The new musical, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and directed by Simon Phillips, will begin its 12-week run at Toronto's The Princesss of Wales Theatre Oct. 12 with an official opening Oct. 26. Broadway dates will be announced at a later time.
The cast will also feature C. David Johnson (Bob), James Brown III (Jimmy), Nathan Lee Graham (Miss Understanding), J. Elaine Marcos (Cynthia), Jessica Phillips (Marion), Steve Schepis (Farrah), Keala Settle (Shirley), Divas Jacqueline Arnold and Anastacia McCleskey and Nick Adams, Thom Allison, Kyle Brown, Joshua Buscher, Susan Dunstan, David Lopez, Eric Sciotto, Bryan West, Wayne Wilcox and Tad Wilson. A
Australian star Tony Sheldon (Olivier Award nominee for Priscilla) will make his Broadway debut as Bernadette, the role he originated in the original Australian production and played in London's West End. Will Swenson will play Tick/Mitzi and Adams will play the role of Adam/Felicia.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, adapted from the film of the same name, is "a heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and featuring a score of dance-floor classics, Priscilla is a sensational journey to the heart of fabulous," according to the show's producers.
The musical also features choreography by Ross Coleman, musical supervision and arrangements by Stephen "Spud" Murphy, set design by Brian Thomson, costume design by Academy Award winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, lighting design by Nick Schlieper, sound design by Jonathan Deans and BAFTA Award-winning make-up design re-created by Cassie Hanlon. Priscilla had its world premiere in Sydney in October 2006 and has subsequently played Melbourne and New Zealand. The London production recently celebrated its first year in the West End at the Palace Theatre. Along with Toronto and Broadway, further international dates are also in discussion for Brazil, Scandinavia and Germany.
The North American production is produced by Liz Koops and Garry McQuinn for Back Row Productions, Michael Hamlyn for Specific Films, Allan Scott Productions, David Mirvish, Roy Furman, Terry Allen Kramer, Nederlander Organization, Terri and Timothy Childs / Ken Greiner / Chip Meyrelles, Bartner Group LLC, Chugg Entertainment, Bruce Davy, Michael Buckley, Stewart Lane, Thierry Suc and Volcano Project /TS3.
For tickets, schedule and performance information on the West End and Toronto productions, visit priscillathemusical.com.
