| Boop! | |
| Subtitle: | The Musical |
| Music: | David Foster |
| Lyrics: | Susan Birkenhead |
| Premiere Date: | November 19, 2023 |
| Premiere Location: | CIBC Theatre, Chicago |
| Productions: | 2023 Chicago 2025 Broadway |
Boop! The Musical is a 2023 musical based on the animated character Betty Boop, with music by David Foster, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and a book by Bob Martin.[1] Betty leaves the black-and-white world and finds adventures in present-day New York City.
The musical's original run in Chicago began with previews on November 19 and closed on December 24, 2023, with Jasmine Amy Rogers starring in the title role.[2] Boop! is expected to play on Broadway, with performances at the Broadhurst Theatre beginning on March 11, 2025, and an official opening on April 5.
Act One
In the animated black-and-white cartoon world, the star of "ToonTown", Betty Boop, performs one of her shorts ("A Little Versatility"). After the performance has wrapped, an interviewer asks Betty a question that makes her think of everything. “Who is the real Betty Boop?” Betty replies with, “Whoever you want me to be!” At Betty’s house, Grampy is cooking dinner in one of his great inventions. Betty spots one of Grampy's inventions, which happens to be a teleporter to the “Real World” Betty wishes to go, but Grampy refuses. After Grampy falls asleep, Betty wishes for a world where no one would recognize her. (Ordinary Day) Betty then uses Grampy's invention and ends up at New York City Comic Con. She meets Dwayne for the first time, commenting on his bright blue eyes. Betty, confused by all the colors, starts to learn. (In Color) She meets Trisha, A Betty Boop superfan all dressed in Betty’s face. Betty is confused because she thought that no one would know her, when in fact she's as famous here as at her home. Betty takes on the name “Betsy Crampwhiler” so no one would know it's her. Back in ToonTown, Grampy discovers Betty is nowhere to be found and has taken his invention. He laments about what will happen to Toontown without Betty’s presence. (Get Her Back!) Grampy and Pudgy take the invention to the real world to find Betty. Now at Trisha's house, Betty reunites with Dwayne, who lives with Trisha. Betty reveals she is a “jazz singer” and Dwayne sings about how he “speaks in jazz.” (I Speak Jazz) We then meet Raymond Demarest, who is running for mayor of New York with his slogan, “You can DoDo it!” Now in Trisha's room, Betty questions why she likes Betty so much, Trisha laments about how she wishes she could be as confident as Betty. (Portrait Of Betty) Betty then reveals she is the real Betty Boop and not Betsy. Now taking place as half ToonTown, half New York, The Director, Assistant Director, and Dwayne lament about how Betty (In Dwayne's case “Betsy”) is the sunlight in their life. (Sunlight)Betty and Trisha meet up with Dwayne at the steps of Times Square while Dwayne shares his life in New York. (My New York) Grampy reunites with Valentina, a NASA scientist who had an affair with Grampy. Grampy, who has the “Love Sneeze” refuses to believe he still loves her, while Valentina laments “There is no cure for love.” (A Cure for Love) At Nelly's place, a club where Dwayne wishes to perform at, invites Betty to sing onstage. Betty shocks everyone with how much she sounds, and looks like Betty Boop! Resulting in them chanting “Thats Betty Boop!” Betty laments about how she is right where she wants to be! (Where I Wanna Be!)
Act Two
The cat has broken out of the bag that Betty Boop is alive and in New York! Betty wishes she kept more to herself. The people in Toontown hope she will come back to them. (She’s Here/She’s Gone) Raymond uses Betty as his “campaign manager” but refuses to let Betty speak. (Win with Betty) At Nelly’s club, Dwayne laments how he loves Betty so much but she's not a real person. (She Knocks Me Out) Trisha, thinks she is not good enough and that she has to dress up as Boop to feel confident. Betty tells her she doesn't have to be Betty to be confident and that Trisha is her hero. (My Hero) At Valentina's apartment, Grampy and Valentina lament about how they are meant for each other. (Together You and Me) At Raymond's office, Raymond hits on Betty and tries to take advantage of her when she hits him in the face with a lamp. (Take it to the Next Level) Betty realizing what a jerk Raymond is, declares that Cheryl, Raymond's campaign manager and Trisha's foster mom should run for mayor. Cheryl agrees. (The Campaign) Dwayne and Betty sing a duet about how you shouldn't think and wish for the future, that you should focus on the present. Betty starts to fall in love. (Why Look Around The Corner) Suddenly, Grampy bursts in and declares they must go back to Toontown or else it will disappear without Betty. Betty while traveling laments about how she has nothing to amuse her anymore. She almost knew what she wanted but it's gone now. (Something To Shout About) Back in Toontown, Betty declares she is done with running away from men. Grampy, Valentina, Trisha, and Dwayne appear in Toontown because Valentina figured out a way to travel to both dimensions safely. Dwayne and Betty share a kiss and the world starts to turn to color. (Color Of Love) -WRITTEN BY ALLIE
The idea for a Betty Boop musical first arose in 2004.[3]
The Chicago production was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. It featured set designs by David Rockwell, costumes by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Philip S. Rosenberg, sound by Gareth Owen, and projections by Finn Ross. The show's musical arrangements were by Daryl Waters.
The show expects to begin previews at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre on March 11 and to open on April 5, 2025; Mitchell will again direct and choreograph, with the Chicago creative team on board.[4]
| 2023 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Betty Boop | Jasmine Amy Rogers | |
| Valentina | Faith Prince | |
| Dwayne | Ainsley Melham | |
| Raymond | Erich Bergen | |
| Grampy | ||
| Trisha | Angelica Hale | |
| Carol | Anastacia McCleskey |
Reviews for the Chicago production praised the show's music, choreography, and cast, Rogers in particular, but thought the story and characters needed additional development.[5] [6] [7]