Hairspray the Musical the multi award winning production at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Running time 2 hours 40 minutes.
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Hairspray’s Michael Ball “I’m staying until next April” August 2, 2008
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Hairspray star Michael Ball has gives really interesting interviews. I wrote about the one he did on Jonathan Ross a while ago (Michael Ball Gives Jonathan Ross Interview). Yesterday I read a new one that he’s done for The Scotsman. It’s an excellent read. He talks a bit about his personal life, including his relationship with Cathy McGowan (Yes, that one, Ready Steady Go etc!) . Usually he keeps very quiet about the personal stuff but this is a much more relaxed, happier Ball and he credits Hairspray with having done that for him:
I’m having a Ball - Michael Ball interview - The Scotsman
Ball is clear that a certain Mrs Turnblad transformed his career. If you were to ask what it takes to become a leading man in the West End you might be surprised to hear it involves high heels, a pair of 46EEE boobs and a wardrobe of frocks that would put the gaudiest drag queen to shame. But for Ball that’s what has worked. “When I was cast people said I wouldn’t pull it off and then when I did and I won the Olivier Award, I can’t tell you the satisfaction,” he says, still savouring the triumph. “Everyone says, ‘Oh, awards don’t matter.’ Rubbish! That one meant everything for me. It meant, ‘all right, you can be in our club.’ It was so satisfying. I took it into work the night after the ceremony and it appeared in every scene. When I burst out of the hairspray can at the end I was dusting it!
He says he used to have issues with his size and his self-image but he feels comfortable with himself these days. I suspect playing in a show like Hairspray and getting all those positive messages every night must have helped! He talks a bit about the past and the panic attacks that caused him to pull out of Les Miz when he was younger. That was a dark time for him and he was hardly able to leave his flat at the peak of it. He knows that he’s still vulnerable and says:
“I know the danger signs. And I know to talk about it,” he says. “Cathy knows the signs for me and she’s very clever at pulling me up and also knows when I just need a bit of stroking.”
The best news is that Michael Ball is staying in Hairspray till at least April! He says:
I don’t think it’s been announced yet, but I’m staying until next April. They’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse.
So book your Hairspray Theatre Break now and see one of the happiest men in one of the funniest shows in town!
Exclusive Saturday Night Theatre Breaks August 2, 2008
Posted by admin in : Dirty Dancing, Grease, Hairspray, Musicals, Oliver, Special Offers, jersey boys, offers, theatre breaks , add a commentExclusive Saturday night theatre tickets
A new offer from Superbreak gives you the chance to choose Saturday night tickets for one of a range of popular shows with two nights in a London hotel for a very reasonable price. There’s also a fantastic bonus pack but more about that later. The top London show Saturday night tickets for these particular dates can be hard to find which is part of what makes this exclusive theatre break deal particularly attractive. You can not only choose from a range of 3* and 4* hotels but also specify from a range of theatre ticket price bands.
For example, two could stay 2 nights in a 3* hotel and see Oliver! (with Jodie!) in January from as little as £252 ! Or go in November and see Lee Mead in Joseph before he finishes, 2 nights in a 3*hotel plus tickets for 2 from £262
Not only that you get a VIP Theatre Pack full of goodies including a special exclusive CD and loads of valuable discount vouchers. But just wait until you see which West End Musicals are included in this exclusive offer.
Want to be sure of getting tickets? Book now
Shows and Dates
The offer is for specific dates in the autumn and winter of 2008. You could even book more than one.
Dirty Dancing Saturday 18 October 2008
do I see a girls’ night out in your future? Plus these weekends in London would be perfect for anyone planning a Hen Night.
November
Feeling like a musical November to chase away the winter chills?
Grease - Saturday 08 November 2008
Is this the one that you want?
Dirty Dancing - Saturday 15 November 2008
Wedding not till November? No Problem!
Joseph - Saturday 22 November 2008
Yes, see Lee before it’s too late!
Hairspray - Saturday 29 November 2008
Top show, what can I say, these are class shows! check availability
December
What about a shopping break in London combined with a show?
Jersey Boys - Saturday 06 December 2008
Dirty Dancing - Saturday 13 December 2008
January 2009
Oliver! - Saturday 24 January 2009
Oh yes, would you believe it? Tickets to see Jodie on a Saturday in January could be yours!
Act Fast - Book Now
You are going to have to act fast to grab these. It’s such a good offer the shows will book up fast.
So act now to book your Saturday Night Exclusive Theatre Break in London
What’s in the VIP Theatre Pack?
- An Exclusive Directors Choice CD
- A free subscription to Passport of the Arts (worth £20)
- A host of discount vouchers for London Attractions
Further details and check availability of tickets on the Exclusive Saturday Peformance Offer page
Hairspray theatre breaks offers May 9, 2008
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Hairspray Theatre Breaks
Hairspray is the hilarious musical currently playing to packed houses in the West End, so last minute tickets are not always easy to get hold of, but at the moment there are some great deals on theatre breaks packages to see the show and stay in a top London hotel afterwards. Hairspray has become a huge hit, it’s won oodles of awards and was made into film with John Travolta as Edna, (the Mum).
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The Hairspray Story
Hairspray is based on an original 1988 John Walters film which starred Divine and Ricki Lake. It became a cult classic film, the musical version has been running on Broadway since 2002 and now it’s one of the most popular choices for theatre breaks in London. Don’t worry though, despite a cross dressing lead, hilariously played by Michael Ball, it’s a family show.
