Manchester Theatre News & Reviews
Initial Casting Announced for World Premiere of The Osmonds - A New Musical
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The actors who will be playing the five Osmond brothers in the world premiere of THE OSMONDS: A New Musical are Ryan Anderson as Merrill Osmond, Jamie Chatterton as Alan Osmond, Alex Lodge as Jay Osmond, Danny Nattrass as Wayne Osmond and Joseph Peacock as Donny Osmond.
THE OSMONDS: A New Musical with story by Jay Osmond tells the true story of the five brothers from Utah who were pushed into the spotlight as children and went on to create smash hits, decade after decade. From their star residency on The Andy Williams Show from 1962 to 1969, to pop stars and ‘Osmondmania’ from 1971 to 1975, to the arrival of The Donny & Marie Show, a popular variety TV show, from 1976 to 1979, The Osmonds lived a remarkable life recording chart-topping albums, selling out vast arena concerts and making record-breaking TV shows - until one bad decision cost them everything.
Ryan Anderson (Merrill Osmond) most recently starred in the title role in Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin at Charing Cross Theatre. Other theatre credits include A-Rab in West Side Story (Curve Theatre), Roger in Grease (Curve Theatre, UK Tour), Blake in Bat Out Of Hell (Dominon Theatre) and Sasha in Fiddler on the Roof (Chichester Festival Theatre).
Jamie Chatterton (Alan Osmond) will be making his professional debut in The Osmonds: A New Musical, having graduated from Arts Ed this year.
Alex Lodge (Jay Osmond) played the role of Jay Osmond throughout the development workshops for the musical. Recent credits include Young Marley in A Christmas Carol (Dominion Theatre), Ledoux in Bat Out of Hell (International Tour) and Alternate Elder Price in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales).
Danny Nattrass (Wayne Osmond) most recently appeared in Laurence Connor’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, where he also was understudy Joseph, and previously appeared as Pepper in Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre) and as Wilfred in Matthew Bourne’s Lord of the Flies.
Joseph Peacock (Donny Osmond) has played Young Gideon in Sting’s The Last Ship (US Tour), Rick in Scarborough (BBC), appeared in Bat Out of Hell (Dominion) and played the lead role of Pete in Burnt Park Boys (Park Theatre).
Jay Osmond said, “I am thrilled that we have found such dynamic and talented performers to play my brothers and me. We saw some brilliant actors in the auditions and I was so impressed at the work people put in throughout the process. When these five guys walked in, they lit up the room with their smiles and raised the roof with their voices; I knew we’d found our boy band. It is an honour to welcome Ryan Anderson, Jamie Chatterton, Alex Lodge, Jamie Nattrass and Joseph Peacock to the family and I can’t wait for audiences to see what they can do. Their style, charm and talent will bring our music and story to a whole new generation and you will ‘love them (for a reason)’ as much as we do.”
The musical features a list of 1970s anthems, including One Bad Apple, Down by the Lazy River, Crazy Horses, Let Me In, Love Me for a Reason, (We’re) Having a Party, Puppy Love, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, Paper Roses and many more.
The Osmonds have sold over 100 million records worldwide and won 59 Gold & Platinum awards, and now Jay Osmond pulls back the curtain to reveal the real family behind all these hits: parents George and Olive Osmond and their nine children, Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy.
THE OSMONDS: A New Musical has a story By Jay Osmond and book by Julian Bigg and Shaun Kerrison, and will be directed by Shaun Kerrison, with choreography and musical staging by Bill Deamer, set & costume design by Lucy Osborne, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Dan Samson.
Further casting is to be announced.
