THEY started out as a cute barbershop quartet and became one of the biggest boy bands ever.
Now the story of the Osmonds is told in a new musical, heading for Bradford. It’s written by Jay Osmond, who calls it a “living memoir”.
On at the Alhambra from November 22-26, The Osmonds: A New Musical is the story of the five brothers from
Utah who stepped into the spotlight as children. From their Andy Williams star residency to Osmondmania and The Donny & Marie Show, the Osmonds enjoyed chart-topping albums, sold-out arena concerts and huge TV shows - until one bad decision cost them everything.
The musical features all the hits, including One Bad Apple, Crazy Horses, Love Me for a Reason, Puppy Love and Paper Roses. “I wrote it from the heart,” says Jay. “It was hard; I had to play my drums a lot to get my emotions out, but it all boiled down to this: why did we do what we did? It was because we wanted to help people, to use those talents to do some good in the world. I wanted to put that purpose into the show.”
The challenge was fitting 30-plus songs and Jay’s story into a two-hour production. “It’s about the four brothers who were at the start. I was one of them,” says Jay. “The story starts at our 50th anniversary then goes way back. Each of us has a different perspective.”
Jay pulls back the curtain to reveal the family behind the hits - parents George and Olive Osmond and their nine children.
The workshopping process was emotional: “To see people laugh, cry and sing along - I knew then that it would work,” says Jay. “We’ve been so blessed with the talented people involved.”
The Osmond Brothers barbershop quartet - Alan, Wayne, Jay and Merrill - sang initially to fund hearing aids for older brothers Virl and Tom. Discovered by Walt Disney in 1961, they were invited on The Andy Williams show, which was their break. Adding brother Donny to the group, international tours followed. Selling millions of records and more than 50 gold and platinum records, The Osmonds were pop royalty. The fan hysteria was intense.
Drummer Jay, who co-wrote many of the hits, is respectful of the army of fans who have remained fiercely loyal over the decades. “We call them friends, not fans,” he says. “And we hear them when they tell us our music helped them at difficult times in their lives. I want them to know how much they’ve helped me and my family. They are part of The Osmonds.”
The fans were a big part of the decision to premiere his musical in the UK. “There was something about the UK; our family was so accepted here. It feels right to begin here. It will feel like a high school reunion!”
Unusually for child stars, the Osmonds stayed grounded. “When we collected our People’s Choice Award, immediately after Mom and Dad reminded us to do our chores,” says Jay. “Our parents reminded us what was important: Do what is right and the consequences follow.”
Asked to recall a highlight of the heyday, Jay reveals a surprising ‘duet’: “One that stands out is the night we went to watch Led Zeppelin. We were introduced to the guys and Robert Plant asked us to join them on stage for Stairway to Heaven. We weren’t sure their audience would appreciate us, but we said okay. Robert introduced us as his new friends. I played percussion and conga. It was incredible!”
* IT started 50 years ago as “the antidote to panel games” and remains a jewel BBC Radio 4’s crown. I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue returns to St George’s Hall on Monday, November 21with a line-up of Tony Hawks, Pippa Evans, Marcus Brigstocke, Rory Bremner and Colin Sell at the piano. In the chair is long-suffering host Jack Dee, who is characteristically thrilled at the younger guests the show is attracting: “You can only imagine my delight to finally be working with people who know that Oasis isn’t a soft drink and Lady Gaga isn’t an aristocrat in a nursing home.”
* PICK n Mix is described as “a funny, warm, authentic play exploring what it’s like to be a teenager on a working-class estate in a very Bradford way”.
Penned by Bradford writer Kat Rose-Martin, it premieres at Kala Sangam Arts Centre next month. It’s the story of Olivia, her sister Kim, and best friend Alisha, who all fall for the same lad. While delivering plenty of laughs, it deals sensitively with teenage pregnancy, miscarriage, and fierce female friendship. It’s touching, laugh-out-loud celebration of Bradford young people; their passion, humour and resilience.
Kat Rose-Martin was the inaugural Kay Mellor Fellow at Leeds Playhouse and has written for TV’s Holby and Sky One’s Wolf. Pick n Mix is her first full-length play. “I’m chuffed to bits that it’s premiering in Bradford,” says Kat. “It’s about family, survival, and how we all want to feel special to someone. A fair amount is inspired by my experiences and the chaos of being a 15-year-old lass. More than anything, I want Pick n Mix to be a good night out with laughs and maybe a moment or two of wanting to hug your besties.”
Olivia is played by Bradford actor Charlotte Ellis, who recently starred in her one-woman show A Young Girl’s Guide to Madness. Playing Kim is Natalie Davies, who was in award-winning film Eaten by Lions, and Sonia Wrightson is Alisha. Pick n Mix is directed by Alex Chisholm, former Co-Artistic Director of Bradford’s Freedom Studios, and designed by Madi Omatseone, with music by Josh Depass. He recently wrote the piece for Cashy C’s The Musical.
Pick n Mix runs at Kala Sangam from November 1-5 then Scholemoor Beacon (November 9); Leeds Playhouse (November 10-11), Rockwell Centre, Thorpe Edge, (November 12) and Bingley Arts Centre (November 13).
The production is funded by Bradford Producing Hub, supported with public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
* SARA Pascoe decided aged 14 that she wanted to be famous. Since then she has auditioned for TV’s Barrymore, scared Pete Burns and ruined Hugh Grant’s birthday...
A regular on TV comedy panels, Sara wrote BBC2 comedies Out of Her Mind and Sara Pascoe vs Monogamy, inspired by her first book, Animal. Her new show Success Story, at Leeds City Varieties on March 5, 2023, reflects on how life has changed since her last tour, LadsLadsLads, when she contemplated self-imposed celibacy. Now married with a baby, Sara examines what it is to be successful, how we define it and how it feels when it eludes us. It’s her “fancy lifestyle versus infertility, multiple therapists and career failures”.
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