Michael Ball's professional
debut in the theatre
was in the dual
roles of Judas and
John the Baptist
in a production
of "Godspell".
His next major role
was Frederic in
"The Pirates
of Penzance".
He was seen by the
impresario Cameron
Mackintosh who immediately
offered him the
role of Marius in
the Royal Shakespeare
Company's production
of "Les Miserables"
at the Palace Theatre
in London, and he
subsequently recorded
the London Cast
Album of the show.
Next in his already
escalating career
was Raoul in Andrew
Lloyd Webber's "The
Phantom of the Opera",
directed by Hal
Prince, at Her Majesty's
Theatre in London.
Then came a triumphant
success for Michael
in Lloyd Webber's
"Aspects of
Love" at the
Prince of Wales
Theatre, London,
directed by Trevor
Nunn. Michael subsequently
starred also in
the New York production
of "Aspects
of Love".
In
1992 Michael represented
Great Britain in
"A Song For
Europe" which
was seen by over
600 million people
worldwide. His song
was "One Step
Out of Time"
and his first album,
"Michael Ball"
went into the charts
at number one. He
followed the release
of the album with
a sell-out national
tour playing to
packed houses around
the country and
at the London Palladium.
Michael spent the
rest of the year
starring in concerts
around the country
and was one of the
stars chosen for
both the Queen's
Anniversary Gala
and the Royal Variety
Show.
Then
in 1993 Michael
recorded "West
Side Story"
with the London
Philharmonic Orchestra
starring as Tony
alongside Barbara
Bonney as Maria.
He toured the country
again with an equally
successful concert
tour, and recorded
6 episodes of his
own television show
for Carlton Television
entitled "Michael
Ball" in which
his guests included:
Ray Charles, Montserrat
Caballe, Tammy Wynette,
Elaine Paige, Cliff
Richard, Gloria
Estefan, Dionne
Warwick and the
Bee Gees. His second
album "Always"
debuted at number
three in the UK
charts and remained
in the top 20 for
10 weeks.
1994
saw the signing
of an exclusive
contract with Sony
Music for an album
'One Careful Owner'
which swiftly went
to Gold. His second
TV series of "Michael
Ball" was broadcast
in the summer with
a guest list including
Cher, Shirley Bassey,
James Brown, Joe
Cocker and MICHAEL BALL.
In
1996 Michael returned
to the theatre to
play Giorgio in
Stephen Sondheim's
musical Passion.
Following Passion,
Michael appeared
in various concerts,
released concert
videos, and recorded
more CDs, including
The Movies, Michael's
first CD to go platinum.
In
2001 Michael performed
a one-man show at
the Donmar Warehouse
which he named Alone
Together. Michael,
along with lone
pianist Jason Carr
as accompaniment,
told the story of
a performer entirely
through song. theatre.
Michael's ‘Alone
Together’
brought Michael
back to the theatre,
and in 2002 Michael
undertook the role
of Caractacus Potts
in the Sherman Brothers'
popular and endearing
children's classic,
Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang. Michael was
in Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang for 16
months, the latter
part of which was
also spent recording
a new CD.
In
September of 2003,
Michael released
a new CD titled
'A Love Story',
which was the poignant
and emotional story
of a beautiful yet
doomed love affair,
told entirely through
song. The CD also
included the song
'Me And My Shadow',
a delightful duet
with Antonio Banderas.
Late 2003 saw Michael
undergo a hugely
successful UK wide
tour, which he named
'I Wish You Love'.
The concert at Hammersmith
was recorded for
DVD/Video release,
hopefully later
in 2004. The end
of 2003 also saw
Michael perform
at the prestigious
Royal Opera House
in Covent Garden,
along with special
guests Caroline
Sheen, Celia Graham,
John Owen-Jones,
Michael McCarthy
and Jason Carr.
2004
promised to be an
exciting year for
Michael. In March
he set out on a
5 city tour of Australia,
including the famous
Sydney Opera House.
In April, Michael
joined Petula Clark
and Emma Williams
to perform 2 concerts
of Sunset Boulevard
in the Cork Opera
House, where he
portrayed writer
Joe Gillis. The
shows were a huge
success, and there
are rumours there
may be more shows
in future.
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