Beginning Aug. 26 and running through Sept. 7, Blackhurst will entertain the San Francisco crowds with Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman. Blackhurst will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM at the famed cabaret where will be accompanied by Michael Rice on piano and The Pocket Change Trio. About her show and the famed Broadway star, Klea Blackhurst said in a statement, "Ethel Merman embodies the music, the legend, and the style I was practically weaned on — and that I long to express as a performer. Once I was old enough to realize the full impact of Merman's talents on the Broadway stage, I kept her close to my heart and championed everything about her . . . [including] her ability to deliver lyrics with beautiful phrasing, stunning style, and a wicked sense of comedy. She was dazzling and gutsy, raising the bar to a new level for actresses and songwriters alike. [And it's] critical to remember not just what she looked like or sounded like, but what she inspired in those who were propelling theater and music forward at the time."

Ethel Merman, of course, was the original star of such Broadway musicals as Call Me Madam, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes and Gypsy. Blackhurst's show features tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Jerry Herman.

The Plush Room is located within The York Hotel at 940 Sutter Street. There is a $25 cover charge as well as a two-drink minimum; call (415) 885-2800 for reservations.