Michael Ball Comes To SW19 In Hairspray

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Micky Dolenz will also reprise his hit role

Michael Ball and Micky Dolenz will be reprising their smash hit West End roles when they star in Hairspray at the New Wimbledon Theatre next March.

Ball will be playing the part he originated - that of larger-than-life heroine Edna Turnblad - while Monkees star Dolenz will also be reprising the role of loveable, ever so slightly crazy joke shop owner Wilbur Turnblad.

Olivier Award-winner Ball is a multi-platinum selling recording artist. He has starred in productions on both sides of the Atlantic including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Aspects of Love, Passion, The Woman in White and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and made his debut with the New York City Opera in 2005 in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience. 

He has also presented a number of his own high profile television shows including his Michael Ball Christmas Special, An Evening With Michael Ball and he is a regular guest presenter of ITV1’s This Morning and BBC1’s Lottery shows.

Ball said: "I knew when I originally took on the part of Edna that she was going to be a big part of my life, in every way, but I never realised just how big.  Hairspray is truly one of the greatest experiences of my career and the chance to have just a few more nights in those frocks was an opportunity I couldn’t miss!"

Actor, musician, writer and director Dolenz started out as an American TV child star and shot to fame in the NBC television show, The Monkees. The actors were also successful as a chart group with hits including I’m A Believer, Last Train To Clarksville and Daydream Believer.

Since the band, he has guested in many television shows, provided voiceover for countless animated series and written, produced and directed for television, notably in the UK as lead producer/director on the children's show Metal Mickey. 

He has also appeared in Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA on Broadway and on stage in the USA in Pippin', Grease and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. In the 1980s, he directed a West End stage version of Alan Parker's Bugsy Malone, the cast of which included a then unknown Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Danny Bayne, who won ITV’s Grease is the Word will play Corny Collins, winner of GMTV's search for Troy in High School Musical 2, Liam Doyle will take on the role of Link Larkin and Laurie Scarth will play Tracy Turnblad.

Hairspray runs at the New Wimbledon Theatre from March 15-26 2011, with show times of: Week 1 – Tues to Sat eves at 7.30pm, Weds, Thurs and Sat mats at 2.30pm. Week 2 – Mon to Sat eves at 7.30pm, Thurs and Sat mats at 2.30pm.

November 9, 2010