Cassidy back in Utah — this time as Joseph

Patrick Cassidy is back — in Egypt and in Utah.

Cassidy was here in 2001 playing the heroic warrior Radames in the national touring production of "Disney's Aida" in the Capitol Theatre. Now he's starring in a new touring production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

And he's bringing it right into the heart of Donny Osmond country. (You'll remember that Osmond played "Joseph" here a few years back.)

Also starring in this new "Joseph" will be Amy Adams, of "American Idol," making her nationwide theatrical debut as the Narrator.

Cassidy said by phone from Grand Rapids, Iowa, that he's had several encounters with both the Osmonds and Utah culture. When "Aida" was here five years ago, Marie Osmond saw the show and Cassidy visited her family in Orem. He played "Joseph" in another tour a few years ago with several of the second generation of Osmonds as Joseph's brothers.

One aspect of this tour that has both the cast and audiences talking is that Potiphar's seductive wife in the show is being played by Cassidy's wife, Melissa Hurley Cassidy. "There is tremendous chemistry," he admitted, "and the most difficult thing is to fight her off and deny the seduction." (Their two young boys, Cole and Jack, are on tour with them and take part in the children's choir.)

For this tour, children's choral groups are recruited in every city along the route. Salt Lake City's acclaimed International Children's Choir will provide young singers during this stop. "It's a great opportunity for the kids," Cassidy said. "They get to sit onstage and do the choreography and sing the songs, and they always enjoy it.

"The greatest thing about this show is that it's one of the very few musicals that you can bring every single member of the family to it and they all enjoy it. It's not offensive. Being a father myself, it's fun to see a show like that."

Touring with his family has also been a great experience, Cassidy said. "We were in Philadelphia last week and visited the Franklin Museum and in Washington, D.C., we got a private tour of the White House."

Cassidy appeared on Broadway in 2004 as Julian Marsh in "42nd Street," along with his mother, Shirley Jones, who played the cantankerous stage diva. "It was the first time in the history of Broadway that a mother and son had starred together. It was quite a time. She is a true professional, mother and friend."

One thing he remembers about his last visit to Salt Lake City for the "Aida" engagement was how "the dryness really affected me. I got one of the worst vocal problems I've ever had. I have since learned and now I live with humidifiers everywhere — in my hotel room and dressing rooms."

If you go

What: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"

Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South

When: Tuesday through March 26

How much: $30-$57.50

Phone: 355-2787

Web: www.arttix.org

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E-mail: ivan@desnews.com