BWW Special: Chatting with the Creative Forces Behind PRISCILLA!

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the much anticipated musical about to open in Toronto and make its big debut on Broadway in 2011. Already a smash-hit in Australia and the UK, Priscilla is getting its first North American audience in Toronto for 12 weeks before she hits the road for the Great White Way! BWW has been following the show's journey, and today brings you reflections from Producer Garry McQuinn and Director Simon Phillips about the road to Broadway so far, and what Toronto audiences can expect.

Both Garry and Simon have been with the show from the very beginning, and could not be more passionate about the project. If the energy radiating from these two guys is anything like what we can expect to see on stage, Toronto is in for quite the treat.

For those not familiar with the story of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, it centers around three unlikely friends who happen to be drag queens, trekking across the Australian Outback to help reunite the main character Tick/Mitzi (played by Will Swenson) with his son, whom he has never met. It is a story with a lot of heart amidst all the glitz and glamour, and that is something that both Garry and Simon were quick to point out.

In fact, for the North American premiere, the two have been working on making some changes to the show that flesh out the central story and the heart of the production. Says Garry, "about 15% to 20% has been revised with new scenes, and a greater kind of connection. We learned a lot from our audiences over the years and it has allowed us to improve characters and their interactions." Simon is quick to echo a similar sentiment, stating that the main focus was "on clarifying the narrative and fleshing out the central character and the family aspect behind the show."

Casting a show of this magnitude is also a unique challenge, especially when you have to factor in a North American search for quadruple threats (people who can sing, act, dance and pull off drag). The production is lucky enough to have the formidable Tony Sheldon returning to the role he created in both Australia and the West End (Bernadette) and has found a great mix of Canadian and American talent to comprise the cast. As Simon explains, "it is an extensive show to cast. We need to consider many different angles, and then consider that we have to drag everyone up. You end up with a short list and then you have to put them in drag - and you can end up with some strange surprises. The Canadian talent was very impressive, as well, so we asked many of them to continue on to Broadway. For instance, C. David Johnson (who plays Bob) - no one we saw could touch him."

And of course, there is Priscilla herself to think about. The main "star" of the show is a bus that is 8.5 metres long, weighs 5 whole tonnes and has 30,000 LED lights. Having something of that magnitude on a stage and working with it day in and day out is quite the challenge - one that almost never happened. Garry tells us that "originally we didn't think we would have the bus or the Australian outback, but we found a way to make it work and that opened up our imagination." You really have to see Priscilla to fully understand her beauty, and, Garry tells us "this is the best bus yet. It is the biggest and most expensive prop and our third version of the bus."

We discussed what it was like transitioning to Toronto and why they chose it specifically as the launch pad for the North American premiere. The answer is very simple, it turns out.  Garry reveals: "It was Mirvish. They made it so easy. They were the first people in the world to show interest in our show. The family made a trip to Melbourne to see it way before anyone else and they have supported us this whole time. They are our friends and so Toronto was at the top of our list. Plus, it is a great theatre town with great audiences who have high expectations. We wanted an audience who would demand high standards from us."

So for the next 12 weeks Priscilla gets to call Toronto (and The Princess of Wales Theatre) home, and Toronto audiences should try not to miss out on this extravagant show. When the 12 weeks are up, the heads down to NYC where it will have its official debut on Broadway on March 20th, 2011 at The Palace Theater. And while we have certainly been keen to showcase the fantastic costumes, lighting, sets and more - it is important to remember that at its core, Priscilla is ultimately a story about family, friendship and heart. Simon sums it up best when he said "Priscilla rides on joy and the simple permission to have a good time."

When and Where?
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
The Princess of Wales Theatre

Performance Schedule:

Begins Oct 12th, 2010 for a 12 week pre-Broadway run.

Tuesday - Saturday at 8PM
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2PM

Tickets can be purchased online at www.mirvish.com or be phone at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333

For more information visit www.priscillathemusical.com.