Michael Ball News

The smash hit award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London has recouped its entire £3.5 million capitalization in a record-breaking 29 weeks.

There will be access performances for the smash hit award-winning musical 'HAIRSPRAY' on 3, 10 and 17 April.

The 32nd Laurence Olivier Awards were be presented by actor Richard E. Grant on March 9, 2008 in London. Below are the winners, click here for the full list of nominees.

The nominations were just released for the 2008 Olivier Awards and Haispray is leading the pack with 11 nominations.

Ian Talbot will star as 'Wilbur Turnblad' in the smash hit award-winning musical 'Hairspray' from Monday 28 January. He will join Michael Ball as 'Edna Turnblad', Leanne Jones as 'Tracy Turnblad' and Ben James-Ellis as 'Link Larkin', who will all continue to star in the show until Saturday 25 October 2008.

Michael Ball has extended his run in the hugely popular role of 'Edna Turnblad' in the smash hit award-winning musical Hairspray by six months. He will now be starring in the role until Saturday 25 October 2008.

After years of fruitless speculation, the long overdue and hotly anticipated transfer of Broadway smash Hairspray has finally arrived in the Shaftsbury Theatre. And for a venue that has recently been plagued by a stream of short-run productions with poor box office success, what a blessing this must be. For surely here is a show that is set to run and run.

The premiere West End cast of the smash hit multi-award winning Broadway musical Hairspray has been announced. Michael Ball will star as Edna Turnblad, Mel Smith as Wilbur Turnblad, Leanne Jones as Tracy Turnblad and Ben James-Ellis as Link Larkin . Hairspray open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday October 30, following previews from October 11.

Michael Ball, Mel Smith and newcomer Leanne Jones will star in the multi-award winning musical Hairspray, which will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday, October 30, following previews from October 11.

Mel Smith will make his West End musical debut starring as 'Wilbur Turnblad' in the smash hit multi-award winning musical Hairspray, which will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday, October 30, following previews from October 11

Although Lee Mead won the title role of London's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat through the UK reality talent search 'Any Dream Will Do,' third runner-up Ben Ellis will play Link in the upcoming West End transfer production of Hairspray

More casting has been announced for the upcoming West End transfer production of Hairspray

Gary Griffin - fresh from the success of his recent Broadway production, 'The Color Purple' - has returned to London (where his Donmar Warehouse production of Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' won him a richly deserved Olivier Award in 2003) to present a revival of the 1950s musical, 'Kismet' at the London Coliseum for the ENO. The show, originally staged at the Ziegfield theatre in New York in 1953, has music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from musical themes by Borodin. The original book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis has been reworked by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Griffin's colourful, energetic and beautifully paced production, magnificently complemented by the set design by Ultz and Wolfgang Gobbel's lighting design, breathes new life into a classic.

Emma Williams has been confirmed as the star of the upcoming West End musical Desperately Seeking Susan

London leading man Michael Ball will explore his feminine side as hefty hausfrau Edna Turnblad in the upcoming West End production of Hairspray.

West End star Emma Williams will likely play the title role in the upcoming West End musical Desperately Seeking Susan.

After a jam-packed Autumn season last year, with 8 musicals in 8 weeks, the West End goes one better and gives us 10 musicals to look forward to over the summer months. With Broadway imports, popular reality TV cast musicals, new musicals and short-run revivals, there's certainly something for everyone, so read on for the full lowdown..

London gets a new production of Rent, a new Fiyero in Wicked whilst Faith Prince stars alongside Michael Ball at the ENO and Buddy returns for a third run

West End star Emma Williams will be featured on 'MusicalTalk,' the new London-based musical theatre podcast that premiered in September of 2006.

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, Bells are Ringing, TV's 'Spin City' and 'House') will make her London stage debut as 'Lalume' in the new English National Opera (ENO) production of Kismet at the London Coliseum.