AUDIENCE GUIDE - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical
Book by Stephan Elliott & Allan Scott
Based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
The Creative Team
Director & Choreographer David Connolly
Music Director Darryn de Souza
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Assistant Director
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Brian Dudkiewicz
Dariusz Korbiel
Kevin Fraser
Allan McMillan
Julius Sermonia
Laurel Oneil
Frances Johnson
Nadene Riehl
The Band
Music Director/Piano Darryn de Souza
Keys II
Guitar
Bass
Drums/Percussion
David Myers
Fred Smith
Mark Laidman
Richard Moore
The Company
Bernadette Christina Vegas
Mitzi/Tick
Felicia/Adam
Billy Lake
Jesse Weafer
Marion Julia McLellan
Declan Pothier
Diva
Diva
Diva
Bob
Cynthia Benji
Shirley
Miss Understanding/Frank
Pastor/Country Boy
Tiffany Deriveau
Kelly Holiff
Stacey Kay
Brad Rudy
Mei Miyazawa
Gabrielle Jones
Lee Siegel
Errol/Ensemble Devin Alexander
Singer/Jules/Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Young Bernadette/Ensemble
Ensemble
Jimmy/Ensemble
Ensemble
Trevor Covelli
Timothy Harder
Lakota Knuckle
Ryan Maschke
Adam Sergison
Julius Sermonia
Trayvon Ward
Welcome!
We're so glad you're here. This Audience Guide was created to enhance your experience, further your engagement, and expand your knowledge and interest beyond just attending the show. We hope you enjoy the articles, interviews, and conversation starters.
The story of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical champions concepts of judgment-free identity, empathy, inclusivity, the importance of belonging, and hope. As is the case with most meaningful theatre, the road to this better understanding of others’ perspectives is paved with conflict. In this show, those problematic themes include strong language, theatrical violence, sexual innuendo, discrimination, and homophobic and transphobic slurs.
Our hope is that these theatrical conflicts lead to worthwhile discussions focused on the musical’s inspirational themes and encourage us all to apply the idea that everyone is unique, valuable, and worthy of belonging.
Enjoy the ride!
David Connolly Director & Choreographer, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
The Characters
Bernadette Basinger
Adam/Felicia Jollygoodfellow
Tick/Mitzi Mitosis
A former performer of “Les Girls”, who travels with Mitzi and Felicia across the Australian outback.
A drag queen who travels with Bernadette and Mitzi across the Australian outback.
A drag queen at Cockatoo Club, who travels with Bernadette and Felicia across the Australian outback.
Marion Tick’s estranged Wife, who works at Alice Springs Casino.
Benji
Bob
Cynthia
Tick’s child (whom he hasn’t seen in six years)
A mechanic who helps Bernadette, Felicia, and Mitzi with their broken-down van, Priscilla
Bob’s wife
The Divas A Greek chorus of disco singers
Miss Understanding A drag queen at Cockatoo Club
Frank A resident of the mining town, Coober Pedy
Shirley A waitress at the Broken Hill Pub
Jimmy A tour guide in the middle of nowhere
Felicia goes out on the town
Content Advisory: This production contains strong language, theatrical violence, sexual innuendo and homophobic and transphobic slurs.
Age Recommendation: 13+
Mitzi, Felicia, and Bernadette perform, and Tick meets Benji!
Three dazzling drag queens Mitzi, Felicia, and Bernadette, set out on a hilarious adventure across the Australian outback in a battered old bus (nicknamed Priscilla) to put on a show in a remote resort town. Along the way, a heartwarming story of acceptance and self-discovery unfolds.
Bob and the queens stop for car parts.
Mitzi, Felicia, and Bernadette perform.
Bob helps Tick, Adam, and Bernadette with Priscilla.
Priscilla breaks down.
Hill Pub
Bernadette dares Adam to visit the pub in full drag.
Adam buys a bus for their trip.
Tick convinces Felicia to join him.
Cockatoo Club
Tick gets a call from his estranged wife to come to Alice Springs.
Tick convinces Bernadette to join him.
Musical Numbers
Click me!
ACT ONE
It’s Raining Men
What’s Love Got To Do With It
I Say A Little Prayer
What’s Love Got To Do With It (Reprise)
Divas, Mitzi, Ensemble
Miss Understanding, Divas
Tick, Miss Understanding, Divas
Tick, Miss Understanding, Divas
Don’t Leave Me This Way Bernadette, Pastor, Ensemble
Divas, Felicia, Ensemble
Venus Bernadette, Tick, Adam, Ensemble Go West
I Say A Little Prayer (Reprise)
Tick, the Divas
I Love The Nightlife Shirley, Bernadette, Mitzi, Felicia, Ensemble
Casino Floor Show Montage Tick, Felicia,Bernadette, the Divas, Ensemble
Always on My Mind/Kyle Medley Tick, Benji
We Belong Adam (Felicia), Adam (Mitzi), Bernadette
Finale Divas, Miss Understanding, Ensemble
One of the most iconic scenes from the movie has been translated to the stage. In it, the character of Adam/Felicia sits on the roof of the bus to sing an aria from La traviata.
The opera centres on a courtesan loved for her body and her passion for life – a courtesan who was destined to die alone, outside the safety of mainstream society at the time.
The music of La Traviata is used to reflect the marginalized status of the central characters.
