Will Swenson on 'Tick' and Living the Dream in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT

Tony Award nominee Will Swenson recently chatted with Broadway Beat at PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT's press day.  In the interview, Swenson talked about everything from his fabulous character to his fabulous castmates.  

Swenson revealed, "I play a guy named Tick when he's a boy, and Mitzi when he's more fabulous. He's a very conflicted character. On one hand he is this tortured soul who's an absentee father, and he hasn't shown up in his son's life because he's fearful or ashamed that his son won't accept him for who he is. Who he is, is this fabulous drag performer, but he doesn't think his son will love him for who he is."  

"So it's these two very different personalities that you juggle throughout, and the journey, literally and figuratively is to go meet his son after being absent from his life for seven or eight years, and see if his son will accept him for who he is."

On working with his fellow cast members he added, "It's been a dream, not to sound cheesy, but everything has gone really well. You always kind of hope that your co-workers are going to be talented and good people to boot. I won the lottery with this one, because Tony Sheldon is the most lovely gentleman you would ever want to meet, and he's even more lovely onstage- he's insanely talented. Nick Adams is a fantastic guy and he's so perfect in this part. He's not bad to look at either. It's a dream-team for me. I love my time onstage with them, it's great."

To watch the full Broadway Beat coverage of PRISCILLA's press day, click here. 

Following its critically acclaimed North American debut engagement in Toronto, the spectacular new stage musical arrives on Broadway at The Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway) when previews begin Monday, February 28 toward an official opening on Sunday, March 20, 2011. Yesterday morning, the show met the press in New York for the first time, we were there to capture all the fun. 

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 adventure 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 and with a dazzling array of more than 500 outrageous costumes, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE 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. 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 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 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

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