Full cast confirmed for Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical

Producer Michael Cassel has this morning confirmed the full cast for the 10th anniversary Australian tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which is set to open at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on 21 January 2018.

Joining previously announced principal cast David Harris, Euan Doidge and Tony Sheldon on their desert adventure are Robert Grubb as outback mechanic Bob; Emma Powell as burly bartender Shirl and Blake Appelqvist as Miss Understanding, both fresh from the hit tour of Kinky Boots; Adele Parkinson as hotel entertainment manager Marion; Angelique Cassimatis, Samm Hagen and Cle Morgan as The Divas; and reprising her role from the original Australian production, Lena Cruz as Bob’s wife Cynthia.

The cast also includes Jakob Ambrose, Michelle Barr, Xander Ellis, Mitchell Fistrovic, Tom Handley, Haydan Hawkins, Luke Jarvis, Joe Kosky, Leonard Mickelo, Adam Noviello, Shannen Quan, Glaston Toft and Patrick Whitbread.

The quintessentially Aussie story about mateship, self-discovery and acceptance was translated from screen to stage by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, with the film’s acclaimed costume designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner onboard, alongside stage designer Brian Thomson and co-choreographers Ross Coleman and Andrew Hallsworth. The 10th anniversary production will be musically directed by Stephen Gray and directed once again by Simon Phillips, who has recently worked his magic on other homegrown Australian musicals including Muriel’s Wedding, Dreamlover, Ladies in Black and the Australian re-imagining of Love Never Dies.

“We’ve assembled a cracking cast for Priscilla’s homecoming, led by a doyen of the musical stage, Tony Sheldon”, Phillips said.

“We’re blessed to have some of our original cast back on the bus for the 10th anniversary tour, along with many fabulous new faces. I can’t wait to put the stiletto to the metal and get rehearsals started.”

Based on the Oscar-winning Australian film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the hilarious story of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for Alice Springs to put on the show of a lifetime. The 1994 film starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce remains one of Australia’s most successful films and soundtracks of all-time with a swag of awards in the trophy cabinet, including an Oscar for Best Costume Design.

Featuring a dazzling array of more than 500 costumes, 200 headdresses and a non-stop hit parade of dance-floor classics including ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘I Will Survive’, ‘I Love The Nightlife’ and ‘Finally’, this fabulously camp production has more glitter in its wake than ever. In 10 years, the show has enjoyed award-winning stints on Broadway and in the West End as well as The Netherlands, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Israel, Argentina, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, France, Japan, Spain, Greece, North America, the United Kingdom and on the high seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Future international productions will include seasons in Copenhagen, Munich, Mexico City, and return tours to Japan, Korea, Italy, France and the United Kingdom for the third time.