CAST & CREATIVES

as Bernadette

Tony Sheldon

Tony played the role of Bernadette in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT for 1750 performances in Australia, New Zealand, London, Toronto and on Broadway, winning the Theatre World Award and nominations for the Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award, the Drama League Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. He was also honored with his own caricature at Sardi’s.

In London he was nominated for the Olivier Award, and won the Toronto Theatre Critics Award and the DORA Award as Best Actor in a Musical. In Australia he won the Sydney Critics Award, the Green Room Award, the Glugs Award and the MO Award as Musical Theatre Performer of the Year.

In New York he has starred with Phillipa Soo in AMELIE; with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Tracey Ullman in THE BANDWAGON at Encores/City Center; MR. MAGOO’S CHRISTMAS CAROL with Douglas Sills and ART & SCIENCE with John Tartaglia.

Regionally, Tony has appeared in EMPIRE at La Mirada, EVER AFTER at Paper Mill, MY FAIR LADY at the Guthrie Theatre, CAMELOT at Kennedy Centre and VICTOR VICTORIA at Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars. He won the Connecticut Critics’ Award for his performance as Vandergelder in HELLO, DOLLY! at Goodspeed Opera House.

In Australia, Tony most recently starred in MAN OF LA MANCHA to enormous critical acclaim, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS for which he won the Glugs Award as Best Actor in a Musical, PRIVATE LIVES, INTO THE WOODS, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, COMPANY, THE SISTERS ROSENWEIG, ONCE IN A LIFETIME and FALSETTOS (Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical).

He played John Barrymore in I HATE HAMLET opposite Guy Pearce (Melbourne Theatre Company) and won the 2005 Helpmann Award, the Sydney Critics Award, the Mo Award and the Glugs Award for his performance as Roger de Bris in THE PRODUCERS. He was also nominated for a Helpmann and a Green Room Award for his work in THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK. For his portrayal of Arnold Beckoff in TORCH SONG TRILOGY, Tony won the Green Room and Variety Club Heart Award as Best Actor of 1984.

Other highlights include NOISES OFF, LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, DEATHTRAP, DAMES AT SEA, THE FANTASTICKS, CANDIDE, I LOVE MY WIFE, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, WILD HONEY and THE GLASS MENAGERIE.

as Tick

David Harris

With a celebrated career spanning over 20 years, David is one of Australia’s most acclaimed leading men.

David was awarded a Green Room Award for Best Actor as well as Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for his portrayal of Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde and was awarded Theatre People’s Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of The Baker in Victorian Opera’s production of Into The Woods in 2014. David gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of Chris in Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Miss Saigon which earned him Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for “the year’s most truthful and moving stage portrayals” (Sydney Morning Herald) and received a further Helpmann Award nomination for his performance as Fiyero in Wicked.

Relocating to New York City in late 2014, David is now making his mark in America having received a Connecticut Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance of Dan in Next To Normal and starring as Valjean in Les Misérables which co-starred and was directed by Tony Award winner Terrence Mann.  He starred as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, as Father in Ragtime and is currently originating the role of Max Bronfman in a new, reworked production of Rags with Stephen Schwartz.

Other Australian performances include; the dual roles of Adam and Noah in the Australian premiere performance of Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden (Theatre People Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical); Malcolm in The Full Monty; The Beast in Beauty and the Beast; Greg in Boy From Oz; Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees; John Brookes in Little Women; Prez in Pajama Game; Perchik in Fiddler On The Roof alongside Topol; John in Andrew Lippa’s John & Jen; Oscar in The Wild Party; Orville Wright in Richard Maltby Jnr and David Shire’s new musical Take Flight; and Jimmy Smith in the Australian premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

David originated the role of Bud in the Australian premiere production of the two-man comedy, Gutenberg! -The Musical; created the numerous male roles in the Australian premiere of Breast Wishes; and received a GLUG Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in LOVEBiTES. David began his professional career in the original Australian productions of The Boy From Oz and Mamma Mia and was awarded a MO Award for Best New Talent in 1997.

In concert, David has toured with UK musical theatre star Michael Ball on his Australian tour; performed with international star Lea Salonga in Vietnam; performed with Stephen Schwartz in Stephen Schwartz and Friends; with Andrew Lippa in Lippa and Friends; with Lucy Durack in Wickedly Broadway at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo; and once again toured internationally with Lea Salonga and Michael Ball in Do You Hear The People Sing? celebrating the music of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. David recently starred alongside Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit, Betty Buckley, Joanna Ampil and Helen Dallimore in Defying Gravity – the songs of Stephen Schwartz.

David has released two solo albums, ‘Til The Night Is Gone and At this Stage. He premiered his solo show, ‘Til The Night Is Gone to sold out audiences at the 2010 Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Newcastle’s Civic Theatre and returned to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2014 to headline the Australian premiere of Picture Perfect. David’s most recent solo show, Time Is A Traveller premiered to a sold out, extended season at the Hayes Theatre and toured nationally to great acclaim, being awarded the Theatre People’s Award for Best Male Cabaret in 2014.

Instagram @davidharrisoz

as Felicia

Euan Doidge

Euan Doidge began his dream of becoming a performer at a very young
 age. Originally from South Australia, Euan trained at MJ Dance Studio in Mount Gambier. In 2011 he moved to Melbourne and completed the Fulltime Music Theatre course at Patrick Studios Australia under the direction of Andrew Hallsworth, during this year of study Euan was cast in his first musical Anything Goes (The Production Company). In 2012 

Euan appeared in The Producers (The Production Company), then went on to play Paul San Marco in the Australian cast of A Chorus Line (TML Enterprises) for which he was the youngest ever nominee for the Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. 
From 2012 – 2014 Euan appeared as Nikos/Padamadan in the Australian tour of Legally Blonde (ATG/GFO/Farrelly Prods) and Grease (GFO) in which he understudied the roles of Kenickie and Vince Fontaine, as well as understudying and performing the role of Teen Angel.

Euan was then cast in the dream role of Marius in the Australian tour of Les Miserables (Cameron Mackintosh/Michael Cassel) 2014 – 2016. 

During that time he also released his debut Album Let It Sing. In 2016 Euan had the great pleasure of playing the role of Felicia/Adam in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and was Lead Singer in Burn The Floor (Norwegian Cruise Lines) before returning to Australia to star in the Australian tour of Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel) in which he was one of the Angels and covered the role of Lola which he performed many times to great acclaim. Euan couldn’t be more excited to be playing the role of Felicia/Adam here in Australia. To be given the opportunity to tell this Iconic Australian Story is something he is very grateful for.

