Ball Over Broadway 2

[JakeB]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 5:26am

Did anyone hear the second in this series? He visited Hairspray. I'd never heard the music before so at first I really didn't like it, thought it was a bit stupid, but then I listened to it back and it's growing on me.

Harvey Weinstein (is that his name?) has a really strange voice! MJW did quite a good interview. I'm -ish looking forward to it coming to London, is it better in performance?

For those who missed it you can listen online:
BBC Radio 2 Website

[KB]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 9:22am

I'm really enjoying this series. Didn't Michael Ball have a TV show for a while where he did interviews and performed?

Anyone have any more information on him in Jekyll & Hyde? I think I'd fly to London for that!

KB

[JakeB]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 10:49am

I'm not sure where this rumour came from, I've not heard anything from anyone over here, but basically everyone in London cannot wait to see a production of J&H, so whoever's in the lead role will be welcomed (though many will groan at MB).

About a year and a half ago there was talk of it opening, replacing Blood Brothers. If it does open, I hope it doesn't replace this show - it's an excellent musical and part of many people's first theatre experience, certainly mine, I've seen it maybe five times and appeared in a version of it.

I don't remember MB having a show, not in recent years anyway. All I know is that his fans are crazy! KB, flying to London to see him.. are you a crazy fan?!

[DofB5]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 11:25am

I really liked the music and am putting Hairspray on my list of "must see" when I either go to NYC or when it comes to town.

I'm enjoying the radio show but I do feel a tad bit sorry for Mr. Ball because I understood he was on "vacation" when this was done. He wasn't getting all R & R.
D

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 1:48pm

I heard Fridays broadcast,I thought Hairspray sounds like great fun.

KB You'd be suprised how many fly in from overseas to see Michael
He has had three Tv series one in '93 and '94(12 shows in all)which had guests such as Tammy Wynette,James Brown,Ray Charles,
Tony Bennett,Cher,Take That,Harry Connick Jnr,Elaine Paige and many more on it.He also had a series of three shows('9that were shown in Wales and then made into a special for the network his guests then were Ronan Keating,Lesley Garrett and Martine McCutheon.He also did a Christmas special in 1995 with guest Michael Boulton and Dusty Springfield.So quite a bit over the years.
The J+H rumour comes up every so often.I first heard MB mention it in interview back in '96,saying He'd been talking to Frank Wildhorn about the show.A few years later he told us he was off to see the German production to see how it was.I've not heard it mentioned recently either though but you never know.I think he'd be great to,so let 'em groan I say :)

Phew!! hope that info helps KB

[KB]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 1:54pm

I've always been a big fan of his but haven't had the chance to see him live because of his minimal work here in the United States. I am also a big fan of Jekyll & Hyde so the two together would definitely get me onto a plane.

Is his TV show available on video anywhere?

KB

[JakeB]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 2:55pm

If you want to see him, he's on the making of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

[kec]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 3:43pm

I heard most of it -- I had some glitch in the middle so I need to hear it again. Jake, the name of the actor who plays Edna is Harvey Fierstein. He wrote and starred in Torch Song Trilogy back in the early 80's. It was interesting to hear about Hairspray, but I don't know that I would put this high on my list of musicals to see when I go back to NY this summer.

KB -- You can currently get Michael's Royal Albert Hall concert on DVD through Amazon.com. It's titled Michael Ball Live at the Royal Albert Hall. There are other DVDs of his concerts, Musicals and More,This Time it's Personal, and his one-man stage show at the Donmar, Alone Together, but they are Region 2 dvds and you would need a multi-region player to play them. And, as Jake said, there is the behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the stage musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This is available in both NTSC (American Format) DVD and Video through this company: www.discount-music.co.uk. The DVD includes five musical numbers from the show, four of which feature Michael. This same company also sells NTSC videos of the concerts I mentioned above. As far as I know, no official videos of his tv series are available.

As for Jekyll and Hyde... I asked the guy on broadway.com to provide the source of the interview he said it came from, but thus far no response. I suspect it's just a rumor making the rounds.

Jake -- Just because someone flies a distance to see a performer they admire doesn't necessarily make them crazy -- it just makes them an overly devoted fan. :) Seriously, do you mean to say if someone you admired greatly was doing something on Broadway you wouldn't want to go to NY to see him or her perform there?

Every performer has fans who go a bit overboard -- but I don't think making a trip to see said performer in concert or in theatre falls under that category.

[DofB5]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 4:23pm

Harvey Fierstein's voice. It's like gravel but cool--can't explain.

I don't think your crazy if you go someplace to see a preformer a crazed fan. Only when you hound that person to death.

I have a old pen pal friend whos life long dream is to meet and marry a "star". She wants to walk down a red carpet of an award show--it don't matter which one--on his (and from the ones she's chased, who it is don't seem matter either) arm. She has managed to meet a few and even got a bit close with one--she hounded him to the point where he almost got a restraining order against her. Sigh.

Now that is going to far, in my mind.

KB, I too, have had to go by what I could get on DVD/tape so far but here's hoping we'll have Chitty to look forward to next year!
D

[Eleven]

Posted: 5/27/03 at 1:35am

Updated On: 5/27/03 at 01:35 AM

[Salome]

Posted: 5/27/03 at 11:09am

When's he going to do something on this side of the pond? He's a hunk.

Jim

[kec]

Posted: 5/27/03 at 4:50pm

I agree, it is long past time he returned to Broadway. It is hoped by many of his American fans that if and when Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opens on Broadway--rumored to be in 2004, provided a large enough theatre (to store the car) becomes available, Michael Ball will be in the driver's seat as Caractactus Potts.