‘Priscilla:’ Let the drag races begin!

In 1994 Stephen Elliott wrote and directed the Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. At the time, with the exception of Terence Stamp, the rest of the cast was filled with unknown actors. Both Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, who starred opposite Stamp, went on to become recognizable Hollywood actors.

Fast forward to the year 2006. Elliott took his Academy Award winning film (Best Costume) and with the help of Allan Scott turned the film into a musical. Its first staging began in Australia, and ran on and off for two years. It then transferred to London’s West End for a few years and eventually, with the help of producer Bette Midler, landed on Broadway in 2011.

The musical pretty much follows the same story line as the film. Anthony “Tick” Belrose, aka drag queen Mitzi Mitosis, gets a call from his estranged wife asking him to help her out with a club she has. She wants him to perform there to help business, but she also wants her 8-year-old son, Benji to finally meet his father.

Tick agrees and enlists the help of his friends Bernadette, a transsexual, and Felicia, another drag queen, to join him in the show and on the trip. Both agree and thus the adventure begins.

Priscilla pulls into the Civic Theatre from Oct. 15-20, disco songs, drag costumes and all. Scott Willis who plays the role of Bernadette, hit the Broadway stage in 1996 in the show State Fair, and was in the long running Off Broadway show The Fantasticks in 2006. Priscilla marks the second tour he has participated in, and he also holds the distinction of playing Santa Claus for The Radio City Christmas Show for almost 15 years.

“It was a sort of dream of mine to play Santa with Radio City since I first saw the original Christmas Show at the Music Hall in 1980,” Willis said. “One August I was at my mom’s home in Alabama, opened a magazine to a page that had a picture of the quintessential Santa in the ad. From that moment, I knew that I was going to be playing Santa. Almost fifteen years ago I first auditioned for the role at Radio City. There were quite a number of callbacks during a period of several months. It was always just me and another guy at the audition. Each time I thought that the other guy must have received the call because so much time elapsed between callbacks. At my final callback, the director, Linda Haberman was communicating a direction to me about what she wanted. I knew that she liked me, but I also knew that I wasn’t giving her something she needed. All of a sudden that missing something dawned on me. I did it. She clapped her hands together and enthusiastically said, ‘Yes! That’s it!!’ And I have been playing Santa ever since.”

His role as transvestite Bernadette in Priscilla couldn’t be more different than ole Saint Nick. With false eyelashes, tons of grease paint and a wardrobe that would astound even show producer Bette Midler, Willis slips in and out of costume and dances and sings with his cohorts eight shows a week.

When asked what he originally thought of the film and Terence Stamp, who played his part in the film, Willis admits his memory is a little hazy.

“I remember loving the movie when it first came out,” Willis said. “It was very touching on a number of different levels to me. To tell the truth, I don’t remember what I thought about Terrance Stamp’s performance. I’m sure I loved it because he is an integral part of the film. But that initial viewing was a long time ago and I would be making up something just to say something if I were to comment about those feelings now.”

One of the things that Willis finds touching about this production, and coincidentally is his favorite part of this production, is actually the beginning moments of the show as the overture starts.

“I usually step out of my dressing room just after the overture has begun to hear the response of the audience when they first see The Divas descending into view,” Willis confided. “There is a surge of energy that fills the entire theater … no matter where you happen to be standing. It’s like a cue from the audience to the actors saying, ‘We’re here! And we already love you!’”

Wade McCollum, who plays the part of Tick, is enjoying his first foray into the world of national tours, finding life on the road, and getting to perform in Priscilla, very exciting.

“Life on the road is really amazing,” McCollum admitted. “It took a while to figure out how to make the most of it though. It’s really incredible to have the opportunity to see so much of the country while performing in such an uplifting love-filled show. I really enjoy finding a yoga studio in every city to practice in; yoga is a great way to participate in the community and spirit of each new stop.”

Perhaps yoga is just what the doctor ordered for McCollum, who not only has to deal with being on the road first time, but also has a very strenuous show to do with countless costume changes.

“[The show is] a sweat fest,” McCollum confessed. “Each theater has its own relationship to air conditioning, so certain cities are really wet, others kinda chilly but it’s always a workout!”

As for the costume changes McCollum fondly recalls what it was like the first time he had to run the show with all the expected costume changes.

“[It was] a hot mess,” McCollum said. “Personally it took me months to relax into some of the changes, they are crazy. But eventually you learn to channel your inner ninja and breathe and things get better.”

While life on the road may be new to him, his experience on stage regionally is rich with many recognizable musicals and plays. When asked what show or role is his favorite, McCollum admitted that choosing just one isn’t easy.

“I’m bad with superlatives,” McCollum confessed. “Each role is such a treasure trove of lessons if you’re awake to them. But if forced to choose some faves I would say: Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Jake in A Lie of the Mind.”

One of the standout moments the film and the show have in common is the scene when Tick finally admits to his son that he is his father. It’s scenes like that that add a touch of heart to a show that can easily turn into a one trick pony show about drag queens and costumes.

Perhaps it’s Willis’ response to what he hopes the audience will take away with them after the show that best describes what an evening with Priscilla and the boys, is like.

“There is no getting around the fact that Priscilla is one big party,” Willis said. “It doesn’t matter the age … everybody seems to love our show. Many like to pooh-pooh the relevance of happiness and joy in one’s life. Some would like to spin a tale that glitter and glitz is without depth. The inner joy and satisfaction that people experience at Priscilla is evidenced by the wall of sound that hits the stage coming from our audiences every night. It is without precedence in my 38 year career on stage.”

Willis continued his sentiments by commenting on those moments that add heart to the show.

“For those more sensitive, there is a heartwarming story of three friends whose own walls of acceptance diminish and whose bonds grow stronger through adventure,” Willis added. “There is the story of a young man who finally takes responsibility for the choices he has made and the child he has fathered – which might possibly lead to a new kind of future happiness. And there is the story of unexpected budding romance in the autumn years of one’s life. I don’t think any of those plot lines are something to be pooh-poohed. Not at all.”

The Priscilla bus pulls into San Diego Oct. 15 stopping at the Civic Theatre downtown and will run until Oct. 20. For tickets you can contact the theater box office on 619-570-1100 or purchase them online at broadwaysd.com/priscilla.htm