JAKOB AMBROSE

Jakob graduated from WAAPA in 2011. He leapt straight into A Chorus Line, directed by Baayork Lee, playing the role of ‘Tom’ and covering the roles of ‘Greg’, ‘Larry’, ‘Mike’, ‘Don’, and ‘Al’. In 2013, Jakob covered the roles of ‘Lucas’ and ‘Lurch’ in The Addams Family (New Theatricals) and was featured in Adrian Ricks’ Sins. With The Production Company, he has performed in The Producers and The Pirates Of Penzance. In 2014 Jakob toured Korea as ‘Alonzo’ in Cats (RUG) also understudying the roles of ‘Munkustrap’ and ‘Rum Tum Tugger’. At The Hayes Theatre Jakob was an original cast member of the acclaimed Sweet Charity; directed by Dean Bryant and was cast as ‘Kurt/Kurt’s Dad’ in the Australian premiere production of Heathers the Musical; directed by Trevor Ashley, subsequently touring with both productions throughout Australia 2015-16. Most recently Jakob was an original Australian cast member of Aladdin The Musical (Disney Theatricals), in which he had the honour of understudying and playing the title role.

BLAKE APPELQVIST

Canberra-born Blake graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) and that same year was a finalist for the Rob Guest Endowment Award.
His musical theatre credits include: ‘Diesel’ in West Side Story, ‘Ziegfeld Tenor’ in Funny Girl (both with The Production Company), Ghost: The Musical (Ambassador Theatre Group) and most recently an ‘Angel’ in Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group).

MICHELLE BARR

Michelle most recently appeared in Cabaret where she performed the role of ‘Frizti’ and was Assistant Choreographer to Kelley Abbey. Prior to this she performed in Ben Elton’s We Will Rock You as Dance Captain and Cover ‘Oz/Killer Queen’.

Other credits include the opening of Studio City Macau Hotel & Casino, in which she opened the show for Mariah Carey, ‘Mrs Sawyer’ in Heathers The Musical, ‘Mabel’ in High Society, Legally Blonde The Musical, Xanadu and Fame: The Musical.

Michelle was a lead vocalist for The Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Ball, has appeared on Woolworths Carols in the Domain, The Morning Show, Channel Ten’s Don’t Stop Believing Launch and in various corporate events.

As a backing vocalist, she has worked for artists such as Robbie Williams, David Campbell and on The X-Factor and The Today Show. Michelle has worked with Tony Award winning directors Jerry Mitchell and Christopher Ashley, and Australian choreographers Kelley Abbey, Jacqui Howard, Matt Lee, Cameron Mitchell and Jason Coleman.

She has also worked as Assistant Choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance, Music & Performance Producer on Australia’s Got Talent and Music/Story Producer on The Voice.

ANGELIQUE CASSIMATIS

Angelique trained in Brisbane at The Dance Works and The Australian Dance Performance Institute before making her professional musical theatre debut in Annie in 2000.

Angelique played ‘Mabel’ in Mack & Mabel at the Hayes Theatre, performed in Carmen on Sydney Harbour and played ‘Crystal’ in Little Shop of Horrors (Luckiest/Tinderbox). Other recent theatre credits include The Production Company’s Jesus Christ Superstar, ‘Mimi’ in Rent (Highway Run), ‘Stephanie Shanks’ in Strictly Ballroom (Global Creatures) and ‘Columbia’ in The Rocky Horror Show (GFO). Previously she appeared in King Kong Live on Stage, Mary Poppins, High School Musical, Guys and Dolls (The Production Company) and The Eighth Wonder (Opera Australia).

Angelique was a 2013 finalist for the Rob Guest Endowment Award and has performed to critical acclaim in her one-woman show Guilty Pleasures. She regularly performs in the headline act, Rock Rhapsody celebrating the hits of QUEEN.

Andrew Cook

Andrew Cook has just finished a run of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, hot on the heels of his performance as Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar.  He’s also appeared in Matilda, King Kong, Moonshadow and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, where he originated the role of Wayne Burns. He won the 2014 East End District award at the Rob Guest Endowment. Andrew has a BA in Music Theatre Performance from WAAPA.

Lena Cruz

XANDER ELLIS

Xander made his professional debut in Wicked at the age of 18 and has gone on to appear in a string of musical theatre hit shows: Dream Lover (GFO), Ghost: The Musical; Carl cover (ATG), Anything Goes; Fred (Opera Australia/GFO), the Helpmann award-winning production of Sweet Charity; Cop/Manfred (Luckiest), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (James Anthony Productions), Grease; Kenicke cover (GFO), Rock of Ages; Drew cover (Newtheatricals), and Dein Perry’s Tap Dog’s.

MITCHELL FISTROVIC

Mitchell is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.

Mitchell has most recently been performing in the Australian premier of Disney’s Aladdin. Further theatre and live credits include Hugh Jackman’s Broadway to Oz, the role of ‘Tommy Arbunt’ in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom the Musical, the 10th anniversary Australasian tour of Wicked, the role of ‘Neleus’ in the original cast of the Australian/New Zealand premiere of Mary Poppins, Revenge is Sweeter tour supporting The Veronicas, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Oliver!

Television credits include Jay Jays, Vanessa Amorosi’s Mr Mysterious video clip, Carols By Candlelight supporting Tim Campbell, The TV Week Logie Awards supporting Jessica Mauboy and The Rogue Traders.

SAMM HAGEN

Samm is thrilled to be joining the cast of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert! Most recently she appeared as ‘Pat’ in Michael Cassel’s Kinky Boots and prior to this in Ghost The Musical. Samm also appeared in the Australian premiere of King Kong: Live On Stage and in New Theatricals’ Rock of Ages straight out of her final year at Brent Street’s Talent Development High School. The cast went on to receive a Green Room Award for Best Ensemble in a Musical.

Other credits include lead vocalist in Jason Coleman’s Spiegelicious, 2012 Rob Guest Endowment Top 6, NSW Premier’s Week Gala Concert, Rock Rhapsody, Twisted Broadway, New Voices, Sydney Musical Theatre Cabaret Festival, Homegrown and Broadway Unplugged.

Samm travelled to New York in 2014 to continue her training at the Ward Acting Studio, and with vocal coach Marianne Wells.

Big thanks to her family, teachers, her killer management T&E and her friends.

