“Shake It Away, The Ann Miller Story” reviewed by Frank Meccia

****/****The one-woman show “Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story” is both a loving tribute and an entertaining history lesson about one of Hollywood’s most dazzling performers. For audiences who remember the golden age of movie musicals—and even for those discovering it for the first time—the production offers a lively look at the remarkable life of Ann Miller.

Miller was one of the great triple-threat performers of classic Hollywood, known for her singing, acting, and especially her incredible tap dancing. During her career she shared the screen with legendary stars such as Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Fred Astaire, and Donald O’Connor. Miller was famously said to tap at an astonishing 500 steps per minute, earning her the reputation as one of the fastest tap dancers in Hollywood history.

The show begins with Miller’s early life in Texas. Born to criminal defense lawyer John Collier, she grew up around stories of notorious criminals such as Machine Gun Kelly and Baby Face Nelson. Ironically, it was a childhood illness—Rickets—that led her into dance at the age of five, as doctors recommended it to strengthen her legs. What began as therapy soon turned into a lifelong passion.

After her parents divorced when she was twelve, Miller and her mother moved to California, where the young performer took on small jobs to help support the household. Looking older than her age allowed her to perform in nightclubs such as the famous Bal Tabarin. It was there that a young Lucille Ball discovered her and offered one piece of career-changing advice: learn to lie about your age. Ball then introduced her to executives at RKO Radio Pictures, where Miller claimed she was nineteen and secured a contract that lasted until she actually turned eighteen.

Her career soon blossomed. She appeared on Broadway in Scandals and later signed with Columbia Pictures for a series of films before landing her biggest break at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. During World War II she became one of the military’s most popular pin-up stars after appearing in Yank, the Army Weekly.
In “Shake It Away,” actress Kayla Boye brings Miller vividly to life. The play is set in the 1970s on a back soundstage at MGM during one of the studio’s famous prop and costume auctions. Surrounded by memories of Hollywood’s past, Miller reflects on her extraordinary career—the triumphs, the heartbreaks, her three marriages, and even her rumored relationship with MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer.

Boye not only narrates Miller’s life but also performs songs associated with her career and delivers impressive tap routines that remind audiences why Miller was such a sensation. Along the way she shares personal stories about famous friends such as Judy Garland, Esther Williams, and director Frank Capra. One of the more surprising tidbits mentioned in the show is Miller’s claim that she helped popularize—if not invent—pantyhose, a practical solution for dancers tired of constantly replacing torn stockings.
Directed by Michael Weber, the production cleverly uses the existing set from the current show at Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of The Irish. Only a few additional props and a projection screen displaying auction items are needed to create the atmosphere of an MGM memorabilia sale.

With musical direction by Linda Madonia and choreography by Tammy Mader, the show moves briskly through Miller’s life in just 75 minutes, yet it feels rich with history and nostalgia. Although much of the audience was likely over fifty—those who remember Miller’s films firsthand—younger theatergoers in attendance clearly appreciated the influence she had on both musical theater and women in Hollywood.

“Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story” is a delightful evening of storytelling, music, and tap dancing that celebrates a performer whose talent once lit up the silver screen. Unfortunately, this production was presented for one night only, but if it returns in the future, it is well worth seeing. It is not just a biography—it is a joyful reminder of a glamorous era of Hollywood that still continues to inspire performers today. Thanks to Porchlight Music Theatre for bringing works like this to Chicago!