Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Donny & Marie set at Flamingo through 2013 — and likely longer

Donny Osmond-Marie Osmond

Harrah's

Flamingo headliners Donny and Marie Osmond.

Flamingo Headliners Donny and Marie Osmond

Flamingo headliners Donny and Marie Osmond. Launch slideshow »

Just as their current contract to perform at Flamingo Las Vegas was set to expire, Donny & Marie Osmond and the hotel have formally announced the famed brother-sister act will perform on the Strip at least through the end of 2013.

“Caesars (Entertainment) has been so accommodating. I love working with them,” Donny Osmond said this morning in a phone conversation. “I didn’t have any trepidation about (extending), and I don’t think Marie did, either.”

In a statement, Marie Osmond said, “Donny and I are thrilled to have extended our residency here at Flamingo Las Vegas, which has become a wonderful second home to us. Who knew that when we first signed a limited six-week engagement back in 2008, that it would turn into a multiyear run! It is a dream come true for us.”

Thought the language of today’s news release is that the contract confirms dates through 2013, it is reported that the couple have in fact contractually agreed to perform for two more years at the Flamingo, through 2014.

At the moment, Donny & Marie are prepping for one of their most ambitious live projects in recent years, an arena tour through the United Kingdom that launches Jan. 20 at O2 Arena in London and ends Feb. 2 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena (Echo Arena). The next live dates at the Flamingo Showroom begin Feb. 12, with prices unchanged from their current levels and set at $95-$260 (for a VIP meet-and-greet package).

The shows span one of the more important dates in Donny Osmond’s life and career.

“On Dec. 10, I will be celebrating my 50th year in show business, which is really unbelievable to me,” the 55-year-old Osmond said. His TV debut was Dec. 10, 1963, a day after his sixth birthday. Donny-as-child appeared on “The Andy Williams Show,” during which he sang “You Are My Sunshine.”

The Donny & Marie show, always evolving because of the duo’s range in music tastes, will add a wrinkle upon their return. Planned for the next Flamingo appearances is a seven-song “celebration” medley, naturally to feature the Kool & the Gang song of that name.

“We’ve been testing that during our (U.S.) Christmas tour, and it’s been really well received,” Osmond said.

Over the past year, Marie Osmond has been busy hosting her talk daytime show, “Marie,” on Hallmark Channel. Donny Osmond, too, is fired up about a TV project in the offing that he says is “very close” to coming to life.

What is it? Not sure. But we can say what it isn’t: It’s not a talk show, and it’s not an entertainment contest show involving judges.

“It’s a music-based show, and, no, there are no judges,” Osmond said, laughing. “Unless you consider the public, the audience, the judges. That’s who we’ve always considered our judges, ultimately, the people.”

Osmond says there are “major players” in the TV industry working on the deal, and it will likely be assembled by the end of this year.

Meantime, the multifaceted performer is just working on keeping himself in “game shape.”

“I keep fit just by doing the show. That is my cardio,” he said. “I have a line I put in the show, when I’m sweating up a storm in my zoot suit, ‘I love this show. You know why? I don’t have to go to the gym!’ ”

And that will remain the case for some time to come.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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