OTTUMWA — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will not have a cowboy in it.

But well known Village People “cowboy” Randy Jones will be featured as the Pharaoh in the Fairfield Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts’ production of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical.

“I’ve never done the role before,” Jones said in an interview with the Courier. “But I’m always up for a new challenge.”

Jones had just returned home from a 107,000-mile tour promoting his latest CD and discovered a message from his casting director.

“Michael Cassara, which is my casting director said I would be perfect for the part,” Jones said. “It’s an over-the-top role and I’m definitely over the top.”

Jones, who has a degree in musical theater and dance, has been in more than 40 musicals, including: “Oklahoma,” “Chicago,” “Oliver” and “The Music Man.”

“I’ve mostly done all classical stuff,” he said. “Even with the Village People, that was an acting role.”

Jones said he prefers to be on stage acting or with a mic in his hand.

His journey will not be Jones’ first visit to Iowa.

As a member of the Village People, he had played a number of shows in state, as well as when he was a member of another dance company.

“Before I was in the Village People I was with the Agnes de Mille Dance Company,” he said. “She was the first one to take dance and add a dramatic plot to it. She was a great inspiration and I give credit to her for a lot of my success.”

Jones said every theatrical and/or musical experience is unique.

“Each time I go somewhere and do a show, it’s like I create a new family,” he said. “You just get very close to everyone.

“Everyone here has gone out of their way. This is definitely a place I would come back to, to do another show.”

“As an actor you have to be willing to just jump right in,” Jones said. “This is the quickest boot camp I’ve ever had to learn a part.”