TAPS, TINSEL, AND TENACITY:
KAYLA BOYE DAZZLES AS ANN MILLER

Kayla Boye is a powerhouse performer whose ability to step inside the soul of her characters will astound you, beginning from her intimately revealing portrayal of legendary Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor at Fringe 2022 to her current tour-de-force performance as Hollywood Golden Age and Broadway dancing icon Ann Miller in Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story.

At the Hudson Theatre Guild, we are on a soundstage at the 1970 MGM studio auction which contains items from her movie career. Kayla perfectly describes each item while showing scenes from the movies in which she appeared, as well as sharing her feelings working with the stars who received top billing in each one.

I love Kayla’s enthusiastic tap dancing and her recounting of so many stories about how Ann, starting at age 14, met and danced her way through RKO Studios, MGM, and then took Broadway by storm. I hope this show wins top Fringe honors this year.

Kayla’s extraordinary ability to completely embody the heart, soul and tap-dancing feet of Ann Miller is a joy to behold. She kept my rapt attention from start to finish sharing such interesting stories, including how Ann helped invent panty hose, as she recalls memories of performing “Shaking the Blues Away,” “Hallelujah,” “On The Town,” “Too Darn Hot,” and “On the Sunny Side of the Street” as an auctioneer (Frank Ferrante) calls for bids on iconic items such as Judy Garland’s red shoes and Clark Gable’s trench coat.

The terrific choreographer Tammy Mader, who also portrays Debbie Reynolds in voice-overs, and director Michael Weber keep Kayla moving around the stage, pulling personal items, costume pieces, or sitting in a tall director’s chair like the diva Ann Miller was.

Kayla very wisely designs her costume to emphasize her glorious legs and to add inches to her height to mimic Ann’s 5’7″ frame. She has been studying tap since she was very young, and she expertly mimics Ann’s high-kicking and fast tapping style.

Shake It Away is perfect just the way it is. Don’t miss it anytime she brings her amazing solo shows to your town.

photos by Heather Stumpf

The Ann Miller Story: Shake It Away
played June 10-15, 2025, at the Hollywood Fringe Festival
plays July 15-19 @ 59E59 Theaters in New York City
August 1-9 @ The Space at Surgeons’ Hall at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
for more info, visit Kayla Boye and Shake It Away Play