BBC RADIO 2 in the PARK
MICHAEL BALL’S BROADWAY BANGARS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2024
Is there anything more delightful than watching and feeling Michael Ball’s all-consuming joy when he connects with an audience? That’s exactly what happened on Sunday when Michael brought his BROADWAY BANGARS to BBC RADIO 2 in Moor Park in Preston. It was his first time as a DJ, but you’d never know it. After several weeks of nerves, Michael took to the stage like a seasoned pro. Nerves are always welcome for an actor, especially when taking on something new, but they disappeared in an instant as Michael settled in and got comfortable.
“Please welcome to the stage, doing his debut DJ set for you, in Moor Park … Mr … Michael … BAALLLL!!!” Michael takes the stage to the thunderous thrum of the organ playing the intro to PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The audience goes WILD for our man, the cheering building as Michael shouts, “How are you doing?” As the song begins, he continues, “I want to hear you sing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Ready?” And he joins in with them, his voice rich and strong over the audience. “The phantom of the opera is here, inside your mind,” he sings, that gorgeous vibrato front and center. Oh, Michael, just so lovely! And then he moves the crowd right into Galileo and ‘We Will Rock You,’ pushing the audience throughout with “Come on!” and “I can’t hear you!” What an opening!!
There’s a smooth transition to Meryl Streep and ‘Mama Mia,’ Michael again prodding the crowd, who are only too happy to oblige. Every once in a while, Michael takes the music out, and you can hear the crowd singing the lyrics. He’s got them, all of them! And then … The Rocky Horror Show! … I can imagine the audience up on their feet, jigging about. “Make some room for yourself,” Michael advises.
Michael moves smoothly into the next song, which has an unusual intro. “Do you know what it is yet?” he asks. And then we know – Madonna singing a very upbeat ‘Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina,’ and Michael sings along. What a treat for the audience! It doesn’t take long for the crowd to take over, singing along to Michael’s absolute delight. “Let me see you dancing!” Again, Michael takes the music out and the crowd doesn’t disappoint, singing the lyrics.
Without missing a beat, Michael moves to Idina Mendel singing ‘Defying Gravity’ from WICKED, followed by Streisand’s ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade.’ “This is appropriate for today,” Michael shouts. Yes, it’s raining in Preston, but it hasn’t dampened the spirits of the crowd at all. And it definitely hasn’t affected Michael! What’s a little rain when everyone is having such a great time? Michael joins the song occasionally. “Do you know the words?” He sings the song to the conclusion, the crowd going absolutely CRAZY. We know how much he loves Streisand, and this song has been in his repertoire. And then he switches again, moving to Julie Andrews and the children of SOUND OF MUSIC singing ‘Do-Re-Mi.’ Michael joins the song, as does the audience. This man is (pardon the pun) having a BALL! Michael plays with the dials, taking the music in and out, allowing the audience to star in this song. As Michael sings with Julie Andrews and the crowd fills in for the children, it sounds like everyone is having the most WONDERFUL time!
And now it’s Jason Donovan and the ‘Joseph Mega-Remix.’ I don’t think there’s a single song this crowd doesn’t know, very impressive. Next is Janet Gaynor singing ‘I Am What I Am.’ The crowd immediately begins singing along to this great song. “There you are,” Michael states over the singing, getting into the spirit. I can picture both the crowd and Michael dancing along to the fabulous beat. Gliding smoothly into the next song, Michael says, “You’re going to love this!” And the crowd does. It’s Ethel Merman singing “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” And of course Michael joins her, doing a great imitation of the iconic Merman. It’s an enormous hit with the huge crowd in Moor Park. How can it not be? “Come on,” Michael enthuses before the last verse, and the crowd meets his challenge. That park is rocking right now!! What a great song to put into this mix, a true song about life in the theater.
And then … “For the younger generation, this one, and that’s all of you!” The song? Idena Menzel’s ‘Let It Go’ from FROZEN. This is a song to move ANY crowd, and it certainly moved this one. Wow. Michael played with the dials, adding so much to this always great song, and it was a HUGE hit. Next is Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke singing ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.’
And then we hear the opening strains of ‘Love Changes Everything.’ And, yes, Michael sings along with his signature song. No matter how many times I hear this song, it always seems fresh and new. “I need to hear you,” he says, encouraging the crowd to join in. And they do. “Come on. I want to see all your hands in the air. And everyone singing the big note at the end.” It comes to a beautiful conclusion, the crowd completely with Michael. This was what people were waiting for, and Michael never disappoints his fans.
Scott Mills appears, saying, “The one … the only … Michael … BALL!” He then says there will be 2 more songs, one a special remix of ‘I Dreamed A Dream.’ And, yes, it’s quite different. It’s hard to tell what is happening on the stage by just listening, but the beat is strong. Michael’s name is repeated several times between choruses. I wish I could give more details.
In closing … What else could it be? ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat.’ “I want everyone dancing to this,” Michael shouts. And of course he sings his role when it comes up in the song. Oh, how I wish I could have SEEN this gig. I know I’m missing a lot by only being able to listen to it. but the crowd is going crazy with this closing song. They ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!
As I listened to this event, I kept thinking back to young Michael Ball sitting next to his dad in the darkened theater, spellbound by JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR up on the stage. Michael’s life, his career has been centered around musicals. Being able to do a DJ set focused on Broadway musicals in front of a massive crowd gathered in Moor Park had to have him feeling like a little boy getting every toy he ever wanted on Christmas morning.
Is there anything Michael Ball can’t do? He took Scott Mills challenge and jumped in with both feet, just as he always does. Today was a smashing success for him, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time we see him with a DJ set. It will be a long time before the UK produces another Michael Ball, if ever. Aren’t we lucky to be alive today, to be able to enjoy all this remarkable man has to offer?