Ray Shell, who originated the role of Rusty, the steam locomotive who becomes the unlikely winner of a train race in the 1984 London production of the musical Starlight Express, returns to New York City with his cabaret show Ray Shell: Phoenix, for a single performance January 22 at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre.

Shell has enjoyed a long career in West End shows, including Five Guys Named Moe, Blues in the Night, The Bodyguard, Golden Boy, and The Lion King. He was raised in Brooklyn and performed Off-Broadway in shows by Marc Shaiman (Dementos), and Tom Eyen & Henry Krieger (The Dirtiest Musical) before pursuing a career in London starting in 1978.

Ray Shell: Phoenix retraces the ups and downs of his musical journey, which began with American touring companies of Hair and The Me Nobody Knows, and has continued through collaborations with Whitney Houston, the Police, and Nona Hendryx, and vocal coaching the likes of Grace Jones, Sia, Jamiroquai, and contestants on TV’s The Voice (BBC) and X-Factor, in addition to his one-man show, Back to Black. He dipped his toe back in the New York City waters in summer 2017, appearing in a concert performance of the score to the musical Inner City at Feinstein’s/54 Below.

Shell will be accompanied at Joe‘s Pub on vocals by Street Angels NYC (Cathy Porter and Amille Harris).

Tickets for the 7:30 PM concert cost $20 and can be ordered here. Joe’s Pub is located inside the Public Theater complex at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.

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