Arts & Living

Patrick Cassidy wouldn't be insulted if you called him a big kid: He works diligently to tap into his youthful side in the title role of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The tour of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical comes to Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall Friday through Sunday. Cassidy last played Joseph on tour in 1999.

``The role is a little bit different this time because Joseph's younger than I am,'' the 43-year-old said.

``In terms of my acting ability, this time it's (necessary) to find the youth in me again.''

Cassidy studies the 22-year-olds in the company, noting their boundless energy and assumptions of immortality. As an actor, he works to re-create that kind of innocence on stage, what he describes as ``that wondrous, wide-eyed openness.''

``They have a tremendous energy and a tremendous earnestness with everything they say and do,'' Cassidy said of the young cast members.

In the show, Joseph, a figure from the Old Testament, starts out as a teenager and grows and matures through numerous hardships to about age 40. The story is taken from the last 13 chapters of the book of Genesis, which tells of Joseph's rise to power in Egypt after being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.

Though set in Egypt, this production of Joseph has a partylike, South Beach flair. Webber's wide mix of music includes a parody of French cabaret music, country-western, calypso, pop and '50s-style rock.

Cassidy keeps his job a family affair by traveling with his wife, Melissa Hurley, and children. Hurley reprises the role of the seductive Mrs. Potiphar, a part she played in the couple's last Joseph tour.

``She's the undoing of Joseph,'' Cassidy said. ``If that isn't life imitating art.''

Their kids, 10-year-old Cole and 7-year-old Jack, perform four shows a week with a nonprofessional children's choir in each city. In Akron, 25 Miller South choir students will perform nearly all of the show's songs. They'll even take the spotlight at the beginning of the second act with the Entr'acte.

Cassidy said now's the perfect time for their children to see and learn about their country on tour. The family travels with a nanny/tutor.

Cassidy's career spans stage, film and TV. His Broadway credits include his most recent turn in 42nd Street, as well as Aida, Annie Get Your Gun, Leader of the Pack and The Pirates of Penzance.

In Joseph, a number of critics have remarked about Cassidy's well-cut physique in this show. One even said he's ``built like a brick Bible.''

Cassidy, who has been a runner his whole life, also works out 80 minutes a day doing weights and stomach exercises. Twice a week, he also does cardio work.

``I have to be shirtless for about 80 percent of the show, so that gives you a motivation for keeping in shape,'' he said.

The actor said he sees similarities between Joseph and the hero Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance. But Joseph is very different from Radames in Aida, a recent role in which Northeast Ohio audiences saw Cassidy exude plenty of raw sex appeal.

``He's not asexual but he's definitely not sexual,'' Cassidy said of Joseph. ``There's not a lot of heat and there's no love interest for Joseph in the show.''

The sweet 1970 musical has long been a family favorite.

``The story is ultimately about forgiveness and family reuniting. I think at the core, that's the attraction of Joseph,'' he said.

Cassidy said he's having a great time with co-star Amy Adams of American Idol, who plays the Narrator.

``Musical theater actresses have to wait a career to play this role because it's such a monstrous role, and she's doing it the first time out of the box,'' he said.

``You have to be very stripped down and accessible (to the audience) and she is.''

Cassidy grew up in a show biz family. His late father, Jack, was a musical theater legend, as is his mother, Shirley Jones.

Jones and Cassidy's half brother, David, achieved TV fame in the 1970s with The Partridge Family. Brother Shaun was a pop music star as well as a co-star in The Hardy Boys Mysteries.

Last year, David Cassidy and Jones became the first mother-son duo in Broadway history to perform together in a musical in 42nd Street. He was Julian Marsh opposite her Dorothy Brock.

``She hadn't been on stage in about 38 years. It was a whole new forum for her,'' including getting used to new technology such as headsets.

Mother and son even lived in a brownstone together in New York during the 42nd Street run, he in the bottom unit and she in the top.

Here are Cassidy's family updates: Jones recently worked on a movie with Adam Sandler's company and continues to do concerts. Shaun is executive producer for the TV show Invasion, on which youngest brother Ryan works in set design. David is working on moving his show, The Rat Pack is Back, to a New York supper club, where he'll play Bobby Darin.

Cassidy continues to develop his own theatrical autobiography about growing up in the Cassidy family. The show, told through song and anecdotes, includes stories of sibling rivalry. It starts with Cassidy hanging up a Sardi's framed caricature of his famous father, Jack.

Writing the piece ``was so cathartic and therapeutic, it started rolling out of me.''