By John Amodeo***Act2PV’s 2025 Broadway Series launches this January with an impressive lineup of Broadway royalty, thanks to the acumen of Act2PV’s General Manager, David Sabella, a Broadway star himself. In the first half of January alone, the Broadway Series will present Brent Barrett (Chicago, Grand Hotel, Closer Than Ever) and his husband Bernie Blanks on January 3, 5, 9 and 14, as well as Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard) on January 12, 16, and 18.
Back in 2022, the now closed Incanto’s resident pianist and music director Mark Hartman suggested to Barrett that they 
do a show together at the venue, during Barrett’s April 2022 Vallarta vacation. “Then in 2023, Bernie and I came to PV for the month of January, and I did my 40 Years on Broadway show at Incanto,” recounts Barrett. Having performed with Barrett in the Broadway revival of Chicago, Sabella invited Barrett to lead off Act2PV’s 2025 season. And it just so happened, Barrett had a new show with his husband, Bernie Blanks, Islands in the Stream, which they have performed thrice in Las Vegas and most recently in Palm Springs.
“The TV variety shows inspired Bernie and me to become performers,” explains Barrett, “but the show itself is a retrospective for us to tell stories about our 21-year relationship and sing songs.” Blanks adds, “It’s pretty groundbreaking because you don’t normally see two men singing love songs to each other on a stage.” While both Barrett and Blanks come from a theater background, they also enjoy performing in a cabaret setting. Blanks, a natural storyteller, started doing cabaret in Germany, and discovered he really loved it. “I like personal anecdotes. I want to see the heart and soul o
f a cabaret performer. I don’t want to hear the history of Lerner & Lowe,” Blanks muses. “At the end of our show, I want people to walk away and feel that they met us. In cabaret, you create every word. And I’m a control freak.” Barrett quips, “I can attest. Someone in the relationship has to be.”
Barrett and Blanks met in 2003 doing a production of Camelot at Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey. “Bernie had just moved back from Germany in 2001, and I had just finished Kiss Me Kate in London,” recalls Barrett. “It was a showmance.” Blanks adds quickly, “A showmance that lasted!” Barrett will include a few songs from his Kander & Ebb recording, but they elaborate that this show is eclectic and has a big variety: pop, country, Broadway, American Songbook—something for everyone. Barrett and Blanks are understandably proud of their show. “Two gay guys in love,” swoons Blanks. “It’s funny, it’s touching, we hear sniffles in the audience every time we do the show.” Barrett continues, “The most positive comments we’ve gotten are from middle aged and older straight coupl
es. Love is universal.”
Mason, a 14-time MAC-award winner, is thrilled to have been asked to perform at Act2PV. “David has put together a fantastic thing. It’s a market and an audience that not a lot of us in New York have had the opportunity to perform for,” marvels Mason. “Now he’s opened the doors for all of us in a beautiful setting and making it luxurious for everyone.”
Mason has recently released her 9th solo recording, And All That Jazz, celebrating the songbook of Kander & Ebb. “I’ve had a long relationship with them because of And the World Goes ‘Round,” notes Mason. “For our show in Vallarta, we are putting our best foot forward with a Broadway program, mostly Kander & Ebb. You can’t go wrong with their music, from the ballads to the comedy, and the truly dramatic. Director Barry Kleinbort and music director Christopher Denny brought up some songs even I didn’t know.” Mason rattles off a few of her favorites from the show, “I love singing ‘Ring Them Bells.’ Also, ‘All That Jazz.’ Then there are the beautiful ballads, ‘Coloring Book,’ ‘Go Back Home’ from Scottsboro Boys and ‘A Quiet Thing.’ Christopher did a beautiful arrangement of ‘New York, New York’ and ‘One Good Break’ (Flora the Red Menace). It’s filled with drive, passion, and drama. It’s just a 
brilliant arrangement. Chris will be down there with me playing for me and it’ll be home.”
Having created the role of Tanya in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia!, Act2PV will doubly feel like home for Mason because Act2PV’s main stage presented Mamma Mia! for many years and may plan to bring it back this season or next. “I told David, I’ll bring my Tanya boots!” quipped Mason.
Brent Barrett and Bernie Blanks perform Islands in the Stream on January 3,5,9 and 14, Karen Mason will perform And All That Jazz on January 12, 16 and 18. All shows are 7 PM at Act2PV’s Red Room, Badillo & Insurgentes, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Preferred Admission, $35, General Admission, $30. To purchase tickets, click here and here. For the rest of the Broadway Series and full calendar at Act2PV, click here.