TOM HANDLEY

Tom graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre from WAAPA. Immediately after graduating, Tom performed in Gordon Frost Organisation’s Wicked, touring Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Other theatre credits include Summer Rain and Opera Australia’s recent tour of My Fair Lady directed by Dame Julie Andrews. Tom’s work on screen includes Network Seven’s Home and Away and in film, the shorts Unseen and Train.

HAYDAN HAWKINS

Haydan trained in Musical Theatre at the VCA and Showfit Centrestage. He has also studied Acting under the award winning coach from L.A, Howard Fine, at his Acting Studio in Melbourne, completing his masterclasses in 2014 to 2017.

Haydan’s Professional credits include; The Production Company’s Pirates of Penzance, Hayes Theatre Co’s Dogfight, Carrie The Musical, Possum Magic and Priscilla Queen of the Desert (NCL).

He appeared in ABC’s Doctor Blake Mysteries as a feature and would like to thank his family.

LUKE JARVIS

Newcastle born and bred, Luke performed in local theatre productions from an early age. After graduating from the Hunter School of Performing Arts in 2013, Luke moved to Melbourne to continue his training at the Victorian College of the Arts graduating in 2016. At VCA Luke appeared in 42nd Street, The Hatpin, and played ‘Nathan Detroit’ in Guys and Dolls, ‘Tube Man/Pawn Man’ in How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found and ‘Otto’ in Spring Awakening. Luke made his professional debut in 2017 as one of the ‘Apostles’ in Jesus Christ Superstar (The Production Company) and is thrilled to be joining the cast of Priscilla.

Josie Lane

Josie is thrilled to be returning to Priscilla: Queen of the Desert after performing as a Diva in the original Australian tour. Other credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (STC), Avenue Q (Arts Asia Pacific), Fame (GFO), Into The Woods (Victorian Opera), Miracle City (Luckiest Productions) and Little Shop of Horrors (Luckiest Productions/Tinderbox Productions).  For The Production Company, Josie has featured in The Pirates of Penzance, Jerry’s Girls, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Boy from Oz.  Josie is an award winning cabaret artist (Asian Provocateur, Josie in the Bathhouse), and has been a member of Equity since 2007.

LEONARD MICKELO

Leonard is a Kulalli and Bidjara man born in Ipswich. His foster mum embraced his passion to dance at the age of 10. He trained in jazz, tap, musical theatre and contemporary, under the direction of Fiona McIvor and Sandra Breen.

In 2006, Leonard joined the highly acclaimed dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre. To Leonard, Bangarra plays an integral role in today’s fast modern society. As it’s important to share and learn the traditional culture and history of this country. Bangarra has opened and strengthened Leonard’s spirit.

Leonard has toured with Bangarra to New York, Paris, London, Beijing, Istanbul, Budapest, and Berlin. Leonard loves to inspire and connect with the next generation to express their passion through culture.

Leonard’s hero is his foster mum who gave him opportunities most indigenous children miss out on. His foster Mum opened his heart to dance.

Ray Meagher

Ray was born in Roma, grew up near Dirranbandi, went to school at Marist Ashgrove, and played rugby for Queensland- you don’t get much more Queensland than that!

Ray’s acting career started in the early 70s at Brisbane’s 12th Night and La Boite Theatres, in plays like The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Recruiting Officer, Trumpets & Drums, The Government Inspector, A Refined Look At Existence & Biggles. Dimboola, in a theatre restaurant in the Valley, was his first professional show. He went into the Sydney production of Dimboola in 1973-1974 and an avalanche of small to major guest rolls in film, TV and stage followed.

Movies included Breaker Morant, The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, The Fire In The Stone, The Blue Lightning (USA CBS movie of the week), and Mail Order Bride (1987 Penguin Award best actor in a lead role). Ray’s TV credits go on forever, starting with a black & white episode of Matlock Police(1971) Mini Series performances include A Fortunate Life, The Great Bookie Robbery ,The Shiralee and True Believers.

For the last 30 years, Ray has played Alf Stewart on Home & Away, a role that in 2010 earned him Australian TV’s highest award, the Gold Logie for most popular person on television & in 2018 the Silver Logie for most popular actor on TV.

Ray spent 20 years playing villains like Captain Hook in Peter Pan in Christmas pantomimes all over the UK as a result of his popularity in those countries.

In 2007, Garry McQuinn (Priscilla‘s original producer) invited Ray to do a brief stint in the Sydney production and this was quickly followed by almost a year in London’s West End, and then a six week run in Auckland in 2016.

When the opportunity arose for Ray to play Bob in Brisbane, it was an offer too good to refuse. He’s a proud Queenslander and after almost 50 years, he’s delighted to be back.

CLE MORGAN

TRAINING: John Curtin College of the Arts.

THEATRE: Hair (Eventainment), Hairspray (Dainty), Godspell (Magnormous), Parade (The Collective) & Matilda The Musical (Louise Withers).

TELEVISION: Ship to Shore; Streetsmartz; The Gift; Australian Idol; Neighbours.

OTHER WORK: Voice over artist for national television commercial for “Cash Converters”, Singer/Songwriter.

Adam Noviello

Adam completed music theatre studies at both The Victorian College of the Arts and Patrick Studios Australia. While at PSA, Adam played ‘Goldoff’ in The Wild Party and ‘Georg Zirschnitz’ in Spring Awakening. Adam made his professional theatre debut in 2014 as ‘Hanna From Hamburg’ in La Cage Aux Folles (The Production Company). Theatre credits have since included ‘Host’ in Barney LIVE! World Tour (Life Like Touring), ‘Derek Bell’ in The Girlie Show (La Mama Theatre/Tunks Productions), Funny Girl (The Production Company) and, most recently, the Australia and New Zealand tour of Matilda The Musical (RSC/Louise Withers & Associates). An avid writer, Adam’s cabaret credits include successful seasons of The Last Five Queers (The Butterfly Club/Midwinta Festival), plus original one-man shows There Was A Boy… and Songs For Girls (Chapel Off Chapel).

Adam would like to dedicate his performance to his Mum, Jo, who danced up the aisles with him at the Regent Theatre during the finale of Priscilla in 2007.

Kirk Page

Kirk Page trained at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association and began dancing for Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1995. His first performance for Bangarra was in Ochres, which toured Australia and internationally. As a freelancer, Kirk performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Opera Australia and in productions for Legs on the Wall.  He was invited to perform at the Melbourne International Arts Festival in My Lovers’ Bones.

