STAGE TUBE: Will Swenson Talks PRISCILLA!

As BroadwayWorld just announced, Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon and Tony Award® nominee Will Swenson (Hair) will lead the cast of the pre-Broadway North American company of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and directed by Simon Phillips.

The spectacular new stage musical will begin performances at The Prince of Wales Theatre in Toronto for a twelve-week only, pre-Broadway engagement beginning October 12, 2010 and officially opening on October 26. Tickets are now on sale.  Click below to watch Swenson's first interview since officially joining the project from London!

Will Swenson, who will play "Tick"/ "Mitzi" is currently starring in Hair in the West End direct from the Tony Award® winning Broadway production and was recently seen on Broadway in the revival of 110 in the Shade and the original musicals Lestat and Brooklyn.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL will open on Broadway in Spring 2011 at a theater to be announced.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL 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. Additional principal casting will be announced shortly.

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.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL 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.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL, adapted from the Academy Award® winning film "The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert," starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. Direction is by Simon Phillips, choreography is by Ross Coleman, musical supervision and arrangements are by Stephen ‘Spud' Murphy and set design is by BrIan Thomson. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner have re-created their Academy Award® winning costume designs, which were originally designed for the film. Lighting is designed by Nick Schlieper and sound design is by Jonathan Deans. BAFTA Award winning make up design is recreated by Cassie Hanlon.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL had its world premiere in Sydney in October 2006 and has subsequently wowed audiences and critics alike in Melbourne and New Zealand, becoming the most successful Australian musical of all time. Following a return Sydney season last year due to popular demand, 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 productions in Brazil, Scandinavia and Germany.

Along with winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Costume Design for Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, the musical was also nominated for Best New Musical and Tony Sheldon was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical.

For tickets, schedule and performance information on the West End and Toronto productions visit: priscillathemusical.com.