Broadway star Karen Mason to perform with Phil Reno at UF

FINDLAY — The University of Findlay will host “An Evening with Karen Mason, featuring Phil Reno” at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 in the Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Mason is the seventh annual Mary Snyder Kirk Musical Theatre Guest Artist to grace the WTS stage.
Some of Mason’s Broadway credits include starring roles in “Mamma Mia!,” “Hairspray,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Torch Song Trilogy,” “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway” And last season’s “Wonderland.”
Mason has starred on Broadway, off Broadway, and as a television and recording artist. She is a 10-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) Award winner and has won the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years. She also has won the 2006 Nightlife Award for Major Female Vocalist and has three Bistro Awards.
Mason most recently originated the role of The Queen of Hearts in the pre-Broadway production of “Wonderland” at The David A. Straz Center for The Performing Arts in Tampa, Fla. She originated the role of Tanya on Broadway in Abba’s “Mamma Mia!” and was awarded a 2002 Drama Desk nomination as Best Actress.
Her other leading roles include Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard,” which she performed to critical acclaim and standing ovations on Broadway and in Los Angeles for three years; Velma von Tussel in the final Broadway company of “Hairspray;” “Monotony” singer, Mazeppa, in “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway;” Rosalie in “Carnival” (another Drama Desk nomination); plus featured roles in Broadway’s “Torch Song Trilogy” and “Play Me a Country Song.”
She is beginning rehearsals for a new Broadway production, “Rebecca,” which will open at The Broadhurst Theatre in New York in April.
Phil Reno will accompany Mason on the piano. A native of Tiffin, Ohio, Reno is a Grammy-nominated Broadway conductor of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Elf,” “Promises, Promises” (featuring Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes), “The Producers” (starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lang), “Cats,” “Thou Shalt Not” (composed by Harry Connick Jr.) and “Broadway Under the Stars.” He recently conducted the pre-Broadway tryouts of “Minsky’s” and “Sleepless in Seattle: The Music” in Los Angeles.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens over the age of 65. A limited number of tickets are available at the UF Box Office. Call 419-434-5335. Tickets may be available at the door; however, Mason’s performance is expected to sell out and pre-sale tickets are encouraged.

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Posted by Kenton Times on January 12, 2012. Filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry