Sibling entertainers Donny, left, and Marie Osmond pose at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto on June 2, 2014. Christmas Eve in the famed Osmond household used to see the nine kids gathered 'round the tree to open gifts of homemade pyjamas from their mother. It's a tradition they've passed on to their own children, say sunny siblings Donny and Marie, but it's not one they can do all together anymore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

TORONTO - Christmas Eve in the famed Osmond household used to see the nine kids gathered 'round the tree to open gifts of homemade pyjamas from their mother. It's a tradition they've passed on to their own children, say sunny siblings Donny and Marie, but it's not one they can do all together anymore.

"It's not like what you think it would be, where we all get together and have turkey dinner and all that stuff," Donny Osmond, who has five children and seven grandkids, said in an interview. "It's just too big. There are too many Osmonds. The whole state of Utah would be coming together, you know."

"It would be a state of confusion," concluded Marie Osmond.

Instead, just the dynamic duo get together during the holidays for "Donny & Marie Christmas." Mirvish Productions is running the variety show at the Princess of Wales Theatre from Dec. 9 to 21.

The production sees the sugary singers/actors/dancers performing holiday tunes as well as songs from their celebrated careers, from "A Little Bit of Country, A Little Bit Rock 'n Roll" to "Paper Roses" and "Puppy Love." It received raves when it debuted on Broadway in 2010 and has been a hit on the road ever since.

Marie, 55, is also seen in a taped video number in which she becomes 24 different female celebrities.

"Twenty-four different people. She is schizophrenic. It's true life," razzed Donny, 56, displaying the wisecracking sensibility the two are known for.

Of course, the beloved brother-sister act with the enviable smiles are veterans of holiday and variety specials, from their start as children on "The Andy Williams Show" to their "Donny & Marie" series and their latest headlining gig in Las Vegas.

Donny said this year's holiday show includes "the whole production from Vegas ... the dancers, the orchestra, the multimedia."

"Every once in a while it's kind of fun to watch some people, especially the guys, go: 'Oh, 'The Donny & Marie Show,' my wife dragged me here.' But they're the first ones that say, 'Yeah!' with a standing ovation and have a good time."

The show also has some of their more nostalgic stuff, with an overall goal of bringing together generations and sending patrons home with a festive spirit and smiles on their faces, they say.

"Every Christmas song ever written, we probably are going to have it in the show," said Donny, who is very familiar with Toronto, having starred in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in the city in the '90s. He's scheduled to release his 60th album, "The Soundtrack Of My Life," in January.

"This is my favourite Donny and Marie production," declared Marie, who was a finalist on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2007, two years before brother Donny won the TV competition.

Asked if there's a chance of any other Osmond making a guest appearance in the stage show, Donny said: "No, this is the Donny and Marie Christmas show."

"We barely have time for all the things we have," noted Marie.

Not to worry — the entire brood will get to come together once again next July for their annual summer family reunion, they say.

"We try to do it on our off-seasons where we're not working," said Marie with a laugh. "That's the best time for Osmonds to get together. ... It's really hard, now that we have great-nephews and nieces."

Added Donny: "There's at least a couple million of us now."

Follow @VictoriaAhearn on Twitter.

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Online:

www.donnyandmarietour.com

http://www.mirvish.com

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014