG Arts Center in Seoul.^[19]

Madrid

A Spanish replica production opened on 2 October 2014 at the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid, with Jaime Zataraín as Tick, Mariano Peña and José Luis Mosquera alternating as Bernadette, Christian Escuredo as Adam, David Venancio Muro as Bob, Aminata Sow, Rossana Carraro and Patricia del Olmo as The Divas, Susan Martín as Marion, Cristina Rueda as Shirley, Etheria Chan as Cynthia, and Alejandro Vera as Miss Understanding.^[20]

Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship

In October 2015, an adapted, shorter version of the production premiered onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise ship Norwegian Epic.^[21]

Planned UK National Tour (2015/16)

Another UK national tour has been planned. Duncan James and Jason Donovan have been announced to be sharing the role of Tick.

Regional: US

Under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Bradford T. Kenney, Southern Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse produced the North East regional premiere of Priscilla, featuring Tony Award winner Jarrod Emick in the role of Tick. The production opened August 10th and will run through September 3rd, 2016. ^[22] In fall of 2016, Fiddlehead Theatre Company will present the Boston premiere at the Citi Shubert Theatre, directed and designed by Stacey Stephens, Fiddlehead Theatre Company's Associate Producing Artistic Director. Clear Space Theatre in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware will present the east coast regional premier, opening June 23. In July 2016, The Dolls' (Albuquerque's famous theatre troupe) will present the Southwest premier at The Albuquerque Journal Theatre at The National Hispanic Cultural Center directed by Kenneth Ansloan and Jessica Osbourne. Out Front Theatre Company will present the Georgia Premier, opening October 20th.

New Zealand (2016)

Priscilla Queen of the Desert will open at the Auckland Civic Theatre, New Zealand from 14th October 2016.

Japan (2016)

Priscilla Queen of the Desert will open at the Nissay Theatre, Tokyo from 8th December 2016.

France (2017)

The musical will open at Casino de Paris, France from 25th February 2017 with Laurent Bàn and David Alexis

Music

Musical numbers (original Australian and New Zealand productions)

Amendments for the London production

• (†) "I Say a Little Prayer" is the fifth number, and is again reprised as the ninth number of the show in the London production. This, therefore, means that each number (from the fifth number onwards) in Act I is one number delayed. This gives a total of fourteen numbers in Act I of the London production.
• (*) "Go West (reprise)" is replaced by "Come into My World" in the London production.
• (^) Although replaced by "Kylie Medley" in the London production, "Confide in Me" appears in that medley.

Musical numbers (Broadway and Internationally)

• * – Song does not appear on Original Broadway Cast Recording.

Musical numbers (UK Tour, Athens and Manila)

Recordings

A cast recording of the original Australian production was released on 29 September 2007;^[23] both in stores and on the Australian iTunes. All songs, with the exception of the reprise of "Go West", from the original Australian production are present on the recording and are performed by the original Australian cast. A Broadway cast recording was released on 5 April 2011.

Critical reception

In reviewing the West End production, the London Evening Standard (thisislondon) reviewer wrote: "From the first moments when three divas hang suspended high above a silver-spangled bridge and belt out Downtown, the show never loses its spectacular, helter-skelter momentum of songs to which the drag queens lip-sync."^[24]

Reviews for the Toronto production include praise for the costumes from the Globe and Mail: "The costumes designed by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, the same team that won an Oscar for the movie, are a fabulous mix of Village People meet Tim Burton culminating in, at the curtain call, a whole crass menagerie of dragged-up koalas and 'roos." The Star favorably wrote: "This eye-popping, ear-pleasing, toe-tapping honey of a show moves like a cyclone from start to finish and will leave you gasping for breath on numerous occasions, thanks to its spectacular spectacle, its raunchy humour and its virtuoso performances."^[25]

Dispute over use of recorded music

Use of a recorded string section in the Broadway production of Priscilla led to a dispute between producers and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The AFM argues that using recordings in place of live music is a marginal cost-saving measure which cheats audiences of the full, rich sound of a live orchestra. Producers argued that the artistic conception of the show requires a "synthetic pop flavor" that can only be achieved with recorded music. AFM member Scott Frankel, who composed the music for Grey Gardens, stated: "What is most special about seeing a Broadway musical, rather than some other art form, is the interaction between the orchestra musicians and the performers onstage". The dispute is currently awaiting arbitration.^[26]

Awards and nominations

The Sydney production won the 2008 Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Production Of A Musical and Judith Johnson Award For Best Performance By An Actor In A Musical – Tony Sheldon.^[27]

The West End production of Priscilla received three nominations at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Tony Sheldon) and Best Costume Design (Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner). Chappel and Gardiner won the award for Best Costume Design.^[28] It also received seven nominations at the 2010 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards and went on to win four awards there: Best New Musical, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Oliver Thornton), Best Set Designer (Brian Thomson) and Best Choreographer (Ross Coleman). The West End production was nominated for a further eight awards at the BroadwayWorld.com UK Awards and won two: Best Costume Design (Chappel and Gardiner) and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Thornton).

The Broadway production received four Outer Critics Circle Award nominations: Outstanding New Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Tony Sheldon), Outstanding Costume Design (Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner), and Outstanding Choreographer (Ross Coleman).^[29] Chappel and Gardiner won the award for Outstanding Costume Design.^[30] The musical also received four Drama Desk Awards nominations: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Tony Sheldon), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott), Outstanding Costume Design (Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner).^[31] Chappel and Gardiner once again won the award for Outstanding Costume Design.^[32]

On 3 May 2011 the musical received two Tony Award nominations: Best Actor in a Musical (Tony Sheldon) and Best Costume Design (Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner), winning for costume design.^[33]

In January 2014, BroadwayWorld.com announced the North American Tour Priscilla at The Pantages Theater as Best Musical Touring Production in Los Angeles, CA for the year 2013. Other BBW Los Angeles awards include: Best Leading Actor in a Musical Touring Production (Scott Willis as Bernadette), Best Featured Actor in a Musical Touring Production (Nik Alexzander as Miss Understanding), Best Direction of a Musical Touring Production (Simon Phillips/David Hyslop) and Best Musical Direction of a Musical Touring Production (Brent Frederick). The San Francisco BBW Awards for 2013 announced Best Leading Actor in a Musical Touring Production (Scott Willis as Bernadette) in January 2014, as well.

References

External links

• Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Internet Broadway Database
• Official Priscilla website
• Priscilla in London
• An interview with Tony Sheldon talking about his work in PRISCILLA – todoMUSICALES.com