Priscilla Presley has enjoyed more than 40 years in show business, primarily as an actor—she earned a Soap Opera Digest Award as a series regular on “Dallas”—and as a producer and show host in projects for the large and small screens. She’s also designed clothes and beauty products. But it’s her surname, of course, that has most cemented her cultural legacy.
Priscilla married Elvis Presley in 1967, and though the couple divorced in 1973, Priscilla’s recollections of that extraordinary period in her life are largely fond ones. Presley remains inextricably linked to the Elvis mythos, whether it’s her role as co-executor of the Presley Estate or her creative endeavors, such as the offbeat 2023 animated series “Agent Elvis.”
Her marriage to the King will no doubt inspire much of the conversation of “An Evening With Priscilla Presley” on Feb. 22 at The Wick Theatre. Presley will speak at 2 and 7:30 p.m. for a presentation on her life, including wedding footage, home movies and film clips. Then she’ll take questions from the audience. Lunches, dinners and/or VIP meet-and-greets can be added to the experience. Last week, she was kind enough to grant us a few minutes on the phone to discuss her upcoming appearance in Boca.
Tell me about the show you’re bringing here and how you put it together.
Basically, it’s just me talking about my life. There are questions people have always wanted to ask, and I’ll be answering. It’s been quite successful, and I’m looking forward to coming there.
Is this the first time you’ve taken stock of your life in show business in this way?
I had done it before a while back. I decided by popular demand to do it again. It’s quite fun, because some of the questions that are asked are … how can I say? … interesting. A lot of things about Elvis—people will ask if he ever had false teeth, because he had such great teeth! The questions can be anything. I have a lot of fun with it, and the audience seems to as well.
I was a big fan of Sofia Coppola’s movie, “Priscilla,” about your early years with Elvis. Did you provide actor Cailee Spaeny with any insights into the character, and I’m curious if the two of you still keep in touch?
Yes, we keep in touch when we can. She’s now very busy. Being in the movie, she’s been asked to do quite a few films, so that was a good thing. I liked working with Sofia very much. I loved her work before, and when she called and told me she would like to do a movie, she asked me what I would like from the movie. And I asked her if she would please just be sensitive to it.
Do you ever wonder where your life and career would have gone had you not met Elvis on the fateful day in Germany?
No. I was so young; I was only 14. I didn’t know what I was going to do, and never had that in my mind—certainly not meeting Elvis Presley. I liked him; my mother did not like him when he first came out, and both my parents wouldn’t let me watch him when he was on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” But I did sneak and watch the show. He was amazing—just like every other girl that watched him on TV, and probably their mothers too!
You’ve had interesting ventures outside of the entertainment world, in fashion and beauty, for instance. What’s been your favorite creative outlet to pursue?
Oh my gosh—I think fashion. My mother loved fashion very much, and I think I got a lot of it from her. She was a model, growing up, and always dressed beautifully. Back in the day, when you went out to dinner, you did dress up. It’s not like today, that’s for sure.
What do you most hope people come away with when they leave your show?
Just knowing more about my life with Elvis. There have been so many things out there … especially with the younger generation, they’re curious; I do get younger people in the audience, and I do like talking about Elvis and what an amazing human being he was. He was a gentle soul. He was curious, he loved doing movies—he preferred doing movies. And of course when he would go to Vegas, he loved entertaining. And I think people walk away with the person that he was, and how authentic he was, and the story of how he became famous, and how he took it, and how his mother took it. I enjoy sharing all of that with the audience.
I feel like he endures because while there have been a lot of great rock stars, there’s never been another Elvis, who captured lightning in a bottle like he did.
It’s so true. I’ve seen guys who come out and imitate him, but there is no one else that could even try to be him. He was so authentic, loved music, loved what he was doing, and loved the audience enjoying him.
Tickets for “An Evening With Priscilla Presley” run $85-$150. VIP tickets, including a meal and meet-and-greet, cost $225-$300. Call 561/995-2333 or visit thewick.org/priscilla-presley.
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