Overview
Synopsis
Based on the 1994 popular movie of the same name, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the journey of two drag queens, Tick and Adam, and a transgender woman, Bernadette, as they travel across Australia in their bus, named Priscilla. Tick has been asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs by his estranged wife, Marion. Taking Adam and Bernadette along with him, the trio drive from Sydney to the remote resort town in the middle of the desert. Tick tells his companions that the trip is a favour to his wife, from whom he is separated, but does not reveal that he also has an 8-year-old son he does not know, but who now wants to meet his father. As they head west, Tick, Adam, and Bernadette learn to accept and support each other, whilst encountering a number of strange and colorful characters. After experiencing violent homophobic threats, Adam is forced to realize that not everyone is accepting of his flamboyant lifestyle, whilst Bernadette opens up to the possibility of love again following the death of her husband. Upon reaching Alice Springs, Tick finally meets his son, Benjamin, who accepts his father’s homosexuality and drag queen persona. The trio perform at the resort and realize that they have forged a bond that will last forever. Full of well-known pop songs and supported by three divas flying high above the stage, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a flamboyant, funny, disco-fuelled musical that gets the audience up on their feet.
Show Information
- Book
- Stephen Elliot , Allan Scott
- Conceived By
- Stephen Elliot
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994 film)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2006
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- australia, 1990s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Theatrical Rights Worldwide
- Ideal For
- Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- *It’s Raining Men - The Divas, Company
- What’s Love Got to Do With It? - Miss Understanding
- I Say A Little Prayer - Tick
- What’s Love Got to Do With It? [reprise] - Tick, Miss Understanding, the Divas
- Don’t Leave Me This Way - Bernadette, Tick, Company
- *Venus - Adam (Felicia), Company
- Go West - Bernadette, Tick, Adam, Company
- I Say A Little Prayer [reprise] - Tick, the Divas
- I Love the Nightlife - Shirley, Bernadette, Tick (Mitzi), Adam (Felicia), Company
- True Colors - Bernadette, Adam, Tick
- *Color My World - Adam, Tick, Bernadette, Company
- *I Will Survive - Bernadette, Adam, Tick, Company
Act Two
- Thank God I’m a Country Boy - Company
- A Fine Romance - Young Bernadette, Bernadette
- Thank God I’m a Country Boy [reprise] - Company
- *Shake Your Groove Thing - Tick, Bernadette, Adam, the Divas
- *Pop Muzik - Cynthia, Company
- A Fine Romance [reprise] - Bob
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - The Divas, Adam
- *Hot Stuff - Adam (Felicia), the Divas
- Go West [reprise] - Bernadette, Adam
- Macarthur Park - Bernadette, Tick, the Divas
- Boogie Wonderland - The Divas, Marion, Company
- The Morning After - Tick, Marion, Company
- *Floor Show Medley - Tick, Adam, Bernadette, the Divas
- Always on My Mind - Tick, Benjamin
- Confide in Me - Adam (Felicia) [Note: this was replaced by Like a Prayer in the 2011 Broadway production]
- We Belong - Adam (Felicia), Adam (Mitzi), Bernadette
- Finale Medley - The Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher