Daily Telegraph

~ 4th March 2001 ~

Veteran musical star Michael Ball says there is nothing he would rather do in life than be on stage, "I am a workaholic, I love performing and trying new stuff," he says. London based Ball has enjoyed a stage career spanning 18 years and has starred in most of the well known musicals. His previous shows include Phantom Of The Opera, Aspects of Love, and Les Miserables.

Ball says he is looking forward to coming down under this week. "I've been dying to get to Australia" he says. "It's snowing over here (England) so I can't wait to see some sun".

While in Sydney Ball will take centre stage at Star City's Lyric Theatre for one show only.

Despite being made homeless two days before Christmas for Ball, the show is going on. "My house burnt down due to an electrical fault.   I lost all my prized memorabilia, gold discs, videos and photographs" he explains. Ironically Ball did not set out to become a musical star. "I was studying to be an actor and took a job in the musical Godspell just so I could get my equity card" he says "From that I just kept getting cast in musicals."

A true all-rounder Ball has done television as well.   In 1993 he briefly hosted his own show, Michael Ball. However, Ball says he is most comfortable on the stage where he is passionate about what he does.

 Much of his stage success has come about from his successful relationship with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Ball's first meeting with him was a memorable occurrence.

 "I was sitting in the bath terribly hungover, when I got a call asking me to be at Her Majesty's Theatre in one hour to sing for Lloyd Webber" he says. "I panicked, I raced down there and got the part".

 The part was Raoul in Phantom Of The Opera.   Lloyd Webber was impressed enough by his performance to cast him immediately afterwards in Aspects of Love.

Ball says this was his most challenging role to date. "I was on stage the entire time. It was very difficult, technically and musically" he says.

Ball's latest album, Michael Ball - The Musicals has just gone gold in the UK. He will be performing songs from it at Star City, as well as an array of hits from the various musicals in which he has starred.