Michael Ball Concerts in Salt Lake City

[jo]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 6:29am

"Skokos Entertainment is proud to announce the first US Concert by acclaimed recording artist and stage performer Mr. Michael Ball. The concert is to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 14th & 15th at Abravanel Hall, the Home of the Utah symphony.

On May 14th Michael Ball will be awarded the "Key to the City" for Salt Lake City by the Honorable Mayor of Salt Lake City, Ross Anderson. The Mayor, by proclamation will declare May 14th, 2004 as "Michael Ball Day" in Salt Lake City. We are also announcing that Michael will have the honour of singing with the famed 300 member "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" on Sunday May 16th at the Tabernacle on Temple Square. This live radio and television broadcast is seen and heard by millions of people around the world."

***********************

To Michael Ball fans - this was officially announced today.

I am also very pleased to note that Michael will have a chance to sing with one of America's most loved music groups, The Mormon Tabernacle Group.


Jo
Updated On: 2/22/04 at 06:29 AM

[Lori]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 7:27am

Great news huh Jo? At long last. For anyone who wants to see a great live performance and can make it to SLC.... GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 9:26am

HUh---ok...glad to see he is performing...but why THERE??

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 9:48am

When/where are the tickets coming on sale? I hunted the internet over last night for them and could NOT find them.

I'm going to go!

D

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 9:56am

See- isn't this great? This truly is the year of gay men and woman everywhere. Even the Mormons are in support!

I just wish SLC was a little closer.....

[dymk]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 10:05am

The reason for SLC: Michael Ball is a Mormon, so SLC seems a logical choice for a venue.

[Lori]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 10:14am

dymk...Michael is not a Morman. Don't think he follows any particular religion.

D...They haven't announced yet when the tickets will go on sale.

Why SLC? Linda Eder, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, Michael Crawford have all appeared in concert there. They are a strong cultural arts community and the Promotor who has been working with Michael's management to bring him here is based in SLC.

Updated On: 2/22/04 at 10:14 AM

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 10:33am

Thanks, Lori. I'll be sticking as close as I can to the ticket sites. I want the best seats I can get for both nights. I just hope they don't sell out before I can get home from work to get them!

Just have to chuckle--did I or did I not say it would be the same weekend as the Aids walk in NYC? Can I call'em or can I call'em.

I've still got it.

D

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 11:52am

Thank you Lori for that correction although dymk your response did make me laugh out loud... "Michael Ball is Mormon"

oh a nice Sunday morning chucle..

[Lori]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 2:33pm

Well Broadway...on the off chance that dymk wasn't joking I thought I'd respond...

D... I'll send you a pm when I hear what date the tickets go on sale if you'd like. Glad you're planning on coming!

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 5:44pm

Thanks again, Lori! E-mail me, PM me, call me, send a Western Union telegram--they all work for me! Next question--what kind of weather can I expect for that time of year in Salt Lake?

I've already got the whole trip set up and holding on Expedia. I just want the tickets for both shows first and I'll click the "buy" button.

BTW--they are no longer the "Mormans". My Mother renamed them this afternoon. I was telling her about going to Utah and she said, "That's where the "NORMANS" are, aren't they?".

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 6:10pm

FYI everybody, Salt Lake City no longer has a majority Mormon population -- that just goes for the rest of the state.

There is a high regard for entertainment and theatre there. I don't see why he shouldn't have chosen Salt Lake.

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 6:24pm

I confess, if you go over to the West End board, I asked the same question. I could understand NYC, Miami, Vegas, LA or even Orlando but not SLC.

At this point, I don't care if it's downtown Mango (Mango has a down town?). He's coming here to the US of A and THAT works for me!

D

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 6:30pm

Salt Lake is clean, quiet, safe, and a majority of people there wouldn't recognize him on the street but they'd probably recognize his name from Les Miz since the SLC metropolitan area has probably contributed at least two dozen Les Miz cast members over the years...

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 6:35pm

I'm looking forward to seeing the city. I hope I can get to the Salt Lake. I've always wanted to see it. I should have plenty of time during the day.

I also wouldn't mind spending a few hours at the Temple to check out the genealogy files. I've read that they are quite extensive.