In musical theatre, Kirk has appeared in Priscilla; The Sunshine Club for Sydney Theatre Company; Corrugation Road for Black Swan Theatre Company and One Night the Moon for Malthouse Theatre. He has also worked on the development of Black Queen Black King for The Lab in Queensland and The New Black for the Follies Company.

Theatre credits include: Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, Black Diggers for Queensland Theatre Company, The Dreamers and Conversations with the Dead for Belvoir; My Girragundji for Bell Shakespeare; A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Stolen  for Sydney Theatre Company; Australia the Show! for Hothouse Theatre.

On screen, Kirk appeared in Sand, one part of Tim Winton’s feature film The Turning. Kirk made his TV debut in ABC’s award-winning drama series Redfern Now (series 2) receiving a nomination for a Silver Logie for ‘Most Outstanding Actor’.

Kirk is currently Associate Director at NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) in Lismore.

ADÈLE PARKINSON

Adèle is a WAAPA graduate and alumnus of L’Ecole Philippe Gaulier. Her professional theatre credits include Legally Blonde: The Musical (ATG/GFO/Farrelly Prods), ‘Sue Snell’ in Carrie: The Musical (Squabbalogic), ‘Maisie’ in Horrible Histories (Andrew Kay), LoveBites (Hayes Theatre Co/Wooden Horse Prods), Triassic Parq (Squabbalogic) and Les Misérables (Cameron Mackintosh). She toured Australasia with pop group The Diamonds, and is a presenter on ABC Kids’ Splashdance. Adèle is absolutely thrilled to be playing Marion in Priscilla and thanks her family and Rob for their love and encouragement.

EMMA POWELL

Emma’s first performance was at the age of three when she appeared on US television with Ronald McDonald. School musicals were the natural progression from a ‘Munchkin’ at age 12 in The Wizard of Oz to ‘Rosie’ in Bye Bye Birdie at sweet sixteen.

As a grown up, the stage continued to beckon and she gave up a career in Public Relations to travel around Australia in The Pirates of Penzance with Jon English and Simon Gallaher.

Emma then landed a spot in the Cameron Mackintosh world-wide sensation Les Miserables, touring to Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Cape Town. On her return she was cast in the title role of Anthony Crowley’s original production, The Journey Girl, as Samantha. A one-woman show, The Journey Girl used all of Emma’s talents including, comedy, drama and singing of a whooping 22 songs.

What Emma didn’t know at the time was that her next starring role would be motherhood. Wanting to share her experiences of parenthood, she wrote and performed the cabarets – Two’s Company – Three’s On The Way and Two’s Company – Three’s a Crowd.

After a few years of full time parenting Emma re-entered the theatre world with the hit musical Mamma Mia! Starting off in the ensemble and understudy to ‘Rosie’ she was then promoted to the role of ‘Rosie’ for the Australasian Tour. For two years she had an absolute ball making people laugh as one of the title comedy roles in the show.

On her return to Australia she landed the cameo role of Hattie in The Production Company’s Kiss Me Kate. Next on the cards was working with Topol in Fiddler on the Roof as the 8 foot, ranting and raving ‘Fruma Sarah’.

Emma’s next project was a self-devised comedy – Busting Out! A celebration of women, this creation ran for five years touring Australia, New Zealand and the UK (including the Edinburgh Festival). Emma also created another female driven musical comedy – Dumped! The Musical We’ve All Been Through. Dumped! had three seasons in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.

During this time Emma was also working as an Associate Producer with Theatre Tours International (www.theatretours.com.au) producing productions such as 51 Shades of Maggie; Black Voices and touring as Company Manager with The St Petersburg Ballet Theatre and the live arena production of the BBC sitcom hit Mrs. Brown’s Boys.

Emma has just finished performing the role of ‘Trish’ in the Cyndi Lauper Broadway hit Kinky Boots for the Michael Cassel Group.

SHANNEN ALYCE QUAN

Shannen is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Whilst at WAAPA, Shannen appeared as Anybodys/Somewhere Girl in West Side Story, Crissy in Hair and Maia in Matthew Robinson’s workshop of Atlantis. Since graduating, Shannen has played Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal (Black Swan State Theatre Company) and originated the role of Kelly in the new Australian musical The Gathering (Vic Theatre Company).

TOM SHARAH

Tom won the prestigious Annual Cabaret Showcase in 2009 and has since toured his one-man shows Que Sera, Sharah and It’s Raining Me to sell-out theatre and festival seasons all around Australia. He premiered That 90’s Show to critical acclaim at the Hayes Theatre and received a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Cabaret Performance. Tom was most recently seen in the world premiere of Muriel’s Wedding the Musical (Sydney Theatre Company). He subsequently appeared in the ABC documentary Making Muriel and can be heard on the shows original cast recording. His other theatre credits include Miss Understanding in the European tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical (NCL); Alan in Only Heaven Knows (Luckiest Productions); Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (Squabbalogic) – Glugs Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical; Pete in Pete the Sheep (Monkey Baa); Benny in Happy People (Chapel Off Chapel); Francis in Three Winters Green (King Street Theatre); Nick & Nora and Seesaw (Neglected Musicals). Tom has also toured Australia and internationally in Boys in the Band (SMA Productions) with recent highlights including sell-out concerts for Twilight at Taronga Zoo and Melbourne Zoo. After coming to wider national attention as a star finalist on Channel Ten’s I Will Survive, Tom became a regular segment host on Channel Nine’s Mornings. He is a regular contributor to ABC’s Movieline podcast, and his own pod-casts The Tom SharaHalf Hour and I Love It But I Hate It But I Love It… with Tom Sharah both received thousands of iTunes downloads every week.

PATRICK WHITBREAD

Patrick graduated WAAPA in 2014. Since then, he appeared in the 2015/16 Australian and New Zealand Tour of CATS as ‘Coricopat’, also performing ‘Munkustrap’, ‘Alonzo’ and ‘Pouncival’. He appeared in Georgy Girl as ‘M.C’. Patrick has performed alongside acts such as Hugh Jackman and The Veronicas. He was most recently in Matilda the Musical for the Australian and New Zealand tour.

Benji

Jordy Campbell

Jordy Campbell is an 11 year old former elite junior tennis player, who now prefers to perform, most often off the court. Within the past 12 months, Jordy has appeared in feature films, numerous short films and music videos. Jordy will be debuting his first pop single later in 2018. In the little spare time he has, Jordy loves to play Fortnite and chess. Priscilla: Queen of the Desert marks Jordy’s professional debut.

Benji

Oliver De Los Santos

Oliver had his musical theatre debut as Young Lola in Kinky Boots in 2017 and is very excited to now play Benji in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. Oliver has also appeared in various films, music videos and commercials.

