Singer-actress Karen Akers, whose voice has been described as "silver bells wrapped in velvet," returns to the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel on April 30 for a month-long gig ending May 25.

Akers, who recently received the 2002 Board of Directors Award from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, has titled her new cabaret act, "When Love Speaks to You." Featuring musical direction and arrangements by Don Rebic, Akers' show will include songs from The Fantasticks ("They Were You" and "Try To Remember") as well as works by Harold Arlen ("As Long As I Live"), Rodgers and Hart ("Queen Elizabeth") and Stephen Sondheim ("Ah, But Underneath"). A longtime aficionado of the French chanson, Akers will also include tunes by Edith Piaf ("Padam Padam") and Jacquel Brel ("Marieke" and "If We Only Have Love").

Akers received a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut as Luisa Contini in the Tommy Tune production of Nine and returned to Broadway in another Tune musical, Grand Hotel. It's been the concert/cabaret stage, however, where Akers has garnered the most acclaim, performing in choice venues throughout the United States and Europe. Her seven solo recordings — including her most recent, "Feels Like Home" — are available on CD.

The Algonquin Hotel is located in New York City at 59 West 44th Street, and show times are 9 PM Tuesday through Thursday evenings and 9 and 11:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a $50 cover charge and a $15 food/drink minimum. Reservations can be made by calling (212) 419 9331.

—By Andrew Gans