Mason Joins Fuller & Gardner in Emelin's 'Kleinbort Collection

The Emelin Theatre, a non-profit performing arts center in Mamaroneck, NY, today announced that Broadway star Karen Mason, who originated the role of Tanya in Broadway's Mamma Mia! - a role for which she  received a 2002 Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress - will join the cast of the Emelin's Kleinbort Collection. Mason will join Emmy Award Winner Penny Fuller and Broadway legend Rita Gardner to sing the songs of renowned composer and director Barry Kleinbort, who narrates the musical revue. The November 29 and 30 performances of The Kleinbort Collection also feature Cole Burden, Jay Rogers and Michele Ragusa. The show is directed by Barry Kleinbort with musical direction by Chris Denney.

Karen Mason has starred in Broadway and off-Broadway, and has done both television and recording work. A nine-time Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) Award winner, Mason 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 three Bistro Awards. Mason originated the role of Tanya on Broadway in Abba's Mamma Mia!, a role for which she received a 2002 Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress.

Barry Kleinbort has earned many accolades for his work as a composer and director over the past twenty-five years, including the prestigious Edward Kleban Foundation Award for Lyric Writing; the 2002 and 2003 Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theatre Foundation Commendations; two BackStage Bistro Awards; ten MAC Awards and two cable Telly Awards. Kleinbort has also directed and written special material for such cabaret and theatre luminaries as Kaye Ballard, Marcia Lewis, Mary Cleere Haran, Regis Philbin, Rita Gardner, Brent Barrett, John Barrowman, Jeff Harnar and Heather MacRae.

Penny Fuller won an Emmy Award for her role as Mrs. Kendal in the TV version of Bernard Pomerance's play, The Elephant Man (1982).  She has starred in the original productions of Wendy Wasserstein's An American Daughter (1997) and Neil Simon's The Dinner Party (2000), for which she received a Tony nomination. Off-Broadway appearances have included Three Viewings (1995) and Nicky Silver's Beautiful Child (2004).

Rita Gardner made her stage debut as Luisa in the original cast of The Fantasticks in 1960. Additional off-Broadway credits include The Cradle Will Rock (1964); To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (1969); Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1972); Steel Magnolias (1987) and The Foreigner (2004). Gardner's regional theatre credits include Showboat and The Impossible Years at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania (1983); Lucky in the Rain at the Goodspeed Opera House (1997), and Eleanor: A Love Story at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. (1999). She appeared in the national tours of Kiss of the Spider Woman (1994) and Try to Remember: A Look Back at Off-Broadway (2002). Gardner's television credits include appearances in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The Emelin Theatre recently announced a new discount promotion for the "Theatre in Concert Festival."  Theatre-goers may combine any 4 shows to receive a 10% discount, or combine any 8 shows to receive a 15% discount. Season passes may also be purchased for $190. To order tickets please call (914) 698-0098, or for more information please visit www.emelin.org.