Here’s Michael playing Edna. You can see he’s not playing her as drag, he makes her come across as a real woman.
Hairspray is set in Baltimore in 1962. It’s the story of Tracy Turnblad, a fat but beautiful girl with really big hair . She wins a spot on a local TV dance programme becomes a teen icon. But will she be able to change the world and win the boy she loves?
What do you think? 
The audience for Hairspray?
Who’s it for? Ideal for anyone who likes a laugh really! The music is very 60s and bubbly. It might not seem obviously romantic but trust me there’s nothing more intimate than laughing till you cry with someone
I also think Hairspray theatre breaks would be great for a ‘girls’ weekend. A relaxing train ride, hit the London shops, and a great, girly night out, hopefully with less of a hangover than the last girls’ weekend I went to! It really is better to book a whole package when you are organising London theatre breaks like this because it just makes life so much easier and it’s often cheaper too! Plus which there are some other great things you can book at the same time and save even more.
Ticket touts are out at Hairspray March 20, 2008
Posted by admin in : Hairspray, Musicals, Shaftesbury, opinion , add a commentBeware!! Touts about!
It seems that there are a number of ticket touts working around the Shaftesbury Theatre area selling tickets for the smash hit Hairspray.
One punter says they queued for day tickets for Hairspray last Saturday. They arrived at about 7:15 and were too late to get any tickets for the evening performance.Well der, this is the hottest show in the West End at the moment! Arriving at 7:15 does seem a tad optimistic They went on to say that the vast majority of the tickets were bought by people who they thought were obviously touts.
Someone else said that they had complained to the theatre, who, it seems, said that they were aware that the tickets were being sold to touts, but that they could do nothing about it! Hmm, I don’t suppose that was the official line, perhaps they just asked at the box office.
None of this is terribly surprising. The touts are out and about all over the West End, walk round near any theatre and people will approach you trying to either buy or sell tickets for the shows. The main thing is not to get caught by them. It’s just not worth it. You could end up with a totally worthless fake ticket or pay a stupid amount of money for terrible seats.
It’s just another reason for making sure you book in advance through a legitimate source, even better as part of a Hairspray theatre break. With something as popular as Hairspray your chances of getting day tickets are pretty minimal and they would be even if there were no touts. It is the hottest ticket in London at the moment, you simply are not going to get it for £10!
London Theatre Awards - Hairspray wins Best Musical November 27, 2007
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Here’s some good news for those of us planning theatre breaks in London. The Evening Standard London Theatre Award winners were announced last night. The awards, voted for by theatre critics, were presented by actor Richard Wilson at London’s Savoy Hotel. The panel of critics were: Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard, Georgina Brown of the Mail On Sunday, Susanna Clapp of The Observer, Benedict Nightingale of The Times and Charles Spencer of the Daily Telegraph. Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley said the awards
“recognise the huge reservoir of theatrical talent in London, in directing, writing and design and perhaps especially in acting”
The title of Best Musical Award has been changed in honour of the broadcaster, director and playwright Ned Sherrin who died recently. It was presented by Sheila Hancock,
The Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical.
Hairspray won Best Musical. As well as strong performances from Michael Ball and Mel Smith, the musical boast a great find in newcomer Leanne Jones, She plays the female lead, Tracy Turnblad, an overweight American “trailer trash” girl once played by Rickie Lake. Hairspray, which transferred to London’s Shaftesbury Theatre from Broadway. It beat strong opposition from nominees including Fiddler On The Roof and Parade.
Best Actor
Patrick Stewart has been named Best Actor for his title role in Macbeth The production of the Shakespeare play, which transferred from Chichester to London’s Gielgud Theatre, won great reviews when it opened earlier this year. Macbeth also gained Rupert Goold the Sydney Edwards award for best director. Macbeth was shortlisted in the design category, the judges said
“raised goose-pimples with its evocation of a hell’s kitchen experience”
Stewart said:
“It’s wonderful, we’re all aglow. All of us who believe the best possible theatre should be in London are thrilled.”
Goold said :
“They said it was a great year and it really is. Look at all the amazing people on the shortlist.”
Best Actress
Anne-Marie Duff, perhaps more widely known for her TV role in Shameless, won Best Actress. Her powerful performance in the title role Joan Of Arc in the National Theatre’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan has been very well received. Nicholas de Jongh described Duff ’s performance as
“one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen - absolutely devastating”
.Best Play
In a year that showed what the judges felt was a resurgence of serious theatre on the London stage A Disappearing Number by Simon McBurney and production company Complicite, a mathematical mystery, won best play. Other nominees included Rafta, Rafta and The Reporter.
Best Design
The Best Design prize went to the Rae Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company production of War Horse, with its huge horse puppets, at the Olivier.
Other Awards
The Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Polly Stenham - That Face (Royal Court Upstairs)
The Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Stephen Wright - Dealer’s Choice/Don Juan in Soho (Menier Chocolate Factory/Donmar Warehouse)
Special Award
Stephen Tompkins for innovative theatre architecture
So there you are, a feast of serious and not so serious theatre breaks in London ideas, with something for everyone.
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Thanks for reading London Theatre articles about Hairspray
