Karen Mason & Brent Barrett to Perform in SING HAPPY at Birdland, 4/9
By: Harmony Wheeler Mar. 13, 2012
The Broadway at Birdland concert series announces that Broadway stars Karen Mason and Brent Barrett will share the stage for the first time in "Sing Happy" on Monday, April 9 at 7pm.
These two friends will combine their voices to celebrate the music of their lives, with a special emphasis on the songs of the great songwriting team Kander & Ebb!
Karen Mason is a ten-time MAC Award winner and has won the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years. She has also won the 2006 Nightlife Award for Major Female Vocalist and has three Bistro Awards.
Ms. Mason most recently originated the role of The Queen of Hearts in the Broadway production of WONDERLAND. 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 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.Her television appearances include the hit dramas ED and LAW & ORDER: SVU. Film credits include SLEEPING DOGS LIE and A CHORUS LINE. In regional theatre, Karen starred in the world premiere of the stage production of WHITE CHRISTMAS, (playing the Rosemary Clooney role at St. Louis Muni Opera), SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (Coconut Grove Playhouse in Florida), GYPSY (Sundance Theatre in California), the world premiere of ONE TOUGH COOKIE (Apple Tree Theatre in Chicago), HEARTBEATS (Goodspeed Opera House in NY) and COMPANY (Huntington Theatre in Boston). Most recently in New York, Karen starred in the one-woman musical about Dorothy Parker YOU MIGHT AS WELL LIVE.
In 2005, Karen released her fifth CD, SWEETEST OF NIGHTS, after winning the 2002 MAC Award for Major Female Recording of the Year for WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT. Her other CD's are BETTER DAYS (featuring the 1998 Emmy winning song, "Hold Me", by Brian Lasser); NOT SO SIMPLY BROADWAY; and her live recording CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS!(all on Zevely Records).
Brent Barrett has entertained millions around the world from the stages of Broadway, the West End, concerts halls, recording studios and television.
He most recently reprised his role as Billy Flynn in the Tony Award winning hit, CHICAGO-The Musical, for which he received a LA Drama Critics Award.
Brent relocated to Las Vegas where he was asked to open the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular. Barrett starred in the title role in the brand new 40 million dollar theater, at the Venetian Hotel, for two years of sold-out houses.
Brent received an Olivier Award nomination for his starring role in the London premiere of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate. His performance was recorded for broadcast on PBS and is available on DVD. He also starred in the City Center Encores! production of The Pajama Game and as King Arthur in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Camelot. Other Broadway roles include "Frank Butler" in the Broadway revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun opposite Reba McEntire, "Charles Castleton" in the Alan Jay Lerner musical Dance a Little Closer and "Baron Felix Von Gaigern" in Grand Hotel. Brent made his Broadway debut as "Tony" in the 1980 revival of West Side Story, which he subsequently reprised in the International Tour. Additional New York performances include "Maximillon" in the Broadway revival of Candide, and "Tommy Albright" in New York City Opera's production of Brigadoon. In New Zealand, he appeared as "Archibald" in that country's production of The Secret Garden. On the road, Brent played "Victor Duchesi" in the pre-Broadway Tour of Busker Alley with Tommy Tune, and he starred opposite Cathy Rigby in the National Tour of Annie Get Your Gun.
Brent has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert and Royal Festival Halls in London, with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, Minnesota Opera, Opera Pacific, Michigan Opera, Kentucky Opera, and the Birmingham Symphony. Brent is the founding member and producer of The Broadway Tenors. Brent has recorded three solo albums - The Alan Jay Lerner Album, The Kander and Ebb Album, and Christmas Mornings. Brent can also be heard on studio recordings of Brigadoon, Grand Hotel, Dance a Little Closer, Closer Than Ever, Show Stoppers, The Busby Berkeley Album, Lost in Boston IV, Unsung Musicals, Vol. III, and The Maury Yeston Songbook. On television and in film Brent was featured in The Producers, Hercules, Longtime Companion, All My Children, Another World and Guiding Light.
Sing Happy
April 9 at 7pm
Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
212-581-3080 or www.BirdlandJazz.com
$30 cover and $10 food/drink minimum
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