Gilbert 13-year-old calls the shots, choreographs entire musical in Scottsdale

Maddie-Sue Miller’s aspirations are as vast and impressive as her catalog of performances.

The young performer began dancing at the age of 2 and took on acting after turning 5. The now 13-year-old and Gilbert resident estimates she’s performed in about 30 plays over the eight years she’s taken the stage, including works such as Annie, Matilda the Musical and The Wizard of Oz.

But as 2022 began to close, Miller found herself in a different kind of role — the lead choreographer for a musical.

Miller was initially the dance captain for the musical rendition of “A Christmas Story” based on the 1983 film of the same name. Miller explained that a dance captain normally assists the choreographer, explaining moves to the actors and offering clarifications to those with questions.

Having spent most of her young life practicing dance, Miller had the skill and experience to support a choreographer in achieving their vision — but didn’t expect to be asked to share her own instead.

But when Walt and Ellen Versen of Scottsdale’s Desert Stages Theatre asked Miller about being A Christmas Story’s choreographer, the teen actress couldn’t wait to expand her repertoire.

“I was over-the-moon excited,” Miller said. “I just couldn’t wait to get started and then after I did I just loved it.”

Miller said she came up with dance routines from scratch, finding styles and tempos that matched the holiday-themed play. Her friends at school could hardly believe she choreographed an entire show.

“I was like, ‘somehow, yes!’” Miller said.

From dance captain to lead choreographer

Working with actors as young as 5 presented a challenge as they had varying levels of dance experience, but Miller said she was extremely proud of them and their hard work. Miller herself had to memorize her dances as well, as she was also a member of the play’s 12-member ensemble.

She also credited director Dan Ashlock and music director Kent Campbell for supporting her as she came up with dances for the play. Miller recorded videos and reperformed dance steps at slower paces as the cast gradually etched the routines into their memory.

Ashlock himself said the idea of working with a 13-year-old choreographer seemed daunting at first. The director had worked with choreographers who were 19 or 20 years old, but never someone as young as Miller. Those reservations ebbed away once the two had their first rehearsal session.

"She really is mature beyond her years," Ashlock said. "She is one of those special young people that really can juggle a lot of different things and give 110% to all of them and make everyone in her world smile and be happy."

The two collaborated on a dance routine that involved tap and made adjustments to where the actors, the most skilled at the type of dance, performed the whole routine while those less experienced performed parts of the dance before exiting the stage.

He recalled Miller exuding patience as various actors learned their dances, never losing her cool or showing exasperation. Instead, she remained positive as she offered suggestions and adjustments.

"That's a special talent that many adults don't have," Ashlock said. "It was so fun to watch her blossom as a choreographer."

Making it to Julliard remains a dream

With dance and voice lessons sandwiched between play rehearsals, Miller’s life breathes performance art with hopes of making it her professional career.

Miller said she hopes to study at The Julliard School and ultimately perform before audiences on Broadway. Her fiery passion for the popular — and extremely competitive — field has so far snuffed out the notion of following a career outside of acting.

“I know it would be so difficult not to do theater, honestly,” Miller said.

Miller is already working on her next play, The Drowsy Chaperone, in which she is the dance captain and a featured dancer. The play runs at the Desert Stages Theatre from Feb. 3-12.

No matter what future roles she does or doesn’t get, Miller said plans to continue dancing, singing and improving her overall abilities as a performer to enrapture audiences.

“I’m just going to keep working until I can reach my goal,” Miller said.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gilbert 13-year-old calls the shots, choreographs entire musical