PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, the hit musical based on the Academy Award winning film 'The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert' began its Broadway previews last night (28th February 2011).

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT will officially open on 20th March 2011 at the Palace Theatre on Broadway, following a successful debut engagement in Toronto, reports Playbill.com.

The Broadway version of the play is set to feature the Olivier Award nominee TONY SHELDON as Bernadette, as well as the Tony Award winning WILL SWENSON and 'La Cage aux Folles' actor Nick Adams. The trio will star as three friends who climb aboard a battered old bus in search of love and friendship in the Australian outback. The musical is written by STEPHAN ELLIOT and Allan Scott and the score will feature all of the existing dance-floor favourites synonymous with the production. Fans of the musical should expect to hear the likes of 'MACArthur Park', 'Shave Your Groove Thing' and 'Downtown'.

Among the numerous producers of the Broadway version is Bette Midler, who received an honorary Tony Award back in 1974 for her one-woman show.