October Highlights at the Metropolitan Room

Judith Owen, Euan Morton, Klea Blackhurst & Billy Stritch, Tim DiPasqua, and Jeff Harnar return to the Metropolitan Room in the coming weeks.  Neile Adams, Gay Marshall and Jill Whelan are among those making their Metropolitan Room debuts.
 
Also playing at the club (voted Best of... by New York Magazine) is the sultry French Tony winner Yvonne Constant, who continues to take a fascinating look at the men in Edith Piaf's life.
 
Jazz icon Annie Ross continues her long-running engagement every Tuesday at 9:30pm with her stellar band featuring the incomparableWarren Vaché on trumpet. (Cover $25)
 
Critics darling Judith Owen celebrates the release of her new album "Mopping Up Karma."  The Scottish-born folk-rock tunesmith, whose notable collaborators include Harry Shearer (her husband) and Richard Thompson, was going to debut with  "Mopping Up Karma" some 10 years ago, until a20management shakeup at Capitol derailed the project.  Owen's fans are thrilled she's gotten the tracks back on track for an independent release. Friday & Saturday September 26, 27 both at 7:30pm ($15 cover)
 
Neile Adams (who appeared on Broadway in "Kismet" and The Pajama Game") visits us from Los Angeles in "Something Cool," in which she dishes on her early days in New York when she was courted by McQueen (as in Steve), her late first husband. Wednesday thru Saturday October 1, 2, 3, 4, all at 7:30p, except October 1 at 7pm (Cover $20)
 
Gay Marshall ("A Chorus Line" on Broadway, "Jacques Brel..." Off-Broadway) has concocted a whole new Edith Piaf show tied to a new CD she's putting out in the fall.  Unlike Yvonne Constant's more continental take on Piaf (also playing the room this month), Marshall's Piaf is raffish and rascally and a different shade of dark.  Three consecutive Saturdays October 4, 11, 18, all at 9:45pm.  (Cover $20)
 
Rakish raconteur and captivating crooner Euan Morton brings us a new show, "Stranger in a Strange Land."  The critically acclaimed, Scottish-born actor-singer, who exploded on the scene here with his Olivier and Tony-nominated turn at Boy George in "Taboo," has a deeply devoted following drawn from New York's downtown smart set, and, interestingly, from uptown as well.   Three consecutive Sundays October 5, 12, 19, all at 9:30pm (Cover $30)
 
The award-winning singer-composer-lyricist Tim DiPasqua previews his newly created theatre revue, "Notes on New York," a 90-minute song cycle.  With Tim at the piano and a cast of 5... filled with observations, stories and epiphanies about life in New York in the tradition of Walt Whitman, Irving Berlin and Billy Crystal.  Four consecutive Mondays October 6, 13, 20, 27, all at 7pm (Cover $25)
 
Television child star Jill Whelan (ABC's The Love Boat) who is now a well-known radio talk personality in Philadelphia, comes ashore in "Jill Whelan - An Evening In Dry Dock," her unvarnished appraisal of her sea-worthiness as a performer.  Three consecutive Mondays October 6, 13, 20, all at 9:45pm (Cover $15)
 
Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch have dreamed up a terrific new vehicle - "Dreaming of a Song - The Music of Hoagy Carmichael."  This tandem bike of a show, featuring two of New York's most well-liked and likable entertainers, mines the Carmichael catalogue and unearths lesser-known gems as well as many of his beloved treasures.  Performs 7 times: Tuesday October 14 at 7pm; Wednesday thru Friday October 15, 16, 17, all at 9:45pm; Wednesday November 19 at 7:30pm; Thursday & Friday November 20 and 21, bo th at 9:45pm. (Cover $30)
 
What could be better? "Jeff Harnar Sings Cole Porter."  Direct from its sold-out London run, which the London Times awarded 4 stars.  The two-time MAC Award-winner is joined by music director Alex Rybeck.  His remarkable string of highly acclaimed theme shows celebrating the leading lights of the American popular songbook just grows longer.  7 performances over two weeks: Wednesday thru Friday October 15, 16, 17; Thursday thru Sunday October 23, 24, 25, 26, all at 7:30pm, except October 26 at 7pm.  (Cover $25)
 
The sultry French chanteuse and Tony winner Yvonne Constant's salute to the men in Edith Piaf's life continues in October.  Sunday October 19 at 7pm and Thursday October 23, at 9:45pm. (Cover $25)
 
The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd S treet, New York's most talked-about intimate concert venue, celebrated its second anniversary in May 2008.  There is a two-drink minimum per person for all shows.  For reservations call 212/206-0440. For information visit www.metropolitanroom.com.