Yanna Avis Heads Downtown for Met Room Debut

Continental chanteuse Yanna Avis makes her Metropolitan Room debut in the premiere of the eponymously titled show, "Yanna Avis." In something of a departure for the smoky voiced embodiment of sophisticated glamour, Avis arrives at the casually chic Metropolitan Room filled with the rush of anticipation of a lover on a second date.

With her collaborators -- music director David Shenton, stage director Daniel Isengart and artistic advisor Lionel Casseroux -- Avis sings songs from her extensive, multi-lingual repertoire brimming with international standards about the many phases of love. But with a forward look Avis angles for a contemporary edge to compliment the haute couture style for which she is best known.

"Yanna Avis," with David Shenton on piano, David Fink on bass, and Patrick Farrell on accordion, plays four nights only -- Wednesday June 1 at 9:30pm, Monday June 6 at 9:30pm, Monday June 13 at 7pm and Wednesday June 15 at 9:30pm.

A Parisian by birth, Yanna Avis began her career as an actress. Trained at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Paris, she performed in a variety of classical and contemporary productions, including John Guare's "House of Blue Leaves," and the Broadway hit "Boeing-Boeing," as well as number of films and plays on French television.

In 1992, Avis reinvented herself as a cabaret singer under the guidance of the late Colin Romoff. Since then she has appeared internationally at Italy's Spoleto Music Festival (at the invitation of Gian Carlo Menotti), the Jermyn Street Theatre in London, the SIVAM Foundation for Carlos Slim in Mexico City, and the Florence Gould Hall at FIAF in Manhattan. She has been presented in New York at such prestigious venues as Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, the former King Kong Room at the Supper Club, The Firebird, The Russian Tea Room, Doubles at the Sherry-Netherland, and Maxim's. Of her three CD recordings, the most recent is "Speak Love to Me," a collaboration with the distinguished music director and pianist Lee Musiker.

"Yanna Avis" features songs by Cole Porter, by Léo Ferré, Friedrich Hollander, Paul Misraki, and Johnny Mercer to name a few.

"Yanna Avis" plays four nights at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street -- Wednesday June 1 at 9:30pm, Monday June 6 at 9:30pm, Monday June 13 at 7pm and Wednesday June 15 at 9:30pm. The music charge is $25. For reservations call 212/206-0440. For more information or to order online visit www.metropolitanroom.com.