Complete Casting Announced for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Uptown Players

Uptown Players and director Ann Nieman have cast an array of celebrity divas to star in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, running July 13-July 29, 2018. Jack Donahue and Blake McIver enthusiastically come to Dallas to make their Uptown debut, leading the cast alongside Dallasites Dana Harper and Kelly Groves, bringing a wide array of illustrious performance experience to the Kalita Humphreys Theater this summer.

Jack Donahue has worked in many of the most renowned theatres from New York to Los Angeles and recently played the role of Bernadette to critical acclaim at Austin's Zachary Scott Theatre. Donahue exclaimed, "I'm thrilled to be making my debut with Dallas' Uptown Players. Getting to revisit the role of Bernadette is such a joy for me, and Priscilla's inclusive message couldn't come at a better time. The music is a blast, the energy is electric, and I can't wait to shake my groove thing for Dallas!"

Blake McIver has been seen on stage and screen since he was a child actor, and having known other esteemed actors from DFW, the Uptown reputation made the decision to play Felicia an easy one. McIver says, "I'm thrilled to be making my Uptown Players debut, and Dallas theatrical debut, in Priscilla! I've known about Uptown Players for quite some time as my wonderful friends and colleagues Del Shores, Stacey Oristano, & Emerson Collins are all alums and have been raving about the company for as long as I've known them! As an actor and member of the LGBTQ community, it is such an honor to be able to work with a company that elevates queer voices and tells queer stories. Also, as the son of a proud Texan, I'm so excited to spend a summer in the Big D! I can't wait to strap on some heels, jump on the 'bus' and cross the desert!"

Dana Harper is a Dallas native whose passion for music and the arts has taken her to many exciting places! While studying Musical Theater at Pace University in New York City she was presented with opportunities such as performing at Madison Square Garden, and The Apollo Theater! Dana's most recent and proud accomplishment was being on Season 11 of NBC's The Voice as a Top 20 member of Blake Shelton's team. She is currently a full-time singer in and around the DFW metroplex and will be playing the Lead Diva. Harper too claims, "I am excited to get back to my stage roots and join The Uptown Players family!!"

Adapted from the 1994 Academy Award-winning film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the heartwarming, uplifting musical adventure of three friends, Tick, Bernadette and Adam (two drag queens and a transsexual), who take their show to the middle of the Australian Outback. With a book by Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott, and a hit parade of dancefloor favorites including "It's Raining Men," "I Will Survive," and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," this wildly fresh and funny musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!

The Uptown Players cast includes Chapman Blake, Alyssa Cavazos, Jack Donahue, Kyle Fleig, Sonny Franks, Mary Gilbreath Grim, Kelly Groves, Dana Harper, Isaiah Harris, Derik Lawson, Beth Lipton, Laura Lites, Blake McIver, Rodney Morris, Alex Prejean, Taylor Ratliff, Brett Rawlings, Collins Rush, Kelly Schaaf, Sammy Swim, Nana Tatebayashi, and Kevin M. Taylor. The show is directed and Choreographed by Ann Nieman, with Music Direction by Kevin Gunter.

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Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs July 13 - July 29, 2018, with shows at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Performances take place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd (at Blackburn), Dallas, TX 75219. There will be no performance July 15. Tickets are $30-$60 and can be purchased online at www.uptownplayers.org or by phone at (214) 219-2718.

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