CAP21 Kicks Off 20th Anniversary Season with Karen Mason's UNFINISHED BUSINESS Tonight

The CAP21 Theatre Company will kick off its 20th Anniversary Season tonight, February 4th with the opening of Unfinished Business starring Karen Mason (Wonderland, Mamma Mia!). Mason previously presented the work as a concert reading as part of CAP21's Benefit Series Concerts for CAP21 this past July. Now further developed, Karen's music and story are transformed into a theatrical event that will play at CAP21's intimate stage (78 seats) February 4, 5, 6 & 11, 12, 13, 2013 (Mondays-Wednesdays). Tickets are available for $18 at www.cap21.org or by calling 212.807.0202. CAP21 is located at 18 West 18th Street, New York, NY.

Mason's solo play, Unfinished Business, is a tribute to her good friend and colleague, Brian Lasser. Lasser was a composer/lyricist and won an Emmy for his song "Hold Me". He also was Mason's Music Director before his death in 1992. Join Karen, in collaboration with Barry Kleinbort and Christopher Denny, as she explores sixteen years of discovery, friendship, laughter, music, and heartache through the songbook of Brian Lasser.

When asked why this work was important to Mason she responded by saying that "He [Brian] was not only a pivotal person in my life, he was a songwriter who's songs still speak to the human condition in a very human way. For the past 20 years, since he passed away, I have wanted to do a show with his music."

Collaboration between Karen Mason and CAP21 is ever expanding. "Karen has been part of the CAP21 Advisory Board for many years and it's great that the CAP21 development programs are now supporting her work as an artist" said Frank Ventura, Executive Artistic Director of CAP21.

The CAP21 Theatre Company's extensive programming for new musical development is designed to propel new work towards production. Last year, these programs further developed 28 new works, including the award-winning production of Southern Comfort, which earned CAP21 the GLAAD Award for Outstanding New York Theater. Additionally, numerous new works developed with The CAP21 Theatre Company have moved on to subsequent productions and workshops around the U.S. and three new musicals produced at CAP21 have been awarded the Jonathan Larson Grant Award.

Also celebrating their 20th Anniversary is The CAP21 Conservatory. The Conservatory is one of the America's top musical theatre training programs and currently has over 100 alums that have performed on Broadway. Hundreds more have performed Off-Broadway, in national tours, and in film and television. Notable Alums include Lady Gaga (Grammy Winner), Matthew Morrison (Emmy Nominee, Tony Nominee, Glee, South Pacific), Nikki M. James (Tony Winner, The Book of Mormon), Cristin Milioti (Tony Nominee, Once), Bobby Steggert (Tony Nominee, Ragtime), and Adam Jacobs (The Lion King).

For additional information on The CAP21 Theatre Company, go to www.CAP21.org.

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