Benji

Mason Kidd

Mason Kidd is thrilled to be joining the cast of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, where he will be making his professional musical debut. Mason is 10 years old and he thoroughly enjoys dancing, singing and acting.

Mason currently undertakes classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theatre at Promenade Dance Studio, and vocal coaching with Jenny Howlett.

During the last 3 years Mason has taken part in numerous community theatre productions – which has helped develop his love for the performing arts.

Benji

Flynn Nowlan

Flynn Nowlan, aged 11, has been surrounded by music ever since he can remember.  Earlier this year he played Oliver in the sellout month long season of Oliver with Spotlight Theatrical Company.  Soon after he performed as Young Tarzan in the NAPA Ensemble production of Tarzan.

A member of  senior school Choir, Orchestra, Concert Band and Stage Band playing Cello, Saxophone and Guitar,  he also loves playing soccer. Flynn’s excited to be making his professional debut with Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.

Book by

Stephan Elliott

Stephan’s career kicked off shooting hundreds of weddings from the age of 13 to 18 and now he turns green with the first bars of a bridal waltz.

He entered the film industry as an assistant director /editor on a series of dreadful Australian films before stepping up to the director’s chair at 26 with the comedy caper Frauds, starring Phil Collins and Hugo Weaving. This first feature was selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival 1993. He announced his second feature – a script to be churned out in 12 days en route to the south of France. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce. Priscilla went on to become one of the most successful Aussie films of all time, racking up an Academy Award, BAFTA and AFI awards for Best Costume Design and a Best Make Up/Hair. Other nominations include a Writers Guild Award and Golden Globe for Best Comedy/Musical.

Stephan then committed career suicide when he was talked into screening his unfinished black comedy Welcome to Woop Woop, starring Rod Taylor, Barry Humphries and Rachel Griffiths – in Cannes 1997. It was booed out of the festival. The film has since grown into a massive underground cult. He countered with a change of genre – the thriller Eye of the Beholder (1999) starring Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd, KD Lang and Jason Priestley. The film premiered at Venice that year winning the Brussels sci-fi and fantasy festival – an award also shared by Frauds.

Stephan then took an interesting career turn by looking for inspiration in the French Alps – and promptly skiing off them. He broke his pelvis and fractured his legs and back.

After 4 years of recuperation, Stephan got back on the horse with Priscilla The Musical and a Noel Coward film adaptation, Easy Virtue starring Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas. 2012 Stephan completed his first Australian comedy in almost two decades A Few Best Men in staring Twilight’s Xavier Samuels, Kris Marshall and Olivia Newton John, back to back with the feature RIO I LOVE YOU – the follow up to the hugely successful PARIS, je t’amie in Brasil. He is currently in post-production on his new script Flammable Children reuniting with Guy Pearce and Kylie Minogue.

He still skis – it’s not as dangerous as filmmaking.

Book by

Allan Scott

Allan Scott has written, co-written or produced over twenty feature films both in Hollywood and England, working with some of the biggest stars in the world. He wrote and appeared in his first musical at university and has loved the form ever since. He is currently preparing a stage adaptation of “Sophie’s Choice” for Broadway. His work the screenplay of the movie “Kon Tiki” was acknowledged when the film received an Oscar nomination (in the Foreign Language category) at the Academy Awards in 2014. He has two honorary doctorates and is a visiting professor at Edinburgh Napier University.

Director

Simon Phillips

Simon was Artistic Director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia from 1990 to 1993 and Artistic Director of the Melbourne Theatre Company from 2000 to 2011.

His directing credits range from new works to contemporary and Shakespearean classics to musicals to opera. He has directed works by most of the great contemporary writers: Albee (A DELICATE BALANCE), Beckett (HAPPY DAYS), Brecht (ARTURO UI), Churchill (CLOUD NINE/SERIOUS MONEY), Hare (THE BLUE ROOM), McDonagh (THE PILLOWMAN), Orton (WHAT THE BUTLER SAW/ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE), Shepherd (BURIED CHILD/A LIE OF THE MIND), and Stoppard (ARCADIA/ROCK’N’ROLL). He has also directed the premieres of many new works by leading Australian writers. Among his many classical productions THE TEMPEST, JULIUS CAESAR, A COMEDY OF ERRORS, NORTH BY NORTHWEST and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST which toured nationally in Australia. Simon directed the Barry Humphries DAME EDNA’S GLORIOUS GOODBYE TOUR which toured the US, UK and Canada. He worked with writer, Carolyn Burns on an adaptation of the film NORTH BY NORTH WEST which has had 2 Melbourne seasons in 2015 & 2016 and a season at Theatre Royal, Bath in 2017.

Simon’s musical credits in Australia include PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (which has had numerous international seasons including the West End and Broadway), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, URINETOWN THE MUSICAL, COMPANY, THE THREEPENNY OPERA, CABARET, HIGH SOCIETY (Australia and the UK.), LOVE NEVER DIES (Australia, Japan, Germany and US tour), which was filmed by Universal and released internationally on DVD. Simon directed PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE for the Melbourne Theatre Company with a return season at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Simon has developed a number of musicals including DREAM LOVER, Sydney 2016 and the adaptation of the films THE FIRST WIVES CLUB which had its premiere season in Chicago in 2015 and MURIEL’S WEDDING which will premiere in Sydney, late 2017. Simon directed the home grown musical LADIES IN BLACK for the Queensland Theatre Company in 2015 which has since enjoyed successful runs in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Simon’s opera credits include: LA BOHEME, FALSTAFF, L’ELISIR D’AMORE and LULU for Opera Australia, THE MAGIC FLUTE and DON GIOVANNI for Opera New Zealand and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and BILLY BUDD for Hamburg State Opera.
Simon is the recipient of eight Australian Green Room Awards and four Helpmann Awards.

Musical Arrangements & Supervision

Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy

Spud began his musical training in the country town of Lithgow at the age of six under the tuition of the Josephite nuns. He and his bruised knuckles survived the experience and moved to Sydney to continue his studies at the Conservatorium of Music.

After his training, Spud began writing arrangements for local artists and soon found himself working with international legends as diverse as Marlene Dietrich and Slim Whitman. He entered the music theatre world in the 1970s with Godspell, after which he moved to London’s West End to work on various productions, returning to Australia in the 1980s with Evita. Spud was musical director of Reg Livermore’s Firing Squad and later co-composer of Reg’s production of Big Sister. He continued working in various Australian theatre productions such as Buddy and Shout, and in 2006 Spud was musical director and arranger for Dusty, receiving the Helpmann Award for Best Musical Direction.

