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Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has finally opened on New York’s Broadway. The $US15 million show had been playing previews since the 28th February 2011, and held its official opening night on Sunday 20th March at the Palace Theatre.

The opening night audience included several celebrities, including comedienne Joan Rivers and model Christie Brinkley. The Broadway cast features a familiar face for West End Priscilla aficionados – with the Olivier Award-nominated Tony Sheldon reprising the role of Bernadette.

Claws Out from the Critics?

Although Priscilla had enjoyed a hugely successful run of preview performances, with sell-out weekend shows and close to capacity weeknights, there was still some caution around the production as the critics gathered for the official opening night.

Charles Isherwood of the New York Times made a fierce assessment: ''Priscilla feels monotonous and mechanical. It lacks the narrative complexity of La Cage and isn't as impishly clever as guilty-pleasure indulgences like Mamma Mia! and Xanadu.''

Across the disco floor other reviewers were much kinder. Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune saying: "Priscilla has a pulsing theatrical heart and soul" while Michael Musto of The Village Voice exclaimed: "Do I recommend it? Sure."

The Most Successful Australian Musical Ever!

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert had its world premiere in Sydney in 2006 after being adapted for stage by the original film’s writer, Stephan Elliot. The musical moved to Melbourne, New Zealand and back to Sydney again between 2006 and 2008, as rumours of a West End production gathered pace.  The London show opened at the Palace Theatre in 2009 with Jason Donovan as Tick/Mitzi, Tony Sheldon as Bernadette and Oliver Thornton as Adam/Felicia. The creative team included Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, who re-created their Academy Award-winning costume designs from the film with spectacular effect on the big stage.

A Show Packed With Dance Floor Classics

When drag queen ‘Mitzi’ is offered a job in Alice Springs he persuades two friends and fellow performers, ‘Bernadette’ and ‘Felicia’, to join him on the journey of a lifetime across the Australian outback in Priscilla, an old tour bus. The three friends set off in search of love and adventure, but end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert dance floor classics include Don’t Leave Me This Way, I Say A Little Prayer, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, MacArthur Park and Boogie Wonderland.

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