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Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical single work   musical theatre   humour   satire  
Adaptation of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Stephan Elliott , 1994 single work film/TV
Issue Details: First known date: 2006... 2006 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical
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Affiliation Notes

  • Additional Awards:

    Nominations:

    Best Male Actor in a Musical (David Harris), Helpmann Awards, 2018.

    Best Male Actor in a Musical (Euan Doidge), Helpmann Awards, 2018.

    Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Robert Grubb), Helpmann Awards, 2018.

Production Details

  • World premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Star City, Sydney from October 7, 2006.

    Director: Simon Phillips.


    A re-cast London stage version has been playing at London's Palace Theatre since March 2009.


    Broadway, New York, United States of America, season opened March 2011.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

The 15 Greatest Australian Musicals, on Stage and Screen – Sorted Cassie Tongue , Benjamin Neutze , 2022 single work review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 7 August 2022;

— Review of Fangirls Yve Blake , 2019 single work musical theatre ; The Legend of King O'Malley Michael Boddy , Bob Ellis , 1970 single work musical theatre ; Lola Montez Peter Benjamin , Alan Burke , 1958 single work musical theatre ; Bran Nue Dae : A Musical Journey Jimmy Chi , 1990 single work musical theatre ; Only Heaven Knows Alex Harding , 1988 single work musical theatre ; Moulin Rouge! The Musical Baz Luhrmann , John Logan , 2016 single work musical theatre ; The Boy from Oz Nick Enright , Peter Allen , 1998 single work musical theatre ; Keating! A Country Soul Opera Casey Bennetto , 2005 single work musical theatre ; Summer Rain Nick Enright , 1983 single work musical theatre ; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical Stephan Elliott , Allan Scott , 2006 single work musical theatre ; Barbara and the Camp Dogs Ursula Yovich , Alana Valentine , 2017 single work musical theatre ; Muriel's Wedding : The Musical P. J. Hogan , 2017 single work musical theatre ; Miracle City Nick Enright , 1996 single work musical theatre
Transgender Actor Vonni Lands 'Role of a Lifetime' in Gold Coast Priscilla Production Nicole Dyer , Tom Forbes , 2022 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , April 2022;

'When The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert hit movie screens in 1994, the lead role of transgender character Bernadette Bassenger was played by male English actor Terrence Stamp.'

COVID-19 Lockdown Drama for Performers as Favourite Musical Opens on Glitter Strip Sarah Cumming , 2021 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , July 2021;
'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert tells the story of three drag queens travelling through the outback on a journey of self-discovery — a great Australian road trip without COVID-19 border restrictions, simply faaaabulous daaarling.' (Introduction)
Musical Review Tess Van Hemert , 2018 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian Journal of Popular Culture , September vol. 7 no. 2 2018; (p. 327-329)
Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical Trying to Change Bigotry, One Song at a Time Matthew Smith , 2018 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , August 2018;

'Acclaimed Adelaide transgender performer Vonni says Australia has come a long way in acceptance, but bigotry and hatred still remains.'  (Introduction)

Priscilla Reigns in the West End Stephanie Bunbury , 2009 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 25 March 2009; (p. 22)

— Review of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical Stephan Elliott , Allan Scott , 2006 single work musical theatre
Frills and Flounces But Costume Drama Hard to Wear Deborah Jones , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 9 October 2006; (p. 13)

— Review of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical Stephan Elliott , Allan Scott , 2006 single work musical theatre
Funny, Brash, Loud, Not Very Good Kerryn Goldsworthy , 1994-1995 single work review
— Appears in: Arena Magazine , December/January no. 14 1994-1995; (p. 49-51)

— Review of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical Stephan Elliott , Allan Scott , 2006 single work musical theatre
Icing on Priscilla Cake in a Big Apple Slice 2011 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 24 March 2011; (p. 9)

— Review of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical Stephan Elliott , Allan Scott , 2006 single work musical theatre
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 2011 single work review
— Appears in: Tertangala , no. 5 2011; (p. 55)

— Review of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical Stephan Elliott , Allan Scott , 2006 single work musical theatre
Dragged into the Limelight Olivia Stewart , 2006 single work column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 14 - 15 October 2006; (p. 16)
y separately published work icon Year of the Queen : The Making of the Hit Musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Jeremy Stanford , Watsons Bay : Wild and Woolley , 2007 Z1411256 2007 single work criticism The star of the hit musical, now playing in Sydney and soon to open in London's West End, recounts the early days of preparation, rehearsals, and finally opening night.
Out of the Closet Julie Szego , 2007 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 29 September 2007; (p. 10)
London Critics Throw a Prissy Fit Stephanie Bunbury , Clare Morgan , 2009 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 25 March 2009; (p. 16)
Stephanie Bunbury and Clare Morgan report on the London reception of Stephan Elliott's 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical'. They note that although the audience reception was enthusiastically clamorous, the critics were less positive about the production.
Poor View of Priscilla Puts Show on Screen Louise Schwartzkoff , 2009 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 3 April 2009; (p. 14)

Awards

2010 winner WhatsonStage.com Awards Best New Musical
2010 nominated Olivier Awards Best New Musical
2008 winner Sydney Theatre Awards Best Musical Nominated for the 2008 Black Row Productions production.
2007 nominated Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Musical Nominated for the 2006 Back Row Productions production.
2007 nominated Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best New Australian Work Nominated for the 2006 Back Row Productions production.
Last amended 19 Jun 2018 09:33:29
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