Summarized by Kent Larsen

Donny's 'Dreamcoat' hits the video shelves
Deseret News 31Mar00 A2
By Ivan M. Lincoln: Deseret News theater editor

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- If you missed LDS daytime talk star Donny Osmond in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" as the show toured around North America a couple of years ago, you're now in luck. The video version of the show was released today and is now available in stores.

Originally, Osmond says, the video was to be made in Salt Lake City, "We were going to fly in the crew and cast members from the previous (stage) versions and do it all here. We were even going to do some scenes in the old Osmond Studios, but things didn't work out with the directors and choreographers, and these plans just kind of fell apart - although that was the whole impetus behind the Salt Lake run." The show as eventually videotaped at the Pinewood Studios near London. The 1-hour, 20-minute show was rehearsed and shot there under the direction of Webber.

Not only is the video now available, but the show will be broadcast on most PBS stations in April along with a new "Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" special that Osmond narrated.

While Osmond plays the lead in the show, he is by no means the only star in the show. Sir Richard Attenborough plays Jacob, Joseph's father and Joan Collins plays Potiphar's wife, a casting decision that at first caught Osmond by surprise, "When I first heard about it, I thought, 'Hmmm, I don't know about that,' " Osmond said. "But Sir Andrew himself made the call to Joan and said he wanted her in it." While Collins isn't known for her singing, the role doesn't require any singing, note's Osmond, "All she says is 'Come lie with me, love.' How much singing quality do you have to have for that?" he explained.

Osmond got a side benefit to filming the show in London. His son is currently serving an LDS mission there, "We had an opportunity to see him several times," he said. (Another son is preparing to leave on a mission this summer.)

See also:

'Technicolor Dreamcoat' video is perfect for family viewing
Deseret News 31Mar00 A2
By Ivan M. Lincoln: Deseret News theater editor

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