Complete casting has been announced for the pre-Broadway Toronto run of Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical, directed by Simon Phillips. Written by Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott, the musical begins its North American premiere at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre on October 12, with opening set for October 26. Priscilla makes the jump to Broadway in spring 2011.
Joining previously announced stars Tony Sheldon (Bernadette), Tony Award nominee Will Swenson (Tick/Mitzi) and Nick Adams (Adam/Felicia) are Ashley Spencer (Diva), Mike McGowan (Frank) and ensemble members Christopher Gurr, Ellyn Marie Marsh and Jeff Metzler. The production also features C. David Johnson (Bob), James Brown III (Jimmy), Nathan Lee Graham (Miss Understanding), J. Elaine Marcos (Cynthia), Jessica Phillips (Marion), Steve Schepis (Farrah), Keala Settle (Shirley), “Divas” Jacqueline Arnold and Anastacia McCleskey and Thom Allison, Kyle Brown, Bryan West, Tad Wilson, Joshua Buscher, Susan Dunstan, David Lopez and Eric Sciotto.
Spencer, a finalist for the role of Sandy on the reality TV competition series Grease: You’re the One That I Want!, has appeared on Broadway in Grease and Hairspray. Regionally, she has been seen in The Producers, Curtains, Les Miserables and Hairspray.
McGowan’s Broadway credits include Ragtime, Grease, The Apple Tree and The Producers. Off-Broadway, he has appeared in Bernstein’s Mass, Thou Swell and Grey Gardens. On screen, he has been seen in The Producers and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. The show, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, had its world premiere in Australia in 2006.