Resorts World Manila goes retro with ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’

MANILA, Philippines - Resorts World Manila, known for producing world-class shows with shades of Broadway and the West End, breaks from its usual classical offerings to present, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, a unique take on Stephan Elliot’s celebrated Australian hit movie and stage phenomenon.

The production, aside from having an effective combination of situational comedy and an overflowing dose of infectious retro pop hits, tells the story of three friends (two drag queens and a transsexual), who travel across the Australian desert in their trusty pink bus named “Priscilla” to showcase their unique style of cabaret.

Jam-packed with hits such as Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It?, the Village People’s Go West, Alicia Bridges’s I Love The Nightlife, Abba’s Dancing Queen, Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, Dionne Warwick’s I Say A Little Prayer, The Weather Girls’ It’s Raining Men, Peaches and Herb’s Shake Your Groove Thing and countless more hits, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is one of the few musicals that keeps its audiences dancing from start to finish.

The local production features prominent names in both theater and local comedy with three-time ALIW awardee Leo Tavarro Valdez and Jon Santos playing two of the leads, and is directed by international stage maestro Jaime del Mundo of The Producers fame. Also on board the production is Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo.

“The younger generation will eat this show up. They took an interesting story and filled it with disco music,” Yulo said. “We will have audiences dancing in their seats,” she added.

Resorts World Manila’s production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert will open on May 9, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. For ticket reservations, visit www.rwmanila.com or call (639) 908-8833.