07/25/2007
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert's Bus Ride to Broadway?
Here's some news of a gay theatrical sort with a bit more substance than yesterday's Brokeback rumor.
The stage version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which has been running in Sydney, may be on its way to Broadway or to London's West End:
"Local critics praised this lavish, $6.5 million spectacle when it opened here last fall. Since then, it's caught on with disco-loving straight women, ages 20-40. They're repeat customers whose enjoyment of the musical increases in direct proportion to the number of 'Priscilla-tails' (cosmopolitans in glow-in-the-dark martini glasses) they consume before, during and after the show. They have one hell of a time. 'Priscilla' is aimed squarely at the 'Mamma Mia!' market, which is about as lucrative as it gets. The ABBA musical has grossed $2 billion around the world. 'Priscilla' ain't in that league yet, but its Australian producers have begun laying the groundwork for London and Broadway. With 23 tons of scenery, 514 costumes and enough glitter to entomb Liberace, a Broadway production could cost as much as $15 million, industry sources estimate."
Riedel notes that the musical, whose Australian production has been troubled by a poor script, would most likely need to be re-written for American audiences.
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Posted 11:20 AM EST by Andy in London, New York, News, Theatre | Permalink
Comments
No matter how many "Priscilla-tails" these women imbibe, it won't take a trip across the Australian Outback to figure out that the stage version of Priscilla won't be as lucrative as Mamma Mia has been.
Mamma Mia, after all, had the advantage of ABBA's music to carry it, rather than banking on drunken women to break the box office. Lest you think ABBA's music is not enough to laugh to the bank with, you don't have to look too far into the past to note that the Swedish export of ABBA music outstripped that of their second largest (at the time) major corporation-- VOLVO.
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Posted by: Eric | Jul 25, 2007 11:47:06 AM
Id rather shell out a little for this show than mama mia. if it follows the movie its a far more solid story. A broadway musical with a plot reason for singing? No that couldn't work.
e
Posted by: e | Jul 25, 2007 12:12:32 PM
Whoever does the re-write remember this.
New York audiences have seen it all and are tired of wannabe musicals. If there isn't a compelling story with a heart and some kind of message (like tolerance or overcoming adversity) no amount of glitter or fabulous drag make-up will compensate. Any New Yorker can head to the local bar to see it done better and cheaper with better cocktails.
Make sure you have a compelling storyline!!!!
Oh and fierce ensemble dance numbers don't hurt. :)
Posted by: Joe in the OC | Jul 25, 2007 1:25:56 PM
no, No, NO, NO!!! Enough of the "movies to musicals" stuff!
Posted by: tlk | Jul 25, 2007 1:30:08 PM
i didn't think the movie was really that "good" in a critical sense but it didn't keep me from buying the DVD and re-watching it from time to time. i'm having a hard time seeing it translate to the stage, tho. part of it's appeal, to me, was the sheer majesty and scope of the aussie outback. oh, and how are they going to get the ping pong balls onto the stage version?
Posted by: psgoodguy | Jul 25, 2007 2:01:26 PM
i didn't think the movie was really that "good" in a critical sense but it didn't keep me from buying the DVD and re-watching it from time to time. i'm having a hard time seeing it translate to the stage, tho. part of it's appeal, to me, was the sheer majesty and scope of the aussie outback. oh, and how are they going to get the ping pong balls onto the stage version?
Posted by: psgoodguy | Jul 25, 2007 2:01:58 PM
i didn't think the movie was really that "good" in a critical sense but it didn't keep me from buying the DVD and re-watching it from time to time. i'm having a hard time seeing it translate to the stage, tho. part of it's appeal, to me, was the sheer majesty and scope of the aussie outback. oh, and how are they going to get the ping pong balls onto the stage version?
Posted by: psgoodguy | Jul 25, 2007 2:02:06 PM
i didn't think the movie was really that "good" in a critical sense but it didn't keep me from buying the DVD and re-watching it from time to time. i'm having a hard time seeing it translate to the stage, tho. part of it's appeal, to me, was the sheer majesty and scope of the aussie outback. oh, and how are they going to get the ping pong balls onto the stage version?
Posted by: psgoodguy | Jul 25, 2007 2:02:19 PM
Bringing Priscilla to Broadway would certainly spark and hopefully energize the dying lullaby.
Posted by: Big Gay Country | Jul 25, 2007 2:05:15 PM
I saw this show in Sydney last year and it was terrific! I went in with no expectations, and I left having had one of the best times I've ever had in a theater. The staging was inventive, the book streamlined the story and actually improved on it in some cases, and of course the music was catchy and great. All the eye-popping costumes you would expect, and also great choreography. I think it will make a mint on Broadway!
Posted by: Greg | Jul 25, 2007 2:28:07 PM
I agree with Greg. I was even hoping to catch it again if it came down to Melbourne! Argh... And now it's going to Braodway? I thought it had gone to Broadway before?!
Posted by: Alfred | Jul 25, 2007 5:38:29 PM
Saw it in Sydney this spring . . . I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats! Great staging and music. Writing needed a little work particularly in the second half (same can be said of the film), but that shouldn't be too hard to fix. And who wouldn't love a $15M drag show?!
Posted by: Rick | Jul 25, 2007 6:56:13 PM
I was at the Sydney premiere last year and enjoyed it *far* more than the original movie.
A ping-pong ball landed in my lap, which certainly didn't happen during the film!
I went again and would do a 3rd time easily. Sure there are a few rough spots, but that's true in nearly any show. Hell, I saw Carrie, the Musical on Broadway in 1988 and survived!
Posted by: Mike | Jul 26, 2007 6:55:15 PM
Priscilla is up for a bunch of awards this week:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/stage-is-set-for-priscilla-to-sweep-awards/2007/
08/04/1185648208011.html
Posted by: Mike | Aug 4, 2007 5:47:39 PM
lol @ the Abba fan.
Mamma Mia! appeals to Abba fans only...
Priscilla appeals to fans of the movie and to fans of the disco.
Posted by: Yahoo | Oct 27, 2007 10:43:55 PM
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