Branson's Osmond Show

September 18th, 2009 by Gary J. Groman

Jay, Jimmy and Wayne kicking the show off.

If ever God has ordained that two entities should meet somewhere in the great Cosmos of his creation it has to be the Osmond Brothers and Branson. Both symbolize family and entertainment and both are celebrating their 50th anniversary of entertaining America. They are together again as the Osmond Brothers return to the Osmonds Theatre in Branson for the rest of Branson’s 50th year celebration season.

The Osmond Brothers, Jimmy, Jay and Wayne are back from a world tour and just wowed the crowd at their September 11th show. They have the ability to relate to their audience and get them involved in the show. How do you not love the Osmonds? They are “entertainment” and their Branson show and audience reaction is proof positive of why they have been so successful for so many years.

As one would expect the singing and their harmonies are great. The program features the brothers singing audience favorites like “Old Man Auctioneer,” “It’s Going To Be A Heartache Tonight,” “Down By the Lazy River,” “One Bad Apple” “Yo-Yo” and many more. One musical highlight was when the brothers did a medley of songs made famous by other “Brother” acts such the Gatlin Brothers, Righteous Brothers and the Blues Brothers.

The featured female singer on the show is Babbette Young has been singing with the Osmonds ever since they came to Branson. It becomes very evident why she has been selected as “Branson’s Female Vocalist of the Year” when she sang “That Will Be the Day” and worked with Jimmy through two sets of songs. The first set was a rock and roll versus country duel with Jimmy and Babbette competing against each other trying to win the audiences approval. The second was a medley of famous duets.

The shows band, “The Dropouts,” is made up Gene Puckett, guitar; Bryan Lawson, bass; Greg Frazier, guitar and percussion; Scott Taylor, Keyboard and Steve Mason, drums and percussion. They travel with Jimmy all over the country, did a great job playing throughout the show and wowed the audience with their rendition of “Lonesome Loser.” Jimmy introduced Tamara Tinoco who, along with her husband Joe, headlines the other show in the Osmonds Theatre, “The Magnificent Variety Show.” Tamara did a wonderful job on the old Ray Charles standard, “Cry.”

Jay Osmond, in addition to being a singer, is a world class drummer and was “named one of the top drummers in the country during the 1970s. During the second half of the show, Jay took off his jacket, got behind the drums and beat out a demonstration of his drumming prowess that delighted the audience.

Then there’s Wayne Osmond. What can one say about Wayne, who, in addition to singing, adds the comedy to the show? Wayne’s is a constant comfortable comedy which is a mixture of one liners and short jokes, expressions, and interaction with the brothers during the performance that just keeps the audience laughing and wondering what he’s going to come up with next. Wayne also does a serious magic trick that is funny and will just bowl you over.

To this writer, at least from the entertainment perspective of this show, it is Wayne who personifies the Osmond personality. In addition to his jokes, his interaction with Jimmy and Jay during the show is the innate ingredient evoking the audience involvement in their performance that makes the Osmonds show the extraordinary entertainment experience it is.

Except for the October 23 through October 3, the Osmonds will be performing in the Osmonds Theatre in Branson, Missouri Monday through Saturday until December 12. For additional information or tickets on the Osmonds Show or other Branson shows, attractions or lodging please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging. BTC can be reached by calling 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourisimCenter.com.