The high-energy, feel-good musical has been a sensation in Australia, London, and even New York, where it won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Costumes. Soon, the show will be ready to leave Houston audiences grinning from ear to ear and cheering as they hear this cast perform dance-floor favorites likes "It's Raining Men," "Finally," and "I Will Survive."
Before the show makes its splashy Houston debut, I got to go backstage during the tour's load-in and snap some behind-the-scenes shots. Don't worry, PRISCILLA had already beat her face, and everything I saw was sickening!
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT: THE MUSICAL, presented by Theatre Under the Stars, runs in the Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby Street, Houston, 77002 from September 29 through October 12, 2013. For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.tuts.com or call (713) 558-8887.
Photos by David Clarke.
Backstage, many large crates are neatly stored.
Paintbrush Dresses.
Wild Flower Dress.
A dress that resembles desert foliage.
Bee Dress.
Ball Dress.
Gumby Costumes.
Le Girls Headdress.
Uluru Headdresses. The blue one is worn by Tick/Mitzi and the pink one by Adam/Felicia.
Tick/Mitzi's Flip Flop Dress Platform.
A leopard and black feather costume.
"Minties" Costumes.
Indian Headdress for the "Go West" scene. All of the Village People make a cameo in this number!
A Cowboy-inspired Costume.
Pink Kanagroo Costumes.
Behind the stage is an entire wardrobe hall for quick changes.
Glitter Drawer.
Working on the wigs for the Divas.
A Diva wig for the Finale.
Wigs waiting to be worked on.
Wigs ready for performance.
The mullet wig.
A wig for "Don't Leave Me This Way."
This diva (wig) needs her stage!
Diva Wigs.
Ground Control.
A Bedazzled Table and Chair for "I Say A Little Prayer."
The machine looks dirty, but the garments inside look clean.
Trumpet's Casket.
A shopping cart full of Victoria Bitter Beer cans.
Scenic Element for "Material Girl."
Scenic Element.
They called this the Peacock Chair.
This trick chair really POPS!
Even Barbie likes to travel across the Outback.
A platypus. Why not?
David Hasselhoff, or the cast and crew's long running inside joke.
David Hasselhoff adorns the props container.
David Hasselhoff adorns the props container.
PRISCILLA money!
This little road kill lizard doesn't appear on stage (I think), but I like him!
"I hereby christen this budget Barbie camper... Priscilla, Queen of the Desert!" - Adam/Felicia
Felicia's Shoe.
Priscilla's level of detail is fascinating!
Inside the bus.
The driver's seat.
Don't hassle the Hoff, a.k.a. Michael Knight (Knight Rider).
Inside the bus.
Even Boy George makes a cameo in PRISCILLA!
The door to the bus.
The back of the bus.
The mylar backdrop for "It's Raining Men."
The mylar backdrop for "It's Raining Men."
The Marlboro Man even makes an appearance in PRISCILLA.
The Orchestra Pit.
The Orchestra Pit.
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