Karen Mason
Broadway Baby
PS Underground, Palm Springs, CA, April 27, 2026
Reviewed by Bill Lanese
Photo by Kevin Alvey
Karen Mason’s opening number “All That Jazz” (Kander & Ebb) set the mood for a splendid cabaret evening of song. The show was filled with familiar Broadway music that ranged from “Forty-Second Street” (Al Dubin/Harry Warren) to a well-received “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” (Leo Robin/Jule Styne). It was brilliant!
Mason performed a lovely version of “A Whole New World” (Alan Menken/Tim Rice from Aladdin). A highlight of the first act was “Mister Snow” (Rodgers & Hammerstein) from a production of Carousel in which Karen played the role of Carrie Pipperidge. She also included a combo of “Watch What Happens” and “I Will Wait for You” (both by Michel Legrand/Norman Gimbel). It was powerful!
The second act opened with “I Have a Dream” (Benny Andersson/Bjorn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson from Mamma Mia) as she entered the stage in a ruby-red sexy dress that set the mood; it was a standout. Another highlight was a sweet, soft version of “Broadway Baby” (Stephen Sondheim), completely different from the one from Follies. She closed the evening was a terrific version of Sondheim’s “Being Alive” (Company) and a sensational medley from Sunset Boulevard. Her encore was “Over the Rainbow” (Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg); it was a fabulous end to a delightful show!
Mason was accompanied by Christopher Denny, her talented music director/pianist of the past 34 years.
