Press"In front of the curtain, Mason Kelso commands the stage with signature vocals and excellent dancing; behind it, he helps to make theater magic happen."
-Springfield News Leader for USA Today |
ReviewsDisney's The Little Mermaid (Jetsam) - Variety Theatre
Limelight Candide (Baron/King of Eldorado) - Ohio Light Opera
The Daily Record |
Biography
Nick Coleman, 2017
Mason Kelso, born and raised on a cattle farm in Eudora, Kansas is a graduate of Missouri State University’s BFA Musical Theatre program. While at MSU, Mason was seen in the roles of Henrik Egerman (A Little Night Music, Dir. Robert Westenberg), Ensemble/Dance Captain (Pippin, Dir. Robert Westenberg), Carlos/Winthrop (Legally Blonde: The Musical), and Tribe Member (Hair, Dir. Rick Dines). He was also featured in multiple instillations of the annual Spring Dance Concert as a music arranger/performer, singer, and dancer.
Professionally, Mason has been seen on the stage of the Ohio Light Opera. He was a Young Artist with the company during their 39thand 40thseasons in 2017 and 2018. Both years Mason was seen in six of the seven shows produced per season in rotating repertory style. His roles at OLO include: Hotel Manager (Primrose, first production staged in America), Quartet/Featured Dancer (Babes in Arms), Steam Heat Dancer (The Pajama Game), Baron/King of Eldorado (Candide), and Ensemble/Featured Dancer (The Music Man, Anything Goes). Mason was also recently seen as a part of Variety Theatre’s 10th season production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid in the role of Jetsam (Dir. Lara Teeter). Other non-professional theatre credits include Sir Galahad (Spamalot, Lawrence Arts Center), Brad (Hairspray, Lawrence Arts Center), and Josh (9 to 5: The Musical, Springfield Little Theatre).
Along with his work on stage, Mason is also an accomplished pianist and musical director. As a pianist Mason has been seen on the international stages of the Amalfi Coast International Music Festival as well as the International Institute for Young Musicians. As a musical director, Mason has directed/assistant directed several musicals and cabarets including Avenue RST Cabaret (Lawrence Arts Center, MD); Avenue Q (Lawrence Arts Center, AMD); My Fair Lady (Tent Theatre, AMD); and MT Styles Dance Cabaret (MSU, MD). Mason has coordinated and music directed his own cabarets including a cabaret of 21st Century musical theatre music, and the "I Love You, I Love You Not" Valentine’s Day cabaret. In addition Mason served as typist to award winning composer Craig Carnelia on his original composition for Missouri State University’s production of Twelfth Night. To learn more about Mason's work as a music director and to contact him about musical arrangements click here.
Mason has also worked as a choreographer. Recently he has choreographed pieces for Eudora High School's Dance Team for festival and competition use. He has also choreographed for MSU Opera Theatre's Fall 2017 "Roots of American Musical" scenes and served as the choreographer for their production of Orpheus in the Underworld.
Outside of theatre and music Mason is an avid baker and enjoys making his specialty snickerdoodles from scratch. If you are not able to find Mason on stage or behind a piano, you will find him in a kitchen making something deliciously sweet or helping his amazing and supportive family on their cattle farm in Kansas.
Professionally, Mason has been seen on the stage of the Ohio Light Opera. He was a Young Artist with the company during their 39thand 40thseasons in 2017 and 2018. Both years Mason was seen in six of the seven shows produced per season in rotating repertory style. His roles at OLO include: Hotel Manager (Primrose, first production staged in America), Quartet/Featured Dancer (Babes in Arms), Steam Heat Dancer (The Pajama Game), Baron/King of Eldorado (Candide), and Ensemble/Featured Dancer (The Music Man, Anything Goes). Mason was also recently seen as a part of Variety Theatre’s 10th season production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid in the role of Jetsam (Dir. Lara Teeter). Other non-professional theatre credits include Sir Galahad (Spamalot, Lawrence Arts Center), Brad (Hairspray, Lawrence Arts Center), and Josh (9 to 5: The Musical, Springfield Little Theatre).
Along with his work on stage, Mason is also an accomplished pianist and musical director. As a pianist Mason has been seen on the international stages of the Amalfi Coast International Music Festival as well as the International Institute for Young Musicians. As a musical director, Mason has directed/assistant directed several musicals and cabarets including Avenue RST Cabaret (Lawrence Arts Center, MD); Avenue Q (Lawrence Arts Center, AMD); My Fair Lady (Tent Theatre, AMD); and MT Styles Dance Cabaret (MSU, MD). Mason has coordinated and music directed his own cabarets including a cabaret of 21st Century musical theatre music, and the "I Love You, I Love You Not" Valentine’s Day cabaret. In addition Mason served as typist to award winning composer Craig Carnelia on his original composition for Missouri State University’s production of Twelfth Night. To learn more about Mason's work as a music director and to contact him about musical arrangements click here.
Mason has also worked as a choreographer. Recently he has choreographed pieces for Eudora High School's Dance Team for festival and competition use. He has also choreographed for MSU Opera Theatre's Fall 2017 "Roots of American Musical" scenes and served as the choreographer for their production of Orpheus in the Underworld.
Outside of theatre and music Mason is an avid baker and enjoys making his specialty snickerdoodles from scratch. If you are not able to find Mason on stage or behind a piano, you will find him in a kitchen making something deliciously sweet or helping his amazing and supportive family on their cattle farm in Kansas.