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PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT Celebrates 100th B-way Performance Tonight
By: Gabrielle Sierra May. 27, 2011
To celebrate PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT's 100th performance on Broadway, tonight, Friday, May 27th -- the smash hit new musical is counting down 100 "memorable" fun facts and backstage secrets leading up to the landmark performance.
A series of 100 facts have been released over the past 10 days leading up to PRISCILLA's 100th Broadway performance tonight at the Palace Theatre.
#10: Priscilla's book writer Stephan Elliott, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the original feature film, got the idea for Priscilla when he witnessed a feather blow off a drag queen's headdress at Sydney Mardi Gras and roll down the street like an old Sergio Leone tumbleweed!
#9: Priscilla cast member James Brown III has left his mark on many an original Broadway company - in addition to Priscilla, James has been part of the original Broadway companies of Memphis, The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple.
#8: Kudos to the entire design team of Priscilla - The New York Times exclaimed of the production, "Performed with gleaming verve! Every conceivable surface has been decked with sequins, spattered with colored lights, or trimmed in feathers and fringe."
#7: Upon learning of their Outer Critics Circle win for Outstanding Costume Design for the stage production of Priscilla, Lizzy Gardiner said, "I just love the way Americans are always open to outsiders. They just applaud something that they love, even if it's about three drag queens lost in the desert in Australia! I feel at home here."
#6: "A Fine Romance" was written for the musical film, Swing Time, where it was co-introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
#5: Tony Sheldon and partner actor Tony Taylor have been together 31 years and last appeared on stage together in The Producers in Australia in 2004.
#4: Tony Sheldon has been nominated for every award he is eligible for on Broadway this season including 2011 Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League awards and a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
#3: Magnolia Bakery's delectable "Priscilla Cupcake" is modeled after the elaborate cupcake dresses worn in "MacArthur Park" - there's even a deliciously soft ‘meringue kiss' atop the pistachio-flavored cupcake!
#2: Priscilla toasted its best gross ever on Broadway in the "Millionaire's Club" last week with $1,028,470, topping its previous record of $1,003,206 for the week ending April 17, 2011.
#1: Original Australian star and Tony nominee for Best Actor in a Musical Tony Sheldon is so committed to convincing the audience that he is the transsexual character "Bernadette" he restricts himself to a special diet to stay slim, spends over an hour getting into hair and makeup before every show, and maintains a stunning bubble gum pink manicure 24/7. Now that's a work ethic worth raising a glass to!
Following hit productions in Australia, London and Toronto, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL opened to critical acclaim on March 20 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway).
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT has been honored with three Best Musical award nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award organizations. Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon has received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical in addition to Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Best Actor nominations. Mr. Sheldon won a 2011 Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut in Priscilla. Academy Award winning design team Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner have also been nominated for a Tony Award for their costume design for the stage production, in addition to winning the 2011 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Costume Design.
A new block of tickets are now on sale for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL. Tickets for Broadway's new smash hit will now be available through January 29, 2012.
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL stars Tony Award® nominee Will Swenson, Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon and Nick Adams as the trio of friends on a heart-warming, uplifting road trip of a lifetime 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.
Featuring a score of over 20 dance-floor classics, a company of 27, and with a dazzling array of more than 500 outrageous costumes, the spectacular new stage musical is a sensational journey to the heart of fabulous!
Adapted from the Academy Award® winning film The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, 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. Production supervised by Jerry Mitchell. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner have re-created their Academy Award® winning costume designs originally designed for the film. Lighting is designed by Nick Schlieper, sound design is by Jonathan Deans and Peter Fitzgerald and make up design is by Cassie Hanlon.
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL is produced by Bette Midler; James L. Nederlander; Garry McQuinn, Liz Koops; Michael Hamlyn; Allan Scott; Roy Furman/ Richard Willis; Terry Allen Kramer; Terri and Timothy Childs, Ken Greiner, Ruth Hendel; Chugg Entertainment; Michael Buckley; Stewart Lane/ Bonnie Comley; Bruce Davey; Thierry Suc/TS3; Bartner/ Jenkins; Broadway Across America/H. Koenigsberg; M. Lerner/ D. Bisno/ K. Seidel/ R. Gold; Paul Boskind and Martian Entertainment / Spirtas-Mauro Productions / MAS Music Arts & Show; and David Mirvish.
