Brian Lane Green is feeling the pressure.

Not only is he the lead character in “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a recreation of the Biblical story of Joseph and his 11 brothers at the time of the Pharaoh, but the production just happens to be by none other than Andrew Lloyd Webber. Talk about living up to high standards.

But the actor takes it all in stride.

“It’s nice to be in a successful composer’s show. It’s really, really nice,” Green said from a tour stop in Birmingham, Ala. “But there’s pressure in every show I do.”

And what a repertoire the actor has. Green made his Broadway debut as Huck Finn in “Big River.” Other threatre credits include “The Pirates of Penzance,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Pippen.”

For his starring role in the musical “Starmites,” Green even received a Tony nomination. Though he did not win the statuette (Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame did), he said it was an honor to be recognized.

“I really never expected to be nominated,” he said. “So, it was wonderful. It doesn’t look bad on the r‚sum‚. I’ve been riding off that for a while.”

The actor said he knew at an early age the spotlight was for him.

“My first love was singing,” Green said. “When I was five, I sat my mom and dad down and said I want to be a singer.'”

At the age of 16, Green won a national vocal competition. And, as Green said, “One thing led to another.”

The other being acting. Although he’s never had any formal training in acting, Green has appeared in several shows on the small screen, among them “Matlock,” “Murder She Wrote,” and “Hotel.”

But daytime audiences may know Green as the obsessive Alan Brad on “Days of Our Lives” or the artist-turned-country singer Sam Fowler on “Another World.”

More recently, he was seen as the twice-married, problem-solving, college student Brian Bodine on “All My Children.”

“Soaps are a great learning experience for actors,” Green said. “I spent about four years on soaps and I’d love to do it again. It taught me about diving into a character and how to direct yourself.”

Green said a typical day on the set if “All My Children” involved learning 30 to 40 pages of scripts and, of course, reading fan mail. “A lot of soap fans take it a little too serious,” he said. “But I love my fans. Some still write and I stay in touch.”

One thing no actor can prepare for, though, is the challenge of life on the road. Green said the transient lifestyle of a touring show presents a myriad of potential problems for actors.

“Traveling, being healthy, giving 150 percent every night,” he explained, “life on the road is very rough. It’s hard to keep it fresh for me every night.

“But, then I remember that this is most likely the first time the audience has seen the show, so I give it everything for them. This is a family show with just about anyone in the audience,” Green added.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was written by Webber, who wrote the music, and Tim Rice, who wrote the lyrics. In addition to “Joseph,” Webber and Rice are responsible for “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita.”

Originally written as a one-piece act in 1968, “Joseph” was extended in 1972. This new production, which includes a local children’s choir, is directed by Steven Pimlott.

“Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” opens at The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines tonight and runs through Nov. 21. Ticket prices are $18, $30 and $38. Tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office, or call 233-1888.