It’s been six years since Jay Osmond, one of the original Osmond Brothers and the middle child in a seven-sibling entertainment lineup, told the Deseret News he was working on a musical about his family.
The production, he said at the time, would “tell the true unvarnished story of how it really was growing up, the obstacles we faced, and how we stayed together through the journey of our show business life,” per Deseret News.
Now, after a successful run across the pond in 2022, that musical is preparing to have its North American debut in the Osmonds’ home state.
“The Osmonds: A New Musical” will run next spring — March 12-April 4 — at The Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, Utah.
Ahead of the U.S. premiere, the Utah County venue is seeking local talent and will hold in-person auditions Sept. 19 and 20.
“There’s a lot of reasons I wanted to start it here, because so much happened in this musical (in Provo),” Jay Osmond said in a statement shared with the Deseret News. “We’ve had great connections with the Covey family.”
Here’s a brief overview of the musical — and what to know about auditioning to be an Osmond.
What is ‘The Osmonds: A New Musical’ about?
The musical follows the Osmonds’ upbringing and their rise to fame in the 1970s, chronicling the ups and downs of their careers.
Told from Jay Osmond’s perspective, the production covers everything from the Osmonds’ performances on “The Andy Williams Show” to the arrival of Donny and Marie, and touches on “some of the decisions that led to their financial ruin and eventual recovery,” according to a news release shared with the Deseret News.
Overall, the story is more redemptive in nature than “a fall from grace,” according to a description shared in the news release, as it portrays the Osmonds as committed to each other even in the face of adversity.
“It’s been therapeutic to do this,” Jay Osmond told the Deseret News while working on the musical in 2019. “Thinking back on what really made us different and what kept us together, it gives me an appreciation for what we went through, and why.”
Of course, the Osmonds’ roller coaster of a career plays out onstage against the backdrop of the music that launched their success — including hits like “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses” and “Puppy Love.”
“There were some difficult times of my life, and some big hurdles to overcome, and this musical will tell people things that will surprise them … but despite that trouble, when you look back and think of the fans, the music, the once-in-a-lifetime things we did — it’s joyful. I guess I want to do this now to try to spread a little bit of that joy,” Jay Osmond shared in an statement on the musical’s official website.
“I’ll know I’ve done a good job telling this story if I stand at the back of the theater and see people waving their arms in the air, singing along and dancing in the aisles,” he continued. “I just want people to be enjoying themselves. I guess that is in the Osmonds’ DNA.”
What do the reviews say?
The reviews have been largely favorable, with a review in The Guardian noting that “you get an awful lot of Osmond for your buck.”
“Heavenly for some. A little bit much for the rest of us,” Miriam Gillinson wrote for The Guardian.
A review for East Midlands Theatre notes that the production feels like going back in time to “Osmondmania.”
“It is clear to me why they had the success they did,” Philip Lowe wrote for East Midlands Theatre. “I don’t think I’ve stopped singing ‘Crazy Horses’ since.”
‘The Osmonds’ musical auditions in Provo, Utah
As the musical comes to Provo, the production team is searching for local talent to bring the story to life.
“We outbid companies in the New York area, Houston and a few others,” Stephen Pullen, general manager of the Covey Center, said in a statement shared with the Deseret News. “And we could have chosen to bring in actors from Los Angeles and New York, but I was convinced that we had the talent here to do it.”
With a budget of $300,000-$400,000, the musical is being marketed in collaboration with the Utah Office of Tourism, according to the news release.
Per an online audition form, the production is searching for people to fill eight leads, including:
- Alan Osmond, described as the oldest of the performing brothers “who felt the weight of being the eldest.”
- Wayne Osmond, who is “passionate about being a rock musician.”
- Merrill Osmond, who at one point was the “businessman” of the family.
- Jay Osmond, the lead male role and narrator of the story who is described as “the family peacemaker.”
Other leads include the roles of Donny, Marie and the Osmonds’ parents, George and Olive.
The production will also feature six ensemble members (three men and three women).
All roles are paid, per the audition form. The total payment for the run at the Covey Center ranges from $2,600-$5,200, depending on the role.
Those interested in signing up for an in-person audition should fill out the form and come prepared to sing 32 bars of a 1960s/’70s pop song (not musical theater) with sheet music or accompaniment track provided, and also be prepared to perform one of the monologues from the musical’s website if requested.
Rehearsals will run throughout January and February leading up to the premiere in March.
The run at the Covey Center comes a little over a year after the death of Wayne Osmond, whose baritone voice helped create the tight, four-part harmonies of the Osmond Brothers.
“I’m so thankful for all of the memories we created as a family,” Donny Osmond shared in an Instagram post shared a few weeks after his older brother’s death. “And I know that someday we will be reunited and make heavenly musical memories together.”