After a spate of theatre work two seasons ago, including Triumph of Love and Off-Broadway's The Eros Trilogy, Betty Buckley has spent recent months back in the cabaret and concert field. She's performed at numerous benefits, as well as doing a winter stint at Manhattan's Cafe Carlyle.

Now she returns to a venue closer to her rock-pop side than her musical theatre and standards side. Buckley will play two shows at downtown, NYC's The Bottom Line, Dec. 29. Though the Greenwich Village institution is as likely to host acts such as The Roches, Robyn Hitchcock and Buster Poindexter as it is Sam Harris and Darlene Love, Buckley is sure to mix both her theatre repertoire and contemporary tunes for the gig.

Buckley's most recent CD, "Heart to Heart" (released March 28), features features "Just the Way You Look Tonight," "How Deep Is the Ocean," "Ruby," "I Am a Town" (by Mary Chapin Carpenter), "Fire and Rain" (by James Taylor), "If I Remember You Right" and "Violets." The last two songs are by Buckley herself.

At the Bottom Line, according to the New York Times, Buckley will be accompanied by a quintet, featuring accompanist Kenny Werner.

Buckley's musical credits include Cats, Carrie, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Sunset Boulevard and the aforementioned musical-comedy, Triumph of Love. Her most recent New York stage appearance was in Nicky Silver's The Eros Trilogy at the Vineyard Theatre. Call (212) 570-7189 for more information.

- By David Lefkowitz
and Robert Simonson