Michael Ball

[FirstRow2]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 1:46pm

I'd been reading updates on London West End performers & saw that Michael Ball is touring England. Why hasn't Broadway invited him with open arms? His voice is perfect for many roles! Or at least write him a One-Man-Show so he can perform an evening of music. That would be well worth the price of a Broadway Ticket!! Am I the only one who would enjoy seeing him?

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:00pm

I certainly would enjoy seeing him. Hard to believe "Aspects of Love" was over 10 years ago.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:15pm

My father would weep with joy if Michael Ball came to the States for a concert. He really would.

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 02:15 PM

[pattifan2]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:27pm

I remember around twenty years ago meeting a friend of mine who was working on a production of 'Pirates Of Penzance' in Manchester. We went for pizza between shows and she introduced me to the young actor playing Frederick. His name was Michael and I asked what he was doing after 'Pirates'. He said he'd got a role in a brand new musical called 'les Miserables'....funny how things work out, eh?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:44pm

I absolutely love Michael Ball. I got the thrill of meeting him after Aspects of Love when it was in New York City. I loved it so much I saw it twice in one day.

He makes me melt.

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 3:58pm

I would love to see him back. He has a a great musical theater voice. Many of us have wondered why he hasn't brought his one-man how over here or done more concerts. He is also performing at Cardiff on January 22 for Tsunami Relief.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 5:48pm

He'd be such a great Phantom, though I can't see him in many other roles currenty ON Broadway (but there's a whole different thread about that!) but if they wanted to bring his one man show to Broadway for a bit, that would be awesome.

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 7:42pm

He just might do the role someday. I think first though might be Jean Valjean Updated On: 1/10/05 at 07:42 PM

[jo]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 8:01pm

Yes, his one-man show called ALONE TOGETHER is a great piece of theater - the story of the life of a performer told completely through song. New York might be very receptive to this kind of unique show, which drew huge praise from UK Variety and International Herald Tribune theatre critic Matt Wolf.

I think he was asked to reprise his role in CHITTY for Broadway, but it seems the talks fell through. The role eventually went to Raul Esparza.

As to what Michael has been doing more recently --

*In 2OO4, he was in Australia for a 5-city tour.

*He sang the role of Joe Gillis with Petula Clark in a concert version of SUNSET BOULEVARD. He originally sang the songs from the show when the musical score premiered at ALWebber's Sydmonton estate, long before it became a musical at the West End.

*He was the host of the third series of a BBC Radio show called BALL OVER BROADWAY, featuring shows like AVENUE Q, WICKED, THE BOY FROM OZ, WONDERFUL TOWN, etc...He interspersed the music from the shows with short interviews with the creative teams and/or the cast of the show.

*He appeared for the first time in a solo concert in America - a two-concert event at SALT LAKE CITY.

*For a special concert version of LES MISERABLES held at Windsor Castle for an event hosted by the Queen for President Chirac of France, he sang the role of Jean Valjean.

*He did have a schedule of summer concerts in the UK. He also released a new DVD of a previous concert tour and a compilation album, including some new songs ( one of which was written by him...and his version of THIS IS THE MOMENT)


For 2005 --

*He is recording a new album very early in the year

*His full tour of the UK has been announced for late spring/early summer.


Btw, David Kenney of the show "Everything Old is New Again" has featured him several times on New York radio.

Sorry, for getting carried away - but he is a great talent and he deserves to be heard or seen again on Broadway.







Updated On: 1/11/05 at 08:01 PM

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 8:05pm

Broadway hasn't welcomed him with open arms because his vibrato is out of control.

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:42pm

I do believe you are mistaking. There is room for him or any talented person on on the Great White Way. If not then we should make room.

[JP]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 9:59pm

I for one would love to see the man return, just to show that he's still got the right stuff. So many have never seen him perform, and in the right musical, he could knock Broadway on its pins. Someone mentioned Phantom, and after seeing him just do bits of it on stage...that would be a dream come true for me.

Vegas Lady

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:29am

That is for sure. I have to agree with ya there

[jackson992]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:34pm

He is definitely one of my favorite performers in musicals today.

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:45pm

Mine too. The real thing is, though, if you listen to Les Miserable cast recording or Rage of The Heart Concept, he sounds so young. Terrific, but young. Now twenty years later the voice has more passion and still hits the notes. He has a wonderful way of interpreting the lyrics. Plus let's face it the guy is capable of singing almost anything a writer throws at him.

[Lori]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:56pm

Jo...carried away? Never LOL!

You can tell by my Avatar that I'm biased, but he has an amazing voice...one that you can't truly appreciate until you hear it live...also one that has matured beautifully since "Aspects of Love". I've been lucky enough to see him perform in the UK (including his one man show at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Sunset Boulevard in Cork). I think it would be wonderful to have him here on Broadway again. Problem would be finding a role to suit him. He could easily take over the Phantom, but beyond that it would have to be the right role. He was great in CCBB in London (he has a real flair for light comedy) but the role did nothing to show off his vocal ability.

I'll continue to hope though. It'd be great to see him get the recognition he deserves on this side of the pond!

[kec]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:30pm

Jo, Lori, Sharon... you've pretty much echoed my own sentiments on this subject. Hopefully we can get Mr. Ball to fly across the pond again in the near future -- whether it be on Broadway, or perhaps a small off-Broadway house to reprise his Alone Together show.

[Faith2]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 2:02pm

Hi FirstRow2

To answer your questions:

NO, you are not the only one who would like to see Michael Ball on Broadway!

YES, I agree it would be well worth the price of a Broadway ticket to see/hear the Gorgeous Mr. Ball!

QUOTE:
That would be well worth the price of a Broadway Ticket!! Am I the only one who would enjoy seeing him?

Peace and Love,
Joyce a.k.a. Faith2

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 2:13pm

bjivie2~ And you must like perfect sounding perfect pitch singers. His voice and his vibrato is what makes him so wonderful. Just listen to his Vaults of Heaven on the ALW Birthday Concert.

[kangaroo]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 2:53pm

I absolutely love Michael Ball... and I have heard he has been touring everywhere. It would be amazing to see him on Broadway, and it DEFINITELY be worth it. I loved him in Aspects of Love, West Side, and especially as Les Miserables. AT this point, all we can hope is that he either comes to the states to sing for us... or he gets Valjean in the 20th and we can watch him on tv again.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 4:23pm

Perfect pitch is nice. No one likes to listen people singing sharp or flat. It's just my opinion of his voice. I don't really like it. His vibrato is distracting from what he's singing.

[kangaroo]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 4:31pm

I really like his vibrato, and I think the best part is the emotion in his voice. You can hear it and see it on his face. I'm mainly judging from him as Marius in the 10th, but I think he did the best job showing the emotion on his face. He has a very unique voice... and who says that he isn't on pitch? It is pretty rare to have perfect pitch, but it's not as if he sings off pitch that often that you can judge him for it.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 4:33pm

Yeah, I have no idea what that was about. I was just responding to BoxOfficeJon saying "And you must like perfect sounding perfect pitch singers." Ball's pitch is fine. I'm just not a fan of his vibrato.

[kangaroo]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 4:43pm

Sorry I was just writing back to what you were saying. I thought you were basically saying that he sang off pitch a lot.
It's fine if you dont' like his vibrato, but I personally love it. And I love his talking voice... he sounds so different but I adore his accent.

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 6:14pm

Well hopefully one day he will be over here again. I guess til then we have to make the trip across the pond or to Australia