SOME 300+ of Sydney’s finest whooped and knees-upped at the Paddo RSL and the 2011 Sydney Theatre Awards on Monday night. Meanwhile, across the other side of the globe our much-loved Tony Sheldon was enjoying a celebration of his own. He sent this email:

I am very chuffed about this. BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS has donated $20,000 on my behalf to our Aussie equivalent OZ SHOWBIZ CARES in honour of the Priscilla company’s fundraising efforts last December. How jolly!

xxx

And the message to him reads:

“Thank you Tony for leading the cast of Broadway’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the recent fundraising campaign that raised $107,000 prior to the performances of the 23^rd Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition on December 5 and 6! We are proud and happy to share some of the wonderful resources you have made possible for us with your friends and colleagues back home.”

“OZ SHOWBIZ CARES /oscefa.org.au

“Tom Viola”

TONY SHELDON with his very first cell phone. I grin uncontrollably when I think about the fact that he’ll be texting people with those fabulous pink nails. ;)

TONY SHELDON makes me Photoshop!happy. ~Exquisite Muse~

I cannot stop obsessing over the fabulousness of this musical. More specifically, TONY SHELDON. I just saw the show again this past weekend (took another photo with TONY at the stage-door) and I’m still ready & willing to hemorrhage my bank account to become a chronic audience member. <3 Priscilla <3

tonywinner:

“The key to playing a woman on stage is fearlessness. By that i mean don’t edit yourself. Don’t carry all that baggage of ‘I don’t want people to think I’m really like this.’ You’ve got to really commit to it. You have to go into the head space where you are a woman. As soon as the wig is on, the journey is complete for me. She’s there for the next three hours. When i get the full costume on, i see a different person. I don’t see myself at all.” - Tony Sheldon

As the curtain goes down on 2011, Broadway.com is looking ahead to the new year. We’ve asked the brightest stars on Broadway to reflect on their personal highlights from the past year and to reveal their hopes for 2012. Check out what they had to say, and have a Happy New Year!

TONY SHELDON (Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert)

Highlight of 2011: “Where do I begin? Singing at Bryant Park, Central Park, Gracie Mansion and the Waldorf, riding the Priscilla bus in the Pride Parade, winning a Theatre World Award and receiving nominations for the Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards, a photo shoot for Vanity Fair, performing on The Today Show, The View, The Rosie Show and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, shopping at the Broadway Flea Market, living in the East Village and working at the Palace Theater, meeting and becoming friends with some of my lifelong show business idols, workshopping a new musical with Kathleen Marshall, judging at the Gypsy of the Year competition and, above all, spending each day with my beloved Priscilla cast and crew. I can no longer imagine my life without Will Swenson and Nick Adams at my side.”

Resolution for 2012: ”To embrace change and avoid bagels.”

DELICIOUS. & the cupcake looks good, too. ;)

In less than 48 hours I’ll be watching TONY SHELDON grace the stage as Bernadette once again, and I’m BEYOND DELIGHTED!THRILLED!ELATED!MASSIVELY~EXCITED! I’ve been listening to the Priscilla OBCR on repeat for like three or so weeks now, and I can sing-along, annoyingly, in the audience to all the jukebox!disco classics. But more importantly, TONY.FUCKING.SHELDON.ON.STAGE. He’ll be just feet away from me.  *seizes & swoons*

Tony hugging his mama, Toni. How presh. I not-so-secretly wish he was also wearing nail polish in this photo…just ‘cause, you know, he’s usually sporting it nowadays with Priscilla and all.

Tony is debonaire like a boss. Yes, sir. Sucha dashing fella.