Plush Velvet Sometimes....

I just found out yesterday that Ann Miller shares my Birthday. Some of you may be thinking, "Yeah, so what?", while others are saying, "Who's Ann Miller?". Well, to both of you I have only one thing to say, "Shame on you both."

Ann Miller was a contract performer for Columbia Pictures, where she was featured in such movies as, Kiss Me Kate and On The Town. She was famous for being the fastest tap dancer in the world. Reportedly being able to tap 500 times per minute.

Later, she starred on Broadway in a comedy burlesque review with Mickey Rooney entitled, Sugar Babies; and in the much acclaimed Paper Mill Playhouse revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, where she belted out the show stopping, "I'm Still Here".

Throughout her life she was outlandish and kitschy and just plain awesome. To me she represents the glamorous "Studio Years" better than anyone. Sadly, she died in 2004 from Cancer.

I am proud to share my brithday with her. And though I missed it this year, on April 12, 2007 I'm going to sing "Happy Birthday" to Ann Miller, I don't care how insane I may seem.