Shuffle Along: Broadway At Its Jazziest!

Fun Fact: “I’m Just Wild About Harry”, a hit song from the original 1921 production of Shuffle Along became the song and slogan for then democratic presidential contender Harry S. Truman.

Best Bits: Billy Porter’s performance of “Low Down Blues” is equally heartbreaking as it is breathtaking. He delivers a punch of gospel soul and successfully conveys the struggles of being an artist. The applause from that number lasted a bit longer than I think any of us anticipated.

Boring Bits: The forward momentum doesn’t quite carry through Act 2. While still enjoyable, it lacked the zest that had me standing on my feet before intermission.

Standout Actor: You know the answer to this. Audra McDonald is a Broadway legend for a reason. This woman can do anything and she is mesmerizing to watch. I’ve never really seen her in a comedic role but her timing and delivery is just another reason why she’s a star.

Morning After Effect: I wonder if Savion Glover teaches adult tap lessons in NYC. I really want to learn how to tap dance now.

For me, the show started long before the lights went down. Hearing the dancers warm up their tap shoes behind the curtain created a giddy anticipation for what would come next. Without knowing it, the audience was already being thrown into the backstage world of the show. Shuffle Along, or it’s more appropriate subtitle, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed is exactly the comical and inspiring series of events that you’d think it would be. The musical follows comedians F.E. Miller & Aubrey Lyles and songsters Noble Sissle & Eubie Blake as they team up to bring the first musical written, produced, and performed entirely by African Americans to the Broadway stage. With the help of vocal diva Lottie Gee, played by the Broadway unicorn that is Audra McDonald, Shuffle Along rises to Broadway history. But what happens after your dreams come true?

Tony Award winning choreographer Savion Glover certainly showcases his beautiful artistry in this show. The tap dancing is like another character. Thunderous stomping executes anger and excitement. Slides and light rhythms building tension to the scenes. There’s even a number showing the company traveling by rail from city to city. The montage making it impossible to not to yell out random cheers while watching them all tear up the floor with fervent precision. It’s the heart of the show and what makes Shuffle Along a true Broadway spectacle.

What I found most interesting about this musical is that it is steeped in history. The original Shuffle Along saw it’s share of legends during it’s 500+ run on Broadway. Josephine Baker joined the company when she was 16. Adelaide Hall went on to record with Duke Ellington. Florence Mills, Hall Johnson, Gertrude Saunders… so many gave there talent to this show and went on to make names for themselves after. Stories of George Gershwin and Langston Hughes run through the production. Shuffle Along was even the first show to successfully feature two African Americans falling in love and at the time that just wasn’t a subject that the world was comfortable with. The Jazzy rhythms and dance forms used in the original productions invented the style of musical theater that we see so much today. Like I said, history.

Shuffle Along is a gorgeous snapshot of Broadway nearly 100 years ago. The costumes are colorful and over the top. (Can I have designer Ann Roth dress me on a daily basis, please?) The show is expertly staged, beautifully lit and lets not forget about the band that brings to life sounds of the roaring 20’s. Along with an all- star cast that includes Tony Winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, and breakout star Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along is a refreshing, tap dazzling performance. I would definitely label it as a must see.

Reviewed by Makia Martin

23rd June 2016
Music Box Theatre, New York City
Find me on Twitter: @newyorktheatre

View our show pages for more information about Shuffle Along, Music Box Theater.