Luba Mason

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Luba Mason
Born
Lubica Anna Gregusova (Lubitza Gregus)[1]

July 26, 1961 (age 62) Astoria, Queens, NY
Occupation(s)Actress and singer
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2006)​
Websitehttp://www.lubamason.com

Luba Mason is an American actress, singer, songwriter and dancer. She has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theaters in plays and musicals and television and film. As a singer, she has performed in International Jazz and Music Festivals as well as major jazz and music clubs around the country. Mason has trademarked her own musical format called Mixtura, "a blend of different musical currents."[2]

Early life

Mason was born Lubica Anna Christina Gregusova to Rudolph and Ellen Gregus

Tisch School of the Arts and Circle in the Square Theatre School.[11] After graduating from NYU, she used the name 'Kim Freshwater' professionally for a few years.[12]

Career

Broadway

Mason's extensive Broadway career began in 1987, when she made her debut, billed as 'Kim Freshwater,' as the statuesque, leather-clad nightclub owner in the short-lived musical Late Nite Comic.

Girl From the North Country written and directed by Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan on Broadway in 2020. Other roles include Joanna in Trevor Nunn's American premiere of Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles in 1993. Mason can be heard on Broadway cast recordings of The Will Rogers Follies, How To Succeed in Business..., The Capeman, The Stephen Schwartz Album and Girl From the North Country.[14]

Singing

Her experience with Latin music and artists in

Blue Note in New York City., Blues Alley in DC, World Cafe in Philadelphia and the Regattabar in Boston. She has also headlined at Vibrato and the Cinegrill in L.A., Feinstein's, Birdland, B.B. Kings, Iridium and the Metropolitan Room in N.Y. Most recently Mason and her husband Rubén Blades performed together at Radio City Music Hall in Paul Simon's sold-out benefit concert for the Children's Health Fund's 25th Anniversary[20][21] and in 2014 at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis and his band.[22] In 2016 Mason released her third solo album Mixtura, with Rafael Rosa (guitar); Sara Caswell (violin); Felipe Fournier (vibraphone, percussion); Joel Mateo (drums), using a mixtura of styles. In 2020 she released Triangle, arranged with just voice, Joe Locke on vibes and James Genus on bass. In 2016 she performed at the "2016 Bratislava Jazz Days Festival" in Slovakia
. She won the 2019 BISTRO AWARD for Outstanding Vocalist.

Mixtura

Mason has trademarked the name Mixtura – "a blend of different musical currents".[2] It is a genre blend of jazz, pop, classical and world music styles. She performs an eclectic selection of material with arrangements in a broad range of musical genres mixed in new and exciting combinations. "Surround yourself with people who are great, and who will push you, and you can challenge yourself and learn," she says.[2]

Other credits

Mason's film and television work includes Abuse,

Tisch School of the Arts. Lee took Luba under her wing[17] while the company toured Japan, Europe, the U.S. and later a limited engagement at New York's City Center hosted by Dick Cavett.[24]
Mason's regional theater work includes Lucky in the Rain at the Goodspeed Playhouse, A Class Act at the
Girl From the North Country written and directed by Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan at The Public Theater in 2018. Luba received a nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for the Lucille Lortel Awards
for the role.

Personal life

Mason is married to Panamanian singer/actor/politician Rubén Blades,[30] whom she met during the production of The Capeman.[4] She has continued to work extensively in Panama donating her time and talents coaching musical theater students, giving master classes in both voice and acting and even assisted the former First Lady of Panama Vivian Fernández de Torrijos in working with women in prison.[31][32]

References

  1. ^ Eugene Lovendusky, Luba Mason: Love’s Collage, BroadwayWorld.com, November 20, 2007
  2. ^ a b c Sherry Eaker, Nite Life Exchange, video Interview with Sherry Eaker Archived January 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine May 15, 2012
  3. ^ a b "People | 10964 - The Palisades Newsletter". palisadesny.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Nick Orlando, BWW Interviews: "Capeman's Luba Mason", March 8, 2010
  5. ^ "2 Feb 1979, Page 43 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "1 Apr 1979, 12 - The Record at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "29 Apr 1978, Page 4 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "6 Dec 1978, Page 60 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "8 Dec 1977, Page 39 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  10. ^ Eugene Lovendusky, "Luba Mason: Love’s Collage", BroadwayWorld.com, November 20, 2007
  11. ^ a b Baldwin "Smitty" Smith, Feature Interview Luba Mason, Jazz Monthly, January 2009
  12. ^ "5 Mar 1995, Page 397 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Luba Mason – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. ^ Allmusic.com
  15. ^ a b Andrew Gans, "Diva Talk: Catching up with Capeman Star Luba Mason", Playbill, August 13, 2010
  16. ^ Daniel Dominguez, "Luba Mason Estrella Del Musical", La Prensa Panama, May 29, 2005
  17. ^ a b Brian Lush, "Lovely – Luba Mason Talks to Rockwired", 2009
  18. ^ Rubén Blades Discography
  19. ^ Paola Reyes Corró, "La Hija del Sueño Americano", La Prensa Panama, January 15, 2009
  20. ^ a b Lubamason.com
  21. ^ Michael Gioia, "Children's Health Fund Benefit, With Julianne Moore, Rita Wilson, Sting Tom Hanks, Tina Fey, Offered Oct 4 in NYC", Playbill October 4, 2012
  22. ^ Ben Ratliff, "A Latin Musician Translates A Meeting of Cultures" New York Times November 14, 2014
  23. ^ Internet Movie Database
  24. ^ Jennifer Dunning, "Dance Machine Celebrates the Style of Broadway" NY Times February 2, 1986
  25. ^ Lubamason.com/acting
  26. ^ NYMF.org
  27. ^ Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, "Winter Preview" November 17, 2014
  28. ^ "Hamilton and into the Woods Lead 2015 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations | TheaterMania". April 2, 2015.
  29. ^ "Drama Desk Award Nominations | THE DRAMA DESK AWARDS". Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  30. ^ Larry Rochter, "A Salsa Star Is Reborn After a Break for Politics" NY Times, November 28, 2009
  31. ^ Vannie Arrocha, "Cautivada por ritmos latinos", Ellas March 3, 2006
  32. ^ Martitza Bonilla, "Las Historias que hay detrás de los muros llegan al teatro" Panama America March 6, 2006

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luba_Mason&oldid=1203465350"