Arlene Wolff to Jolt The Met Room to Life with CHANGES... A NEW SHOW This Winter

She is not to be missed. Arlene Wolff who took an over-50-year break from a promising showbusiness career to go into politics and business, has returned to dazzle audiences with a hunger to entertain that has only increased with time.

She performs again at The Metropolitan Room on Wednesday November 30 at 7pm. She has other dates in the New Year - January 10 and 21 -- but we suggest that catching her in 2016 will be a boon for the spirits. Her music director is the gallant Ian Herman, who leads a kicking quartet.

A special assistant to Mayor Abe Beame, and then a deputy commissioner, she was a breath of fresh air at a time when New York's fortunes were crumbling and Washington was against us. An organizer of the City's widely admired 1976 Bicentennial Celebration and the historic Tall Ships regatta called Operation Sail, the glamorous and gregarious Arlene also came up with other morale and business boosters such the Ninth Avenue Street Fair, one of the City's first large-scale weekend street fairs.

After her career in politics, she continued to work as a political organizer, hostess and entrepreneur, eventually marrying former Midtown South chief Mickey Schwartz, who suddenly finds himself chaperoning his sultry nightclub singer-wife of a very unknown age. Until recently the couple led a quiet, bucolic life in the country raising sheep. Now they are excitedly managing all the fun Arlene is kicking up for her come-back-to-beat-all-come-backs.

As Arlene tells it, she would have continued as a nightclub singer (in her early 20's her star was rising), but a promise to her father to stop at 25 if she wasn't famous, cut short her promising career.

With her beautifully intact voice; multi-story range; inate jazz chops; youthful, sex-kittenish way with lyrics, and depth of expression that feels as well-traveled as it is generous, Arlene's command and enjoyment of the stage is irresistible. Her rare musical gift would be stunning at any age... but at this age (whatever it is!) it is truly confounding!

Arlene Wolff performs "Changes... A New Show" on Wednesday November 30; Tuesday January 10; and Saturday January 21, all at 7pm. There is a $25 music charge and a two-drink minimum. For reservations call 212/206-0440 or to pre-pay online visit www.metropolitanroom.com.

The Nightlife, MAC and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, celebrated its 10th anniversary in May.

To post a comment, you must register and login.