Donny Osmond

Donny Osmond (b. December 9th, 1957)

DONNY OSMOND: IN THE MOMENT
Donny Osmond once again proves he is here to stay. A full-fledged showbiz legend, a teenage Donny was racking up gold records before the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync were born. At 43, Donny has entered a new phase of his career as a sophisticated pop singer. For his first recording in four years, Donny returns to the Great White Way with This Is The Moment, a collection of contemporary show tunes. Donny's brushes with Broadway have run the gamut from failure --1982's Little Johnny Jones, closed after one performance -- to fabulous -- a spectacularly successful six-year association with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. From highs to lows, and back, Donny has returned with a vengeance and his message is "Give My Regards to Broadway." Taking time out from updating his popular website, donny.com, the former teen idol chatted with Barnes & Noble.com's David Cohen from his home in Utah, where he lives with his wife of 21 years, Debbie, and their five boys.

Barnes & Noble.com: This Is the Moment is your first-ever collection of theater songs. Was it a fun project?

Donny Osmond: The album was a joy-and-a-half to do. When Decca Broadway mentioned that[producer] Phil Ramone (Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand) was interested in working with me, I said 'Absolutely!' I've known Phil for years but we've never worked together. We discussed concepts, songs and the direction of the record and decided not to do standards. Not very many people have done contemporary Broadway songs. We started with a list of 150, narrowed it down to 20 and ended up doing 13.

B&N.com: You're from Utah, which is way off-Broadway. Have you always loved show music?

do: I didn't grow up with Broadway music. My mother played Perry Como, while I listened to Andy Williams records. Later on it was Cream, Grand Funk Railroad and lots of R&B like the Isley Bros. and Parliament. My first cast albums were Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which I would later tour in and record. These records opened up a whole new area of show business for me. Eventually, I started taking acting and vocal classes, which was difficult because I had to relearn how to sing. I learned that it's all about the story and not about the lick.

B&N.com: How did you select the songs for the recording?

do: I had not seen all the shows but some songs just seemed to fit perfectly. "Edge of the World," from Riverdance On Broadway, is a great example. I also considered redoing some songs from Joseph in a pop vein, but then thought, Let's try something new. I called Andrew [Lloyd Webber] and said, 'I've been doing Joseph for 6 years and I'd like to do something new. Something nobody else has. 'There was this long silence and I thought, Well, I've really overstepped my bounds here. But then he said he had just finished a show called The Beautiful Game and had a song called "Our Kind of Love," and that I would be the first to get it. Now, that's an honor!

B&N.com: You sing duets with Vanessa Williams and Rosie O'Donnell. Any stories to share?

do: I've known Vanessa since she did Kiss of the Spider Woman on Broadway. I asked her to sing "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd with me but she was busy shooting a film. Then she found one day and flew into New York and we nailed the song in three takes. The duet with Rosie, "You've Got a Friend in Me" from the film Toy Story, works so well because Rosie and I are pals. We have a unique relationship. Any problems we've had in the past were totally blown out of proportion. We went into the studio together and she just nails it.

B&N.com: Who else is on your duet wish list?

do: I'd love to do something with Faith Hill. Gloria [Estefan] would be fun. Martina McBride has a great voice. Heather Headley from Aida. The list goes on and on.

B&N.com: Any plans for more live theater in your future?

do: The producers of Seussical have approached me and I'd like to do it but I have aworld tour coming up. If I can find four weeks, I'm going to do it. Frank Wildhorn asked me to open Jekyll & Hyde in London. I saw it with Robert Cuccioli and he was just phenomenal. I also have had an invitation to play the Phantom Of The Opera in London. I see a theme here -- I want to wear a mask and change my personality.

B&N.com: The tours with Joseph must have been difficult considering your bouts with social anxiety disorder (Sad).

do: I hid my stage fright very well. SAD is very scary to go through. Thank goodness I met the right people and got the right therapy. It stems from trying to be perfect, which is not always possible. There were moments when I just wanted todie, but I got through it. In a loin cloth too, no less.

B&N.com: Your recent talk show, Donny and Marie, ran for two years. Care to share a favorite moment?

do: We dedicated a whole show to a hero of mine, Stevie Wonder. I grew up on his music. So, I'm standing three feet from him and he says, 'What do you want to hear?' For a full hour I'm like 'play this, play that' and I also got to sing with him. That's got to be one of the greatest moments. Donny and Marie was a great experience. I tried so hard to be a great talk show host but it's all about relaxing and enjoying it. Marie and I finally figured that out. I would have liked it to continue but I'm kind of glad it's over because of the phenomenal workload. There's no way I could have done this album and the show at the same time.

B&N.com: You've had an absolutely amazing career.

do: Looking back, it's almost like a different person and a different lifetime. I went through a period where I hated it -- I call it the 'Puppy Love Syndrome.' But I'm at a point now where I embrace it all. It's very satisfying to look back and say 'Wow, the amount of things I've done and I'm only 43!' You know, Ialways wondered what it would have been like to just go to school, play football with the guys and go to the prom. Just like a 'Regular Person.'I do get a bit of normalcy when I come home. I change diapers, help clean the house and stay out of the kitchen -- I don't cook and my wife doesn't allow me in there. I live vicariously through my five kids. They're in college all the way down to two years old. I've often been asked if I could do it all over again, would I do it differently? I've thought a lot about that and I'd probably do it the same way again, except for the purple socks.

B&N.com: What's next for Donny Osmond?

do: I see a whole different kind of career, and I think this album sets that stage.I see myself doing classy shows, playing performing arts centers, touring with symphonies. Also, getting back to musical theater. The mindset of chasing that next #1 record doesn't exist for me anymore. It's more about being a well-rounded entertainer than being a pop artist. Obviously, it would be wonderful to have a hit record but I don't base my happiness on that anymore.It's about the accomplishment of a project that satisfies me. I just want to enjoy the ride.