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Priscilla, Queen of the Desert plays its final performance on Broadway today, June 24, 2012, after 23 previews and 526 performances. After a pre-Broadway try-out in Toronto, the show opened on March 20, 2011, at The Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway), starring Tony Award nominee Will Swenson, Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon and Nick Adams as a trio of friends on a road trip, 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.
The musical had its world premiere in Sydney in 2006, traveled to Melbourne and New Zealand and also made its West End debut before coming Broadway in 2011.
Adapted from the Academy Award-winning film The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. Direction is by Simon Phillips, choreography by Ross Coleman, musical supervision and arrangements by STEPHEN 'SPUD' MURPHY and set design by Brian Thomson and costumes by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner. Production is supervised by Jerry Mitchell. Lighting is designed by Nick Schlieper, sound design is by Jonathan Deans and Peter Fitzgerald and make up design is by Cassie Hanlon.
Priscilla opened on October 26, 2010, in Toronto for a 12-week pre-Broadway run at The Princess of Wales Theatre, starring Will Swenson as Tick/Mitzi, Tony Sheldon as Bernadette, Nick Adams as Adam/Feicia, all of whom transferred to Broadway for the complete run. Check out photos from the North American premiere below!
The Toronto run finished in January, 2011, and immediately after, The Palace Theatre started prepping for the Broadway engagement. Here's a look at Priscilla up on the marquee.
In late January, 2011, before the Broadway opening, the cast met to put together Priscilla's Original Broadway Cast Recording, produced by Stephen "Spud" Murphyand Frank Filipetti. The recording was released in March 2011 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
BroadwayWorld brought you a first look at Priscilla on Broadway with footage from the Toronto production and Richard Ridge's highlights from the cast in rehearsal. Watch the videos below!
Following smash hit productions in Australia, London and Toronto, the long-anticipated Broadway production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert opened on March 20, 2011. See below for production photos and opening night bows!
The cast of Priscilla, featuring Nick Adams, Tony Sheldon and Will Swenson, performed "It's Raining Men" at the 2011 Tony Awards on June 12. Watch the team in rehearsal at the Tonys with Paul Shaffer and Martha Wash in the video, followed by an interview with Tony Award winners for Best Costume Design, Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner!
After Priscilla's success at the Tonys, the musical made appearances at the NYC Pride Parade, America's Got Talent, the Apple Store, NBC's In the Wings, WCBS FM 101.1, Broadway in Bryant Park, PIX-11's Curtain Up, The Rosie Show, NBC's Weekend Today in New York, So You Think You Can Dance, CBS' Sunday Morning, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and more.
Throughout the course of its run, Priscilla was awarded a 2011 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for Academy Award winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s designs. The musical was also honored with three Best Musical award nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award organizations. Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in addition to Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nominations, and was awarded the Theatre World Award for outstanding Broadway debut. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner were also honored with 2011 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Costume Design.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is set to launch its National Tour in fall of 2012. The musical has enjoyed an incredible Broadway run, and now it's time for the bus to make its next stop.
Take one last look at the cast of Priscilla performing "It's Raining Men," "Say a Little Prayer," and "Color My World" below!
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