General Italian to English Translation
Sempre Libera (“Always Free”) is a duet from Giuseppe Verdi's opera, La traviata
Povera donna, sola, abbandonata in questo popoloso deserto che appellano parigi che spero or più? che far degg’io? gioire, di voluttà ne’ vortici a diletti sempre nuovi dee volare il mio pensier dee volare, dee volare dee volare il mio pensier dee volare, dee volare il mio pensier sempre libera degg’io folleggiar di gioia in gioia vo’ che scorra il viver mio pei sentieri del piacer nasca il giorno, o il giorno muoia, sempre lieta ne’ ritrovi… a diletti sempre nuovi dee volare il mio pensier dee volare, dee volare, dee volare il mio pensier dee volare, dee volare… il mio pensier dee volare, dee volare… il mio pensier dee volare il mio pensier
Poor woman, alone, abandoned in this crowded desert that's called Paris What do I hope for now on? What must I do? Have fun, perish in the vortices of pleasure among always new delights my thoughts must fly must fly, must fly my thoughts must fly must fly, must fly my thoughts I must stay always free cavorting from joy to joy I want my life to flow along the paths of pleasure day in and day out always happy when you meet to ever new delights my thoughts must fly must fly, must fly my thoughts must fly must fly, must fly, my thoughts must fly must fly, must fly, my thoughts must fly My thoughts must fly
Click to learn more!
The Fabulous Outfits of Priscilla
Interview with Dariusz Korbiel, Costume Designer for Priscilla Queen of the Desert BEHIND THE SCENES:
Q: What was your inspiration behind creating some of the iconic looks in Priscilla?
D.K.: Disco and drag are just two inspirations. The costumes are big, outrageous and flamboyant. They are meant to entertain and enlighten the audience. I didn't want to let anyone down with what they might expect to see when attending our production of Priscilla. But as a designer, you also want to bring your own originality or your take on someone else’s interpretation, so it’s finding that balance and being over the top with presenting it.
Q: Why are the costumes so important in this type of production?
D.K.: As much as the costumes are a big part of the show humanity is even a bigger element. Without humanity, you have lifeless people, and to put costumes on lifeless people is just no fun. There are big personalities in our story, and we need to dress them with costumes that match those personalities and tell a story at the same time with what they wear.
Without the costumes, Priscilla, just wouldn't be as much fun. Every element - the actors, the direction, the choreography, the singing, the set, the costumes, the lighting, the sound design, and the audience - they are all important individual elements that work together to enhance the experience.
But if you would like to dig deeper than that, drag is known as being over-the-top. It has always been an entertainment to express one’s self. That’s the point of drag. And that’s what these ladies do with their drag; they are trying to express themselves. They did it in the film, they did it in the West End, on Broadway, and they’ll do it in our production as well. Drag will always be the art of self-expression.
For the full interview CLICK HERE!
Costume Design by
Dariusz Korbiel
Bernadette Ayers Rock
Divas
Adam/Felicia Ayers Rock
Bernadette Act 1/Scene 6
Bernadette Act 1/Scene 2
Adam/Felicia Venus #1
Floor Show #5 It’s Raining Men
Miss Understanding Act 1/Scene 1
2SLGBTQIA+ History
QUEER HISTORY TIMELINE
Explore the milestones in Canadian queer history.
QUEER & TRANS HISTORY
Explore the queer events that have been largely untold in Canadian history.
Explore 12 remarkable Canadians that have acted as a voice for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and advocated for equal rights and freedoms.
MAKING GAY HISTORY
Bringing the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ history to life through intimate conversations with champions, heroes, and witnesses to history.
HISTORY OF THE WORD ‘DRAG’
Hosted by drag star Trixie Mattel, a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 7 and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Season 3.
DRAG PERFORMERS WHO MADE ‘HERSTORY’
Thirty of the most iconic and influential drag performers in modern history.
100 YEARS OF DRAG QUEEN FASHION
Explore the history of drag queens and how their fashion, makeup, and style has changed over the past 100 years.
HBO’s: “WE’RE HERE”
Where to watch:
This Emmy, GLAAD and Peabody award-winning series, follows drag queens and their journey of spreading love and connection through the art of drag across small-town America.
Priscilla
MOONS AND JUNES AND FERRIS WHEELS
Peter Eyers talks with ‘Les Girls’ alumna, Priscilla the Musical actor, and drag legend, Vonni Brit Watkins.
BETWEEN A FROCK & A HARD PLACE
How Priscilla, Queen of the Desert changed the course of history.
Who is Carlotta? What is ‘Les Girls’?
TRANS PERFORMER MAKES HISTORY AT DRAYTON
Christina Vegas, star of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the Musical,” brings rare authenticity to edgy musical.
2SLGBTQIA+ Travel Safety Index
The 203 worst and safest countries for 2SLGBTQIA+ travel (updated in 2023).
Conversation Starters
Considered to be one of the most famous and influential drag queens in the U.S., RuPaul has a signature phrase: “We are all born naked, and the rest is drag.” What are your thoughts on this statement? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
If you chose the songs for Priscilla, what would they be and why? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Learn the true meaning behind RuPaul’s signature phrase.
Why was Tick hesitant about meeting his son Benji? Did Benji’s reaction change Tick’s perspective about his gender expression? Do you think Marion helped shape Benji’s attitude? How?
Why do you think it was so important to Adam to climb to the top of a tall desert cliff in drag? How is this desire connected to the way he expresses himself and relates to others?
What can Priscilla, Queen of the Desert teach us about acceptance, kindness, and identity?
Priscilla Queen of the Desert was first released in 1994, and was later adapted into a musical. Now 30 years old, why does this story still resonate with audiences? Are there elements that still reflect our present day society?
COLOUR YOUR WORLD
Colouring Page of Dariusz Korbiel’s Costume Design for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