In 2008, he received his second Helpmann Award nomination and won the Green Room Award for his work on Priscilla. Spud has spent decades as a Musical Director for television, firstly at Channel Ten and then working on In Sydney Today with Ernie Sigley and Denise Drysdale, Starstruck and The Pam Ann Show. Most recently, he was musical director and co-composer for Magical Tales, Surprises and Imagination Train all for the Nine Network. Spud has received a Mo Award and an award from Rotary for his contributions to the Australian music industry.

As an avid supporter of the future of the Australian music industry, Spud has dedicated time to nurturing new talent as artistic director of Sydney’s CaSPA (Catholic Schools Performing Arts) and as a lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music. As the Musical Supervisor for all past Priscilla productions, he has been shaking his groove thing across Australia, the West End, Broadway, Milan, Sao Paulo, the US and UK tours, Stockholm, Seoul, Madrid and the ongoing Spanish regional tour. He also produced both the Broadway and Australian Original Cast Recordings. Spud lives happily with his wife of 38 years in Sydney and his three proudest productions are his children.

Bus Concept & Production Designer

Brian Thomson

Born and educated in Sydney Australia, Brian studied Architecture before venturing into theatre design. He was invited to London to design sets for Jesus Christ Superstar at London’s Palace Theatre, then designed the original productions of The Rocky Horror Show in London and around the world and the movies The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shock Treatment before returning to Sydney as Associate Director of the Sydney Theatre Company. His Broadway credits include The Rocky Horror Show, The King And I (1996 for which he received a Tony) and Dame Edna Back With A Vengeance. He designed the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony and was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) in 2005 for his services to theatre and opera. Recently he designed Only Heaven Knows, The Turquoise Elephant, Dream Lover and Faith Healer directed by Judy Davis.

Associate Director

Dean Bryant

Dean is Associate Director at Melbourne Theatre Company where his credits include Vivid White, Born Yesterday, Skylight, I’ll Eat You Last, Next to Normal and this year’s Wild and An Ideal Husband. For Hayes Theatre he recently directed Assassins, as well as their debut production Sweet Charity (Helpmann Award) and Little Shop of Horrors (Sydney Theatre Award), both of which toured the country (Luckiest/Tinderbox). For Opera Australia he directed Two Weddings, One Bride and Anything Goes (also GFO). Other credits include Once We Lived Here (Kings Head Theatre), DreamSong (Theatreworks), Straight (Red Stitch), The Last Five Years, Prodigal, and Virgins: A Musical Threesome (NYMF) He has directed five times for The Production Company; Jerry’s Girls, La Cage Aux Folles, The Pirates of Penzance, The Producers and Anything Goes. He created the verbatim theatre piece Gaybies, which he directed for Darlinghurst Theatre Company. The script is published through Playlab.

With composer Mathew Frank he has written the musicals Prodigal (off-Broadway season, York Theatre, Green Room award– Best Original Score), Once We Lived Here (Green Room award – Best New Musical, NYC and London seasons), Virgins: A Musical Threesome and The Silver Donkey as well as the songs for the Amy Winehouse musical episode of Channel 10’s Mr and Mrs Murder.

His cabaret credits as writer/director include Lucky: Songs by Kylie, Show People, Britney Spears: The Cabaret, Vinyl Viagra, Liza (on an E), In Vogue: Songs By Madonna, Sweet Dreams: Songs by Annie Lennox (Adelaide Fringe Award), I’m Every Woman (Sydney Theatre Award), Newley Discovered, Experiment: Cole Porter and Josie in the Bathhouse.

He has been with Priscilla since 2006, re-directing it all over the globe and is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

www.bryantandfrank.com.

Choreographer

Andrew Hallsworth

Andrew won the 2015 Helpmann Award for ‘Best Choreography in a Musical’ for Opera Australia’s Anything Goes following his 2014 Helpmann Award win for the Hayes Theatre’s inaugural production of Sweet Charity. He won the 2016 Sydney Theatre Critics Award.for Little Shop of Horrors (Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions).

His theatre credits include the World Premiere of Muriel’s Wedding the Musical (STC/Global Creatures) Assassins (Hayes Theatre Company), Dream Lover (John Frost & Gilbert Theatrical), Sydney Opera House – The Opera and Two Weddings One Bride (Opera Australia), Ladies in Black (QTC/MTC) Rupert (Daniel Sparrow Productions), Dream Song, Shane Warne the Musical (concert), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the World Premiere musical An Officer and A Gentleman. For the MTC he has choreographed Rupert which toured to the Kennedy Center in Washington, Private Lives, Egg. Hamlet, Next to Normal, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Andrew co-choreographed the international production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert for Broadway and its other worldwide seasons.

For The Production Company he has co-directed and choreographed The Producers and Anything Goes and choreographed Jerry’s Girls, La Cage Aux Folles, The Pirates of Penzance, Gypsy, The Boy from Oz, Carousel, Mame and The Boy Friend. He co-choreographed The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie.

Further choreographic credits include the original Australian production of Eurobeat – Almost Eurovision, which was revived for the Edinburgh Festival, West End and UK tour. Menopause – the Musical, Leader of the Pack – The Ellie Greenwich Musical (Betty Pounder Green Room Award winner for Best Choreography), Sideshow Alley, The Merry Widow for Melbourne City Opera, Wombat Stew and Prodigal.

Other live and cabaret shows include Doris Day-So Much More Than The Girl Next Door, Britney Spears the Cabaret, Newley Discovered, Todd McKenney-Songs and Stories of Peter Allen and Cry Me A River-The World of Julie London.

Andrew’s television credits include the Australian series of So You Think You Can Dance, “Indigeridoo” and “Ja’ime’s Assembly Routine” on the cult TV show We Can Be Heroes, Dead Gorgeous for ABC/BBC TV, The Librarians for the ABC and Mr and Mrs Murder for Fremantle Media (TEN).

Costume Designer

Tim Chappel

In 1995 Tim won an Academy Award, a BAFTA and an Australian Film Institute award (AFI) for his costume design for the feature film THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT. He revisited this work in stage show PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE MUSICAL which has been performed worldwide and won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical.

After the success of THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, Tim spent many years designing for feature films including; TODAY YOU DIE, LOVEWRECKED, MISS CONGENIALITY, INTO THE SUN, RED RIDING HOOD, MOJAVE MOON and MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS amongst others. His TV credits include; V.I.P, HIGH SOCIETY and KATHY AND MO as well as a number of music video clips for popular artists such as MISSY ELLIOTT, CHER and MATCHBOX 20.

