Jimmy Osmond is to join the cast of hit West End musical Grease, it was announced today. For a limited season from 19 January to 14 March, Osmond will appear as the dreamy Teen Angel at the Piccadilly theatre.
Osmond is best known for his part in the 1970s teen sensation The Osmonds. Along with his brothers and sisters, the band had numerous hit records including Crazy Horses and Love Me For A Reason. In 1972 Osmond released his solo single Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, which made him the youngest performer ever to have a number one single in the UK charts, a record he still holds. The singer went on to record six solo albums for which he received six gold records, one platinum record, twenty singles and two gold albums. With fans all over the world, he has also made records singing in Swedish, Japanese and Spanish.
This will be Osmond’s West End debut and coincides with the show’s celebration of its 15th anniversary since opening in the West End and the film’s 30th anniversary later this month. Osmond said “It has been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the West End and what better show than Grease. It is fast, fun, energetic and full of talent and I am just thrilled to be playing Teen Angel.”
Osmond, who appeared in ITV’s 2005 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, joins Ray Quinn and Danny Bayne in the production, both of whom began their careers on reality TV shows.
Producer David Ian is excited to be working with the singer, saying “Jimmy Osmond is truly a worldwide star and to have him starring in Grease, the UK’s number 1 musical, is as exciting as it gets for London Theatre fans”.
CM