Shelly Burch Returns To NYC W/ A Show At Metropolitain Room

Shelly Burch has returned to New York with a vengeance. Last month she costarred at the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists: Rodgers & and this month she is starring in a weeklong cabaret engagement at the Metropolitan Room, February 25 thru March 2. The evening is produced and directed by her husband, Martin Charnin.

This new act takes a musical look at the many aspects of love-from those exciting first moments made in a new relationship, to the choices a woman makes as she confronts a career and children, to the wonderful calm that comes when love is allowed to enter one's life, with no holds barred and no questions asked...when love and love alone becomes the answer. Shelly Burch received critical acclaim as the original Claudia in the musical Nine directed by Tommy Tune. Now some 20 years later, Shelly returns to New York and the cabaret scene, in her brand new entertainment, aptly titled Second Coming.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, Shelly arrived in New York, after Carnegie Mellon, and immediately garnered leads on Broadway; opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. in his Stop the World at Lincoln Center, and then Star to Be and Lily in Annie for two seasons. Shelly then starred in Nine and after eight months, ABC signed her to play the devilish Delila on "One Life to Live." During her eight year TV stint, Shelly performed at such clubs as Greene Street, the Duplex and Blues Alley. Then came Julie in Show Boat at the Paper Mill Playhouse which was filmed for Great Performances by PBS.

In the 90's her life changed dramatically when she moved to Orlando, Florida, married and had three children. However singing was still a passion and she had concerts with the Orlando Philharmonic in addition to playing such diverse roles as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha and Patsy Cline in a one-woman show about the celebrated country singer. Nearing the end of the 90's Ms. Burch became a single mom and in 2004 she reunited personally and professionally with her Annie director, Martin Charnin. Together, their collaboration has brought Shelly back to New York, via Orlando and Seattle, where they did such projects as Robin Hood, Mata Hari, Later Life, Incurably Romantic (a 6 week run at Seattle's famous club Crepe de Paris), and Shadowlands. She also played Joanne in the Fifth Avenue Theatre's production of Company as well as co-starred in Annie Warbucks for Showtunes.

The majority of the evening's songs are by Martin Charnin. Additional material for the evening has been written by Ms. Burch's musical director, Keith Levenson. The evening will also include a bit of Jule Styne, Vernon Duke, Maury Yeston, and Ira Gershwin. The Metropolitan Room is located at 34 West 22 Street. Reservations are recommended and can be made by phoning 212-206-0440.

Performance Schedule: Wednesday, February 25; Thursday, February 26; Friday, February 27; Saturday, February 28 all at 7:30pm. Sunday, March 1; Monday, March 2 at 7:00pm.