Since returning to Australia Tim designed for the encore presentation of THE SAPPHIRES produced by Black Swan Theatre Company and Company B. Tim designed costumes for PJ Hogan’s latest film MENTAL earning him a Best Costume Design nomination for the AACTA awards. He also designed for the 2012 TV series I WILL SURVIVE for Channel 10 and Fremantle Media Australia, Channel 9’s AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT and Channel 7’s DANCING WITH THE STARS in 2014 and 2015. Tim’s designs can be seen on Australia’s celebrities including Christine Anu for her REWIND show (2012), Casey Donovan for THE DEADLYS (2012) and Trevor Ashley for DIAMONDS ARE FOR TREVOR as part of the 2012 Mardi Gras Festival.

In 2013 Tim designed the costumes for GYPSY, directed by Gale Edwards and starring Caroline O’Connor and co-designed the costumes for THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Tim has continued to design costumes for the 2014 production of GUYS AND DOLLS, directed by Gale Edwards, and the sell-out production of SWEET CHARITY at The Hayes Theatre.

2015 saw Tim design the costumes for The Production Company’s season of WEST SIDE STORY directed by Gale Edwards, he also designed costumes for the 2015 season of DANCING WITH THE STARS for Fremantle Media. In late 2015 PRISCILLA played in Madrid, the UK and embarked on its first cruise ship aboard the Norwegian Epic.

Tim won the Broadway world and the Sydney Theatre award for design costumes for Luckiest Productions/Tinderbox Productions’ season of THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

Costume Designer

Lizzy Gardiner

Lizzy was born in a small outback town. After finishing school she went onto live in Italy and studied fashion and costume design for three years at the Accademia Italiana Arte Moda Design. She returned to Australia and began working in film.  At 25 she and her Design Partner Tim Chappell won the British Academy Award (BAFTA), the Australian Film Industry Award (AFI) and the Academy Award (Oscar) for her costumes on Stephan Elliott’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. For the Academy Award ceremony, Lizzy designed and wore a dress made completely out of American Express Gold Cards. The dress became an iconic piece of Oscar history. She has enjoyed a long and successful career in filmmaking around the World. Her work For Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical has garnered the Helpmann Award, the Green Room Award, the Olivier Award and the Tony Award for best Costume Design.

Original Make up Designer

Cassie Hanlon

Cassie Hanlon is one of the Australian film industry’s most experienced and creative hair and make up designers. She created the flamboyant looks that came to define Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Her work was awarded the prestigious BAFTA Award for Hair & Make Up Design and The Green Room Awards for Music Theatre.

Cassie brought her artistic flair to the Priscilla On Stage designing the hair and make up, as well as creating an innovative eye make up mask system that allows performers to seamlessly change their elaborate make up between scenes. Her patented masks are now used in stage productions worldwide.

With over 30 feature films and a slate of award winning television series and commercials to her name, Cassie has also worked as the personal make up artist to actors Ray Liotta, Rowan Atkinson, Heath Ledger, Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Tim Minchin, Anthony LaPaglia and Olivia Newton-John.

Choreographer

Ross Coleman

Multiple Helpmann Award nominee and winner, ROSS COLEMAN is known for his immense contribution as director/choreographer to Australia’s musical theatre. The first musical that Ross choreographed was the original Australian production of Grease in 1972. Since then a selection of his work includes Urinetown, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Rocky Horror Show, The Threepenny Opera, A Doll’s House, The Republic of Myopia, Company , The Seagull, Great Expectations, Grease, Cabaret, Chicago, and Priscilla.  International work includes Hedwig and the Angry Inch, High Society (UK tour), The Demon (Bregenzerfestspiel, Austria), The Demon (Zurich Opernhaus), The Merry Widow (Metropole Theatre and Friedrichstaadtplast, Berlin, St Petersburg Music Hall) and Pomp, Duck and Circumstance (Berlin and New York). Also, productions in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.  Ross passed away in 2009 before seeing Priscilla open on Broadway, and is greatly missed by everyone involved in the production.

Original Lighting Designer

Nick Schlieper

Nick Schlieper has designed lighting for all the major performing companies in Australia and works regularly internationally.

Recent productions include, for Sydney Theatre Co, Chimerica,.Three Sisters, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Gross und Klein, (which played in London, Paris and Vienna) Face to Face, Baal, and War of the Roses, as well as Hedda Gabler, Uncle Vanya, Streetcar Named Desire  and The Present (all in Sydney and New York). For Melbourne Theatre Company: Macbeth and North By Northwest.  He lit the Australian production of Love Never Dies, and the Australian, West End, Broadway and Toronto seasons of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Nick’s work in Europe includes productions for the Hamburg State Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company and the State Theatres of Hamburg, Berlin and Munich as well as productions in Vienna, Stuttgart, the National Theatre of Norway and the Salzburg Festival.

Nick has won six Melbourne Green Room Awards, five Sydney Theatre Critics Awards and four Helpmann Awards.

Original Sound Designer

Michael Waters

RESIDENT DIRECTOR

David Spencer

David is a graduate of the National Theatre Drama School and Sydney University.

As an actor: Fiddler on the Roof, Eureka!, Flowerchildren, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mary Poppins, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and UK tours of Carousel, Chicago and Copacabana. For The Production Company: Mame, The Pajama Game and The Producers.

As a Resident Director: Life Like Touring, Vic Opera (Into the Woods), GFO/Opera Australia (Anything Goes) and The Production Company (Funny Girl, Jesus Christ Superstar), Priscilla – Hong Kong.

David is thrilled to be working on this first revival of Priscilla in Australia.

Musical Director

Stephen Gray

Stephen was the original Musical Director for the world premiere of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical in Sydney, 2006 and he is delighted to be reprising his role for this production.

Stephen’s credits as Musical Director & Conductor include: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical (Australia, New Zealand & South Africa), Georgy Girl – The Seekers Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls, Xanadu (for which he received a Green Room Award Nomination), Dusty – The Original Pop Diva, Dames at Sea, A Swell Party, Underdogs and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. He was Associate Musical Director & Conductor for A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Singin’ In The Rain, Jolson, Cabaret, Oliver! and Grease – The Arena Spectacular.
Stephen’s arranging credits include the sell out Melbourne season of The Tap Pack, Candy Man, Underdogs, The Merry Widow from Bluegum Creek, Boy’s Own Macbeth, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the CDs Tribute (John Bowles), Sing, Sing, Sing (Wayne Scott Kermond) and Musical Direction & vocal arrangements for the Australian & US Tours of Scooby-Doo Live.

