Everyone’s favourite Aussie musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is off on a national tour, starting in Melbourne in January 2018, with stops in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.
After a glittering array of international awards on Broadway, the West End, Europe and Asia, Simon Phillips’ spectacular production Priscilla Queen of the Desert makes a triumphant return to Australia for its 10th anniversary. The fabulously funny, fish out of water musical is based on the Oscar-winning film about Mitzi, Felicia and former Les Girl, Bernadette – who hop aboard a battered old bus named Priscilla bound for Alice Springs.
Original Director Simon Phillips is back at the helm of this iconic hit musical which has lost none of its glitter, featuring a dazzling array of more than 500 award-winning costumes, 200 headdresses and a non-stop hit parade of dance floor favourites such as I Will Survive, Don’t Leave Me This Way, I Say A Little Prayer, Hot Stuff, Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Finally, Shake your Groove Thing, I Love The Nightlife and It’s Raining Men. Casting commences in August.
The 1994 film created by Stephan Elliott starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce remains one of Australia’s most successful films and soundtracks of all-time, with a glitzy array of awards in the trophy cabinet – including an Academy Award for Costume Design, two BAFTAS for Costume and Make-Up Design, and the Grand Prix du Publique from Cannes Film Festival.
The quintessentially Aussie story about mateship, determination, self-discovery and a fair go was translated from screen to stage by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott with the film’s award-winning costume designers Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chapel onboard, alongside stage designer Brian Thomson and legendary choreographer Ross Coleman.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert returns home after a rollicking ten-year ride around the world. It journeyed to London’s West End, Broadway, Milan, Tokyo, North America, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Cape Town, Manila, Tel Aviv and beyond, with current productions now playing in Paris, Spain, Johannesburg and on Norwegian Cruise Line.
The bus now rocks back into Melbourne with a Tony, an Olivier, five Italian Musical Theatre Awards, seven Argentinian A.C.E Awards, four Spanish Musical Theatre Awards and five Green Room Awards and more international accolades on the dashboard.
The hilarious and heartwarming musical made its world premiere at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre in October 2006, playing for 11 months to 500,000 people, taking $40 million at the box office. It subsequently played at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from October 2017 for a further 7 months.
“It’s a joy to be back in the driver’s seat for the homecoming of this bona fide national treasure,” said Director Simon Phillips. “Behind the sparkles, feathers and camp feel-good factor is a story that remains as relevant as it did when the film was released 20 odd years ago with a message of hope, tolerance and acceptance.”
Priscilla Queen of the Desert opens at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in January 2018, before playing Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from May, the Adelaide Festival Centre from August, and Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre – QPAC from September. Tickets for the Melbourne season go on sale on Monday 14 August 2017.
For more information, and to join the waitlist for other cities, visit: www.priscillathemusical.com.au for details.
Image: the original Australian production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (supplied)