KAREN MASON SIGNED FOR A LEADING ROLE
IN THE UPCOMING BROADWAY SHOW "MAMMA MIA"

Karen Mason has just been signed for a leading role in the upcoming Broadway Show MAMMA MIA, which will open on Broadway sometime in October. The show has songs by the rock group "Abba" and is a huge hit in London, and is selling out on the road. It has won several Olivier Awards (the British version of a Tony). Karen will be playing the role of Tanya. The show will open at the WINTERGARDEN THEATRE on Broadway. This show is a hit already.

All this comes after a roller coaster few weeks for Karen. Two weeks ago, she was performing at the COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE in Miami, Florida in "Side By Side By Sondheim" and she was scheduled to perform through April 22nd. Unfortunately, the show as presented was not the actual show that the production company had the rights to. It seems that they had added some songs that were not in the original Sondheim script, and had revamped the show without permission. The producers were foolish enough to invite Hal Prince to the opening night, and on Friday, March 30th, the rights were pulled and the show had to close. March 30th just happened to be Karen's birthday.

Karen had received glowing reviews. It was not a good time for her as she was looking forward to doing all these wonderful songs for the entire run not just one week.

Things got better when on Sunday, April 1st, when Karen won the coveted MAC award for "Major Female Vocalist." She was not at the MAC award show, since she was on a plane returning to New York for a scheduled call back to audition for MAMMA MIA on Monday, the 2nd.

Karen Mason last performed on Broadway in SUNSET BLVD., in which she was the standby for Glen Close, Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige in the role of Norma Desmond for three years. She performed the role over 200 times. Prior to that, she performed off-Broadway in "Brian Broadway and the Beatles," replaced Debbie Gravitte on Broadway in "Jerome Robbins Broadway," was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for "Carnival." She also performed in "Company," in the role of Joanne in Boston, Mama Rose in "Gypsy" in Sundance, Utah (her dream role) and just last summer at the MUNI in St. Louis she was in a stage version of "White Christmas." Of course she has performed her cabaret shows all over the USA, at Rainbow & Stars, The Russian Tea Room and most recently has performed regularly at Arci's Place. She has also performed in concerts all over the US as well as Europe.

This is the first time that Karen will be creating a role on Broadway. She will have her name on the poster, her own dressing room, a dresser, and her own standby who will be on beeper. Ironically, Karen has gone from Mama Rose to Mamma Mia!

Karen will fulfill her Cabaret dates at DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/) May 9th-13th, May 16th-20th. She will also perform on May 14th in Chicago's first "Cabaret On the Record" benefit, also at Davenports. She will be at LIBBY'S CABARET (3401 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta, GA - 404-237-1943 - http://www.libbyscabaret.com/) May 23rd - 26th, May 29th - June 2nd and also at THE BRADSTAN (Route 17B, White Lake, NY - 845-583-4114) on Sunday June 24th. Karen's website is at http://www.karenmason.com/.

Reported by Maryann Lopinto

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