For the Melbourne & Ballarat Cabaret Festivals, Stephen has been Musical Director and Accompanist for A Singer Must Die, Good Girl/Bad Girl and Aznavourian. Stephen has also been heard in the pit orchestras on piano for many shows including the original Australian productions of Cats, Les Misérables, 42nd Street and Jerry’s Girls. He is currently collaborating on a new work, Songs From the Pavement, which explores the lives of Charles Aznavour & Edith Piaf.

General Management

Michael Cassel

Michael Cassel is an internationally recognised producer and entertainment executive. He formed his company, the Michael Cassel Group, to produce and present the world’s greatest musical and theatrical productions, live entertainment experiences, marquee events and concert attractions.

Michael is producing the tenth anniversary tour of the celebrated Australian musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, currently playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre followed by seasons in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Michael is producing the worldwide touring production of the world’s #1 musical, Disney’s The Lion King, which celebrated its 20^th anniversary with its premiere in Manila in March 2018. The musical will also tour to Singapore, Korea and Taiwan, with further engagements to be announced.

Michael is the producer of the Broadway hit, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, currently touring Australia with seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Michael is the Executive Producer of the Australian premiere production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The award-winning production will open in Melbourne, exclusively, in early 2019 at the Princess Theatre. The record-breaking play is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

As a co-producer, Michael reunites with Tony Award^®-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) on the Broadway production of Pretty Woman: The Musical, featuring original music and lyrics by Bryan Adams. The new musical will premiere in New York in July 2018.

As a co-producer, Michael is working with respected Broadway producers Jeffrey Seller (Hamilton) and Flody Suarez (What’s New Pussycat) on The Cher Show. The musical is penned by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), with choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies) and direction by Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and will open on Broadway after a short run in Chicago from June 2018.

Previously, Michael produced the triumphant Australian production of Kinky Boots, the Australian and Asian tour of Singin’ In the Rain and presented the sold-out tour of Lea Salonga in Concert in partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Michael was Executive Producer of Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new version of Les Misérables. The epic musical enjoyed a triumphant 19-month tour of Australia, winning the Helpmann Award for “Best Musical” before embarking on an Asian tour.

In addition to his theatrical interests, Michael represents former Australian Prime Minister, The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, former Olympian and global sporting administrator, Lord Sebastian Coe CH, KBE and media personality, Sami Lukis.

Michael’s ten-year tenure with Disney Theatrical Group, the live entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company, saw him hold a series of senior management positions at the company in both the United States and Australia, most recently as Director, International, based in New York City. In this role, Michael produced the company’s Broadway stage productions including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, AIDA, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid and High School Musical. Michael also supported Disney on Ice and Disney Live! licensed to Feld Entertainment, in international markets. In addition, Michael oversaw the company’s second class and stock and amateur licensing initiatives with Music Theatre International.

Michael began his professional career working with Australia’s foremost entertainment entrepreneur and celebrity manager, Harry M Miller.

Michael currently serves on the Executive Council of Live Performance Australia, the peak body for Australia’s live entertainment and performing arts industry.

Michael lives in Sydney with his wife Camille and their children Eveleigh and Vaughn.

Producer

Nullarbor Productions

Nullarbor Productions was originally formed as a partnership between Back Row Productions, Michael Hamlyn (Specific films) and Allan Scott. Garry McQuinn (Back Row co-founder), Michael and Allan produce all international productions.

Garry is the managing partner and oversees all international productions. He began his career in Australia and has been lucky enough to work around the world for quite a few years with many wonderful shows and good people.

Michael has been a film producer for longer than he cares to remember. In 1990 he met Australian director Stephan Elliott and became involved in the project The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. This film was made three years later, the rest is history.

Allan has written and produced more than 20 feature films, some of which have won awards and some his children praised. He graduated from McGill University and the CBC. He has been chairman of a public company and a trade union at the same time. This probably led him to Priscilla.

Nullarbor has overseen and managed all international versions of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert since 2006, including successful runs in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, London, Toronto, Broadway, Sao Paulo, Milan, Rome, Stockholm, US and UK tours, Buenos Aires, Manila, Athens, Seoul, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Cape Town and Johannesburg, Hong Kong and Bangkok … and a return to Australia in 2018.

Producer

REBEL PENFOLD-RUSSELL O.A.M 

True to her name, Rebel Penfold-Russell is a rebel in the world of arts. She is a rare, ideal mix of artist, producer/director and patron and has recently been awarded to Order of Australia Medal.

After graduating from NIDA (acting) Rebel continued studies at the London International Film School and New York Film School before returning to Australia to establish Latent Image Productions and Rebelstudio.

She was the Executive Producer of the award-winning Australian feature films ‘Frauds’, starring Phil Collins (Cannes Competition), ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce (Cannes Priz du Public and an Academy Award 1995) and ‘Paws’.  She directed the feature film “WillFull”, with  a slate of films and  documentaries,  and continues directing and producing  through Rebelstudio.

A fervent supporter of the visual and performing arts, she has a long history of fostering companies such as Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Dance Company, Sculpture by the Sea and those encouraging young filmmakers

She continues to tap dance through life with energetic curiosity for, and in the Arts, and lists her best productions to date as her two sons, Emrys and Jasper.

PRODUCER

MICHAEL HAMLYN

Michael has worked in the film industry for longer than he cares to remember.

From award winning music videos for The Rolling Stones, INXS, U2, Bruce Springsteen in the 80’s

His feature film credits include U2 -Rattle and Hum, Mr. Reliable, The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, and The Proposition.

His most recent theatre credit was Performers, written by Irvine Welsh, and premiered at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

In 1992 he met Stephen Elliott – a year later The Adventures of Priscilla – Queen of The Desert was made.

It was released a year later. The rest is history – it won an Oscar, various BAFTA’s, broke Australian box office records. It was indeed the first “family gay movie”.

In 2004 Michael met Garry McQuinn at a party. Priscilla – The Musical was born.

The Bus is now nearly 25 years old – a few minor repairs on the way but it’s still running smoothly and the journey continues.  And it’s finally coming back home.  Enjoy.

Producer

MGM On Stage

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms.  The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network EPIX, which is available, throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors.  In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution.  For more information, visit www.mgm.com.