Priscilla - facts and figures
Feature by Lizzie Guilfoyle
WITH Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical now confirmed in the West End, here are some facts and figures about this remarkable tale.
The Academy and BAFTA award-winning film, The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, directed by Stephan Elliott and starring Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving, received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994.
In October 2006, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical received its world premiere in Sydney where it was directed by Simon Phillips.
Since its world premiere, over one million theatregoers across Australasia have accompanied Priscilla on her journey.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical has grossed in excess of $90 million Australian dollars (£41 million) to become the most successful Australian musical of all time.
Priscilla, which cost over $1.5 million Australian dollars (£700,000) to construct, weighs almost 6 tonnes, has 3 internal lifts and is covered in 840 led lights.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical features 20 full-scale production numbers.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical has almost 500 costumes.
At each performance over 100 wigs, 160 masks and over 150 pairs of tailor-made shoes are worn by the cast.
Almost 200 hats and head-dresses are worn at each performance, one containing 25 yellow rubber ducks, another with 75 butterflies, a third with an aquarium complete with fish.
Plans are afoot for a North American production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical to open in Toronto, another in Germany in Autumn 2009 and a Swedish production is scheduled for 2010.
Musical numbers (from the Australian Original Cast Recording):
Downtown – Petula Clark
I’ve Never Been to Me – Charlene
What’s Love Got to Do with It – Tina Turner
Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
Venus – Bananarama
Go West – Village People
I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin
I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round) – Alicia Bridges
Follie! Delirio Vano È Questo! …Sempre Libera (From La Traviata) – National Philharmonic Orchestra
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls
We Are Family – Sister Sledge
I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
Stomp! – The Brothers Johnson
Funkytown – Lipps, Inc.
Get Down on It – Kool & the Gang
I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson
Billy Don’t Be a Hero – Paper Lace
Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
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