Tony Sheldon News

WCBS Newsradio 880 reporter Jim Taylor caught up with the Tony Award-winning production of Bette Midler's PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT and it's Tony Award-nominated leading man Tony Sheldon backstage at the Palace Theatre. Listen to the complete radio segment online here.

This week the 2012 Tony Awards Nominations were announced! I always get up early to watch the nominations on NY1; but my favorite part of the noms is the day after, when the nominees meet the press. Here are excerpts from my favorite nominee reactions in recent years.

www.priscillaonbroadway.comPRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT's Tony Award nominated star and original Australian leading man Tony Sheldon will unveil his portrait Sardi's Restaurant tomorrow, Wednesday, May 2.

Constantine Rousouli (Ghost) joins previously announced Tom Deckman (Spamalot), Jeff Hiller (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Silence!), Michael James Scott( Book of Mormon), Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz, Little Mermaid) , Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), David Turner(On a Clear Day, Arcadia, The Ritz) for the 'Pageant, the Musical' readings.

Constantine Rousouli (Ghost) joins previously announced Tom Deckman (Spamalot), Jeff Hiller (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Silence!), Michael James Scott( Book of Mormon), Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz, Little Mermaid) , Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), David Turner(On a Clear Day, Arcadia, The Ritz) for the 'Pageant, the Musical' readings.

FM News 101.9 theater reporter Michelle Murillo caught up with the Tony Award-winning production of Bette Midler's PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT on the musical's one-year anniversary at the Palace Theatre, and sat down with Tony Award-nominated stars Will Swenson and Tony Sheldon to discuss their hit year driving the big pink bus on Broadway. Listen to the complete radio segment online here.

Pageant, the Musical will have industry readings presented by Shea Sullivan May 1st in New York under the direction of Christopher Gattelli. Conceived by Robert Longbottom, book and lyrics by Bill Russell and Frank Kelly, and music by Albert Evans, this musical is described as 'Miss America meets Priscilla Queen of the Desert.'

Australia media giant Fremantle Media will be presenting a new reality show, 'I Will Survive', offering Broadway hopefuls the chance to train with the PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT company at the Palace Theatre. The reality series will be broadcast on Network Ten.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT 'Divas' trio Jacqueline B. Arnold, Anastacia McCleskey and Lisa Howard sang the National Anthem for the New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic game at Madison Square Garden, March 28.

Last night, March 20, Priscilla Queen of the Desert celebrated the musical's landmark one year anniversary at the Palace Theatre. Following the celebratory performance, Priscilla's half millionth audience member was crowned on stage along with a secret 'Oprah-style' prizing moment and a special surprise performance from the cheerleading squad 'Cheer New York.' Check out highlights from the big event below!

Last night, March 20, Priscilla Queen of the Desert celebrated the musical's landmark one year anniversary at the Palace Theatre before the show with the stars cutting the "Priscilla Pink Pie Face Pie" from Australia's most celebrated Bakery cafe "Pie Face." Following the celebratory performance, Priscilla's half millionth audience member was crowned on stage along with a secret "Oprah-style" prizing moment and a special surprise performance from the cheerleading squad "Cheer New York." BroadwayWorld was on hand for the pre and post-show celebrations and brings you complete photo coverage of the night below!

Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together on March 18 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42nd Street) for one last time to bid on - and bid adieu to - museum-quality bears representing legendary theatrical characters and autographed by the stars who made those characters famous. The cumulative fundraising total for the 15 editions of THE BROADWAY BEARS auctions is a remarkable $2,048,427. The previous fund-raising record was $170,000 set in 2002.

Today in 2011, Priscilla Queen of the Desert opened at the Palace Theatre, wehre it is still running (currently 415 performances). Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a musical with a book by Australian film director-writer Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, using well-known pop songs as its score. Adapted from Elliott's 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the musical tells the story of two drag queens and a transsexual, who contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. The original Broadway cast includes Will Swenson as Tick (Mitzi), Tony Sheldon, again, reprising his role of Bernadette, and Nick Adams as Adam (Felicia).

The Tony Award-winning production of Bette Midler's PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL celebrates its one year anniversary on Broadway and 500,000th audience member worldwide on today.

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS tonight, March 18, 2012 at 8 PM at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on West 42nd Street. THE BROADWAY BEARS is an annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers..

The Tony Award® winning production of Bette Midler's PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL celebrate its one year anniversary on Broadway and 500,000th audience member worldwide on Tuesday, March 20. In the video below, Joan and Melissa Rivers pay a visit to the show where they chat with Tony Sheldon, get a tour of backstage, and more. Click below to check it out!

Bette Midler's PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT salutes Spring with the return of Wednesday matinees at the Palace Theatre beginning tomorrow, March 14 at 2:00pm.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is currently working on a theatre-themed album titled 'Dee Does Broadway.' The first single is set to arrive in early April with the full album release set for May 2012.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers on March 18, 2012.