BIOGRAPHY
Shelly has taken every artistic opportunity to become her own brand of entertainment.
As an opera singer she's an award winning, B.M and M.M Juilliard graduate, a Metropolitan Opera outreach Artist and world premiere music collaborator specializing in improvisation.
For 6 years and about 600 shows, Shelly starred with Company XIV as Madame Drosselmeyer in Nutcracker Rouge and artistic contributor and emcee for numerous other productions
An impressive display of improvisational skills,
patter and vocal virtuosity provides her the ability to enthrall an audience of 80 or 8,000. Creating moods and memories has made her a highly sought after event host.
She's been honored to have hosted/ performed/produced shows at/for Mesa Arts Center, Vacaya Vacations, B.B.Kings, Blue Note, Birdland, Joe's Pub, Metropolitan Room, Duane Park, CBGB's, Windows on the World, The Standard, Kraine Theater, Fox Theater, Public Theater, Capitale, Grand Prospect Hall, Highline Ballroom, Soho House, Slipper Room, Le Poisson Rouge, Webster Hall, Cutting Room, Cipriani, and many more.
As a comedian, she was a regular at Caroline's Comedy Club, Comedy Cellar, N.Y Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy, UCB and Stand Up New York and was voted one of Z100s' Funniest Females. Her nationally syndicated radio segment
"Hip Hopera" (operatic arrangements of rap songs) ran 13 seasons on Power 105. Her opening on the MTV 2001 VMA's with Jaime Foxx featuring her Hip Hopera has been voted one of the top 10 best moments in the VMA's every year since its debut.
Shelly is also well versed in traditional theater and has worked with both The Actor's Studio and The New Dramatists in NYC. She's directed one opera, two plays and numerous scenes, solo shows and one offs around the tri-state area.
Teaching and coaching are very important to Shelly. In addition to her private studio she offers Masterclasses in performance, vocal technique, interpretation, improvisation and directing and recently had a residency at University of Texas El Paso (UTEP).
Latest performances were directing, stage/costume/set designing the premiere of David Cheskys' opera La Farranucci, as guest artist and collaborator with the Northwest Bach Fest in Spokane, WA, as guest artist at Mesa Arts Center, AZ, as guest artist for El Paso Pro Musica, TX and as emcee and performer at the NY Burlesque Festival.
VOCALIST EMCEE PRODUCER DIRECTOR WRITER
COMEDIAN COSTUME DESIGNER SET DESIGNER
CHOREOGRAPHER TEACHER COACH MENTOR
WEDDING OFFICIANT