STAGE NOTES: PRISCILLA taking its act on the road
18 May'10

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

It was back in 2008 that David Mirvish announced plans for an all-Canadian production of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT: THE MUSICAL. Now, a year and a half later, he's announced that not only does he finally have his PRISCILLA act together, he's going to be taking it on the road, after a limited Toronto engagement.

At a publicity event at Toronto's Palais Royale Monday, Mirvish announced that PRISCILLA is now slated to open in its North American premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre Oct. 26, after two weeks of previews. The production will then transfer to an as yet un-named theatre on Broadway in the spring of 2011.

And while Mirvish has had to back off on his plans for an all-Canadian cast, there is a pretty strong Canadian component in a cast lead by Australian Tony Sheldon (who has already earned international acclaim for his portrayal of Bernadette, the older transexual at the heart of the story) and American Will Swenson (who will play the role of Tick/Mitzi).

Starring opposite them as Bob, the aging, good hearted mechanic who becomes emotionally involved with Bernadette, will be STREET LEGAL's C. David Johnson as well as Thom Allison, understudying Sheldon and performing in the ensemble, and Susan Dunstan and David Lopez, both cast in swing roles.

For the 56-year-old Johnson, it is a part seemingly tailor-made, even though he had to audition for both the Canadian company, back before the show was Broadway-bound, and then for the New York production to get it. A divorced father of two grown children, the Montreal-born, British Columbia-trained Johnson was drawn to a character "who was sort of unhappy with his life and sort of runs away and joins the circus," and now finds himself Broadway bound.

The role appealed to him from the get-go, he says and the fact that it only calls for minimal singing he considers a bonus. His only real experience with musical theatre was garnered during his stint as Baron von Trapp in the Stratford Festival production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, a role in which he claims he made Christopher Plummer (who played the part in the movie) sound good.

Both Johnson and Sheldon were on hand for Monday's event as was director Simon Phillips and other members of the London cast. Swenson, who is currently appearing in HAIR in London's West End, appeared only via video. Tickets for PRISCILLA are currently available at www.mirvish.com.

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On other fronts in the Mirvish empire, it was announced Monday that Jake Ehrenreich's A JEW GROWS IN BROOKLYN will return to the Panasonic Theatre for a limited engagement, June 3 through 13, with all seats at the Thursday matinee and Sunday evening performances priced at $25. Visit www.mirvish.com for tickets and info.