Ball urged to bring Hairspray to town!
IPSWICH: He famously sang that love changes everything.
IPSWICH: He famously sang that love changes everything.
Now Ipswich fans of crooner Michael Ball are hoping their passion for the singer will persuade him to bring a musical tour to the town.
The star wowed the sell-out crowd at the Ipswich Regent earlier this week with a dazzling array of his best songs.
During the stunning performance, Ball talked about his upcoming tour with the smash hit musical Hairspray.
The show, in which he starred as heroine Edna Turnblad, will travel the country next year with Ball appearing at some of the popular venues including the Cardiff Millennium Centre.
Now fans are hoping he will also bring the tour to The Regent in Ipswich - where he would be guaranteed a rapt reception.
Most Read
- 1 Train services in Suffolk cancelled after horses escape onto tracks
- 2 'Quietly confident' - Felixstowe Indian restaurant goes alcohol-free
- 3 Mapped: Where parasite dangerous to dogs has been reported in Suffolk
- 4 Man turned up naked on woman's doorstep after Euros Final
- 5 Man found dead as police and fire service called to Ipswich home
- 6 Plans for flats in former Ipswich pub progress
- 7 Severe delays on A14 as lane blocked on Orwell Bridge
- 8 Busy Ipswich road reopens after small sinkhole is repaired
- 9 Car seized as driver tries to avoid parking fees at Stansted Airport
- 10 Why has my car been covered in dust?
The idea to encourage Ball to bring Hairspray to Ipswich was the brainchild of Judy Terry, the borough council's portfolio holder for culture and leisure, who described Monday's show as “fantastic and wonderful”.
She said: “During the show he was talking about touring with Hairspray and we would love to see it brought to Ipswich.
“It would get a fantastic welcome.
“The Regent is renowned across the region with promoters, it is one of the top comedy and music venues in the country and has a really fantastic reputation.
“The council spent a lot of money refurbishing it a year ago at a cost of about �500,000 and I think promoters see that investment.
“The Regent is very important to the town and to the local economy.”
And in a message to Mr Ball, she said: “We would love to see Hairspray come here. He obviously enjoyed the show on Monday and is always going to get a terrific welcome from the people of Ipswich.
“They very much loved the show (on Monday).”
The singing heartthrob is currently touring the UK and went to Kesgrave on Tuesday to officially open the Emma Dodd School of Performing Arts.
He said he was afterwards he was “bowled over” by the talent of youngsters in Suffolk.
Do you want to see Hairspray visit Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
Hairspray:
Hairspray first opened on New York's Broadway on July 18, 2002, and played until January 2009
The show is a global phenomenon, with productions in London, Canada, Finland, Tokyo, Osaka, Korea and South Africa
Hairspray has won 28 major awards including the prestigious 2008 Olivier Award for Best Musical
There are 175 wigs used in the West End production of Hairspray
The cast get through an astonishing 80 cans of hairspray a week
There are 35 people in the West End cast of Hairspray whose ages range from 16 to 65
