Bebe Neuwirth brings a lot of character to Proctors

[...] she admits to being shy and socially awkward — the mingle-and-chat of cocktail parties makes her anxious — and so playing characters allows her to hide, in a manner, as she reveals herself through characters.

Me!' show that isn't narcissistic, she says, citing the musical-theater legends Elaine Stritch, Leslie Uggams and Patti LuPone.

The cabaret act, performed by Neuwirth with collaborator-pianist Scott Cady, has an emotional arc but no intended narrative through-line, at least from the singer's perspective.

Reviewing the Manhattan run of "Stories with Piano" last fall, however, Stephen Holden of The New York Times identified a strong theme: "Her show ... might as well be called 'Tough Love,' " Holden wrote.

Neuwirth, who didn't read the rave review but has heard it characterized, says, "That's true, to a point, but I don't think it suggests the vulnerability of the songs, the stories."

Over about 90 minutes she performs almost 20 songs, including Kander and Ebb's "But the World Goes 'Round," made famous by Liza Minnelli, the Weill-Brecht tunes "Surabaya Johnny" and "The Bilbao Song," the classic "Mr. Bojangles" and "Shiver Me Timbers," by Tom Waits.

A native of New Jersey who turned 53 on Dec. 31, Neuwirth began her career as Sheila in "A Chorus Line" in 1980 and later played Benita in "West Side Story" and Nickie in "Sweet Charity," a role for which she won a Tony Award.

After being associated with tough, brazenly sexual female characters, she says, she was startled to be offered the part of the prim, ice-blooded Lilith on "Cheers."