Michael Ball hosts West End Heroes at the Dominion Theatre on 28 September
Double Olivier Award winner, recording artist and presenter Michael Ball will host the 2014 West End Heroes gala concert.
Following the success of West End Heroes last year, which saw the casts of many of the biggest West End musicals unite with the finest UK military bands and musicians in a performance that raised more than £88,000 for the Help For Heroes charity, the newly refurbished Dominion Theatre is to once again host the event, this year on Sunday 28 September.
A new West End Heroes trailer featuring Ball and Bryn Parry, CEO of Help for Heroes, can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMa2rnzqC04
Michael Ball said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to take part in West End Heroes and to show my respect, admiration and support for the amazing men and women who’ve literally put their lives on the line for us all. It’ll be a joy and a challenge to host the entire evening (as well as hopefully performing a couple of songs) and I can promise it’s going to be a concert not to be missed. And, if all goes to plan, there will be some wonderful surprises in store.”
Returning to form the centerpiece of the gala and under the directorship of Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs will be The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, which is widely regarded as one of the finest military bands in the UK and incorporates the celebrated RAF Squadronaires Big Band. West End Heroes will once again be generously supported by many TV and theatre stars and will feature line-ups from current and past West End Shows.
This year’s event has set a target to raise more than £100,000.
General manager of the Dominion Theatre, David Pearson, added: “It is an honour and a privilege to once again host West End Heroes and we are delighted to announce Michael Ball as our MC. He is the biggest musical theatre star in the UK and we know he will do a magnificent job as MC as well as delivering some stunning numbers himself. The Dominion is looking forward to welcoming the concert as one of the first major events following the extensive restoration and refurbishment programme, which will be completed over the summer.”
The creative team for West End Heroes 2014 includes director Tim Marshall (Festival of Remembrance, Royal Albert Hall), musical director Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, musical supervisor Stuart Morley (We Will Rock You; Night of a 1000 Stars), choreographer Matt Flint (So You Think You Can Dance; Strictly Come Dancing), assistant director Carole Todd (Carnaby Street, Dreamboats and Petticoats) and designer Tim Soden (The Lion King; Calendar Girls).
Michael Ball made his West End debut as Marius in the original London cast of Les Misérables, and went on to star in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love in the West End and on Broadway, in the London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion and as Caractacus Potts in the West End musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In 2005 he returned to Broadway as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, which transferred from London’s West End. In 2008 Ball won an Olivier for his performance as Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray, which he then took on tour across the UK.
In 2013 Ball won his second Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his critically acclaimed lead role in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (Chichester and Adelphi/West End). He regularly tours the UK as a concert artist and has sold millions of albums and DVDs nationally and internationally. He recently completed shooting the Victoria Wood BBC TV film That Day We Sang with Imelda Staunton and in November 2014 will release his 19th solo album.
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