D

[jakebloke]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 6:56pm

It may seem interesting/confusing to most people why Micheal Ball would come to SLC. Having lived there, I can tell you that SLC has a great appreciation for the arts. Every year it seems they have a Utah Symphony performance with a guest performer from musical theater. I was fortunate to see (and meet) Bernadette Peters there a few years ago. I think last year's guests were Marin Mazzie and her husband Jason Don???? (spelling). The year before that or so was Audra McDonald...They get great people and they sell out. And hey....Student tickets were great. I got a ticket to Bernadette Peters for $5...student ticket...in advance. I don't know if they still do that...but definitely worth looking into. I wish I could see Micheal Ball, but I live in NYC now, and I think someday soon he'll do a concert here. We can hope. And by the way...SLC is a beautiful little city. Hope all that can go, enjoy and have fun.

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 9:03pm

I love Michael Ball and I wish I could see this concert... someone video it..oops.. did I say that outloud? I need to control that inner modulation...

let us konw how the show is

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 9:06pm

I'll be sure to post a full report!



D

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 9:39pm

If one finds oneself in SLC and if one were not a Mormon, all is not lost. The Temple Square is an intersting place to visit as is the home of Bringham Young. A number of areas in Temple Square are restricted to members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints aka the Mormons. The Family Researchy Center occupies a multi-story building only a block or two from Temple Square. It's easy to lose oneself for hours doing geneology research and the folks who staff the library are extremely friendly and helpful. There are a number of restaurants in the downtown area as it surrounds a hugh convention center which also encompases Maurice Abravanel Concert Hall. There are two vertical malls in downtown SLC just across the street from one another. There are two major universities in SLC, one with the religious affiliation the other without. The drinking laws in SLC are truly bizarre and as a patron it's quite impossible to fully understand them. Just know that your server will not be able to set down a second drink in front of you until you have totally consumed your first one, and you can't sit at a restaurant table and drink without having ordered food, but they don't mind serving one patron an entire bottle of wine.

Maurice Abravanel, by the way, was a noted Broadway conductor of the late 1930s and '40s, who conducted Kurt Weill's Broadway musicals including KNICKERBOCKER HOLIDAY, LADY IN THE DARK, ONE TOUCH OF VENUS among other shows.

The scenary surrounding SLC is quite beautiful.

I traveled there on business quite often. Updated On: 2/23/04 at 09:39 PM

[Faith2]

Posted: 2/22/04 at 11:55pm

Thank You Broadway Bulldog for taking the time to post all the interesting and informative information on Salt Lake City!

Just wondering...do you know which is the closest hotel to the Abravanel Concert Hall? Any hotel info would be helpful.

Thank You,
Faith2
Phantom Lover

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 2/23/04 at 12:34am

Try this link...

I agree with Bulldog. I am not Mormon, and I spent a weekend in Salt Lake and it found everything absolutely wonderful. The architecture, the scenery, the people, everything!

I stayed at the Best Western while I was there. It's not new and it's certainly not four-star, but the staff there is very courteous, and it's clean and cheap.

Have fun!
Utah Symphony on Yahoo! Travel Updated On: 2/23/04 at 12:34 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/23/04 at 2:06am

When I travelled to SLC (on business) I stayed at the Hotel Monaco. Upscale and very nice, but still affordable rooms. It's a renovated bank. No pool, but great restaurant and bar scene in the evenings. Very nice hotel. Across the street from the Capital Theatre and about two/three blocks from Abravanel Hall.

Bulldog

[Poodle]

Posted: 2/23/04 at 5:29am

dymk: I don't think Michael Ball is a Mormon. Apart from him being gay, a BBC programme not so long ago described him as their "second most filthy mouthed guest ever". That doesn't sound very Mormon!

He's a fantastic singer but I wish his Press Releases didn't claim that he's "dominated Broadway and the West End for the last decade". He's done neither as well we know.

I can't help wonder what he's spun to the Mayor of SLC. Why offer the key to the city and declare Michael Ball day? No British city would remotely consider doing that with him, unless they wanted the citizens to roll about helpless with laughter! In Britain, Michael Ball has nothing like the status that implies. Updated On: 2/23/04 at 05:29 AM

[DofB5]

Posted: 2/23/04 at 6:40am

Hope this works.

Faith look at this map

http://utah.citysearch.com/search?cslink=profile_nearby_hotels&miles=5&sorted=dist&topic_id=1196&ulink=default__searchnearby_2___change__1&map=1&radius_forced=14.1&map=1

I'm staying at the #1 hotel on the map. It's nearest! Look at it's address and then the halls address.

Updated On: 2/23/04 at 06:40 AM

[maestro]

Posted: 2/23/04 at 11:37am

Michael is repected in British theatre as one of it's gay community and to be given this honor in SLC, sure is great. The Mormon authorities deserve praise. Congratulations Michael.

Updated On: 2/23/04 at 11:37 AM