One of America's favorite families
is set to spread the spirit of the season in Chicagoland next
week.
The Osmond Brothers take the stage
Tuesday for their holiday show at Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet,
Ill.
"We're looking forward to coming
back to the Chicago area," said Jay Osmond, the group's drummer.
"We're going to be doing a compilation show. It's a Christmas show
but it's also a journey through our lives."
Osmond said one of the segments
featured during the group's performance of the '80s tune "Through
the Years" will showcase video images taken from various aspects
of their careers.
"We're going to take people back to
when we first started with Walt Disney and then Andy Williams and
through the different stages," he said.
The video montage features clips
from their barbershop days, the frenzied 1970s concerts and more.
Scheduled to perform will be
brothers Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy, who is the youngest of the
nine Osmond siblings. (Donny and Marie perform as a separate act
now starring at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas).
The Osmond Brothers, currently in
their fifth decade of performing, celebrated their 50th
anniversary in show business with special concerts in Las Vegas in
2007.
Osmond said he's thankful for the
constant support from longtime fans. "We have a strong fan base. Our
50th anniversary show and reunion felt more like a family reunion
and it wasn't just for us, There were a lot of people who had
wonderful stories of friendships and memories made along the way.
It was fun," Osmond said.
"When people come to see a show, we
believe they not only want to be entertained but they want to feel
like they're part of our family and that's what we try to do with
all of our shows. We bring people in and try to make them feel
comfortable. Because we've really grown up together, all of us,"
Osmond said.
The group, which performs about 200
concerts a year, just wrapped up their season of Christmas shows
at The Osmonds Theatre in Branson, Mo.
The holiday season has always been
a special time for the family. "Ever since we were kids on 'The
Andy Williams Show,' Christmas always sent a message of family and
friends, having fun and being at home," he said.
Osmond recently released the solo
CD "It's About Time Again," featuring favorite songs he's recorded
throughout his career. He's now working on his autobiography "The
Stages of My Life," due out next year.
When asked about brother Donny
recently winning the Mirabal Trophy in "Dancing with the Stars,"
Osmond laughed, "Can you believe that?"
Osmond, who choreographed the
"Little Bit Country, Little Bit Rock 'n' Roll" segments of "The
Donny and Marie Show" in the 1970s, said Donny asked his advice
prior to participating in the popular dance show.
"I was a big supporter of Donny
when he decided to take this show or not. He went back and forth
and wasn't sure. But I said 'Donny, look at all the pressure
you've been under with all those old shows and you can do this.'
Those were tough shows -- every week there was a different
concept, dancing and other stuff. He's used to pressure. But he
pulled it off. I'm proud of him," Osmond said.
For Osmond and his brothers,
entertaining is just second nature.
"We've really enjoyed it because
we've been able to do it as a family. And we were laughing the
other night trying to figure out where our energy is still coming
from. Maybe it's just something in our thinking that whenever we
hit the stage, it's like a switch goes off. We were comparing
ourselves to baseball players. Once you suit up, you find all
kinds of energy," Osmond said.
The Osmond Brothers, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
WHERE: The Rialto Square Theatre,
102 N. Chicago St., Joliet
COST: $32 to $50; A limited supply
of $20 tickets are also available
FYI: (815) 726-6600
