Mason to Play Dorothy Parker at NYMF, Sept. 22-Oct. 2

By: Aug. 04, 2005
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Karen Mason will crack wise as legendary wit and writer Dorothy Parker in You Might As Well Live, a one-person musical play that will run from September 22nd to October 2nd at the 45th Street Theatre (354 West 45th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) as part of the New York Music Theatre Festival.

The show, which takes its title from Parker's famous poem "Resumé," will be directed by Guy Stroman and will feature a book by Norman Mathews, who will set Parker's words to his music. In You Might As Well Live, "Dorothy Parker is at her wit's end. She's past deadline for a collection of her work. She can't get her typewriter to listen to reason. Her ex-husband (twice-over) wants her in Hollywood to write a screenplay for Marilyn Monroe, and she can't pay her rent. Can she cope? Of course she can. When all else fails, 'You might as well live,'" as the show is described in production notes. The design team includes John Scheffler (sets) and Bobby H. Grayson (hair design) with Christopher Denny as musical director, and Denis Jones as choreographer.

You Might As Well Live was a winner of Stages 2003: a Festival of New Musicals, sponsored by Theatre Building Chicago. The play has also been given a reading at the York Theatre Company in New York City, and selections from the show were featured in Bound for Broadway III 2003 at the Merkin Concert Hall. Mason performed the play at the Harris Theatre of Music and Dance, as part of the 2004 Chicago Humanities Festival. This New York Musical Theatre Festival production is an Equity approved showcase.

Mason originated the role of Tanya on Broadway in ABBA's Mamma Mia! (2002 Drama Desk Nomination). She starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, which she performed on Broadway and in Los Angeles for three years. Broadway credits include: Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Play Me A Country Song and Torch Song Trilogy. Off-Broadway credits include Carnival (1993 Drama Desk Award nominee), And the World Goes Round (Outer Critics Circle Award) and Karen Mason Sings Broadway, Beatles and Brian. A 7-time MAC Award winner, Mason won the 2004 MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year.

Mathews has written for symphony orchestra, the concert stage, jazz performers, and musical theatre. His art songs have been featured, along with the works of John Kander and Charles Strouse at the Kennedy Center in The Other Side of Broadway. Mathews and lyricist/collaborator Patty Seyburn, along with book writer Todd Lehman, have collaborated on a musical version of Lost Empires, J. B. Priestley's novel about the English music hall. Stroman directed the world premieres of Free Fall, written by and starring Sandy Duncan, at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Sugar Down Billie Hoak Off-Broadway at the Theatre-at-St. Peter's. He was director for the reader's theatre series, The Monday Nite Stop, for the Atlantic Theatre Co., as well as a series of special performances for the Theatre Guild starring Lynn Redgrave, Rachel Kempson and Jean Stapleton. An original cast member of Forever Plaid, he has since directed and choreographed several long-running companies of the show around the country.

Performances of You Might As Well Live will run September 22nd at 8:00 pm, September 23 at 4:30 pm, September 24th at 8:00 pm, September 25th at 1:00 pm, September 30th at 8:00 pm and October 2nd at 4:30 pm. All tickets are $15.00. For reservations please call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.nymf.com to purchase tickets online (as well as for more info on the show).
 

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