BOOP! Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 12:00am

Broadway’s getting something to shout about.

Following an encouragingly reviewed run last winter in Chicago, BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical begins previews tomorrow (March 11) at the Broadhurst Theatre. In her Broadway debut, Jasmine Amy Rogers takes on the iconic and versatile cartoon flapper; the rest of the principal cast features Faith Prince, Ainsley Melham, Erich Bergen, Stephen DeRosa, Anastacia McCleskey, Angelica Hale, Philip Huber, and Aubie Merrylees. A $26 million family-friendly spectacle, BOOP! features music by David Foster, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, a book by Bob Martin, and direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Opening night is April 5.

“Betty Boop longs for an ordinary day off from fame in her black-and-white world. What she finds is an extraordinary adventure of color, music, and love in New York City!”

Who’s heading over for a dose of pure joy?

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 1:51am

Something that really excites me about this show is that it seems to be leaning into family-friendly attitudes and broad appeal. Whether the marquee that reads "Family friendliest, tap danciest ... [show on Broadway]" to this new area of their website (boopthemusical.com/kids) specifically aimed at introducing younger audiences to the show and how to enjoy it appropriately, I didn't realize that was an audience they were trying to draw lots of interest from.

I didn't see the show in Chicago but even if it isn't a tenfold project book/music wise, I am sure it will be a total blast for most casual theatregoers and I believe that is a massive win for everyone in the industry at the end of the day. I didn't grow up knowing who/what Betty Boop is but it will be great to have a new large splashy musical for young audiences that can try and compete a bit with the Disney offerings and introduce people to some new IP.

[binau]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 3:34am

I would love to see the show if I could! Can we please let the show actually start performances before the vultures appear. 

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 6:16am

binau said: "I would love to see the show if I could! Can we please let the show actually start performances before the vultures appear."

I will keep an open mind this week when. I go, but Chicago was really weak and childish if not forgettable . 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 9:55am

In addition to a $49 digital lottery, the musical will offer a $45 digital rush, $40 in-person rush, and a $30 under 30 rush. 

[Ensemble1665759202]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 10:20am

I'm going to the first preview tomorrow night! Extremely excited to experience this spectacle again and particularly to see this cast do their thing. I'm curious to see if they made any changes from Chicago - I didn't feel like any major changes were needed besides maybe Act 2 flowing a little better, so we'll see what they've done (so far). I love previews but will withhold too much judgment until seeing it post-opening.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 10:22am

Glad you saw it in Chicago, can't wait to hear your thoughts.

[George in DC]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 11:13am

I too am looking forward to hearing the thoughts of people seeing this. I saw it in Chicago and while I really wanted to love it, I did not. I thought the first part of the show was brilliant. But I seriously felt let down when basically the show turned into  another version of "Enchanted" I also felt like Stephen DeRosa and Faith Prince, both of whom I love, were completely underutilized. Meanwhile I didn't like the daughter character or her music. If this was a movie at home I would have fast forwarded through any time she came on stage.  In the end, I thought they had what could become a pretty good musical, but it needed a lot of work. I sincerely hope they did that.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 11:37am

I loved this in Chicago a few times - just a really fun show with great music, dancing and light-hearted comedy. I was super impressed with Jasmine Amy Rogers and Ainsley Melham. The biggest fix it needed was expanding and integrating DeRosa and Prince’s characters. Looking forward to seeing the changes in a few weeks. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 2:19pm

 

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 2:42pm

saw this in Chicago and can't wait to see it again. wished i could have snagged a cheap ticket to first preview tomorrow, but i drug my feet a little too long.

that recording is great - Jasmine is incredible. her diction is so delicious, and i'm obsessed with the vocal acting we're getting from her in the studio - the gasps and giggles. a genuine star. love the two songs we've heard from the album so far. can't wait for more!!

Updated On: 3/10/25 at 02:42 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 3:33pm

Looks like we've got a 15-piece orchestra for this one, conducted by Rick Fox. Orchestrations are by Doug Besterman. 

• 2 Keyboards
• 4 Reeds
• French Horn
• 2 Trumpets
• 2 Trombones
• Drums
• Acoustic and Electric Bass
• Violin
• Cello

[Ensemble1665759202]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 4:21pm

KevinKlawitter said: "

Regardless of whether you're into the show, it's kinda cool literally seeing a Broadway star be born right in front of our eyes.

"

 

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 7:20pm

Seemed like a good crowd for what must be the invited dress outside tonight. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/10/25 at 11:24pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Looks like we've got a 15-piece orchestra for this one, conducted by Rick Fox. Orchestrations are by Doug Besterman."

The out of town had 18 players, iirc. Unusual - but not unheard of - to scale back the orchestra for Broadway.

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 10:20am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Looks like we've got a 15-piece orchestra for this one, conducted by Rick Fox. Orchestrations are by Doug Besterman."

The out of town had 18 players, iirc.Unusual - but not unheard of - to scale back the orchestra for Broadway."

Given the ticket sales, we will see a lot  being scaled back post reviews      

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 10:32am

Is this a joke? I've tried to ignore this person but the last comment has really pushed this into absurdity. Has this been a dumb joke the whole time? 

Who has this kind of. time on their hands?

[Ensemble1665759202]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 10:38am

KJisgroovy said: "Is this a joke? I've tried to ignore this person but the last comment has really pushed this into absurdity. Has this been a dumb joke the whole time?

Who has this kind of. time on their hands?"

It's kinda crazy. Before I blocked them I would be in posts about OTHER MUSICALS and they would be like "this is great, unlike Boop" 😂 it's clearly a personal axe to grind like I've never seen in this forum before and I have no idea why the moderators are allowing this person to spam every single thread about one thing and ruin all discussions.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 10:56am

The producer is really leaning into this being a "family-friendly" musical in the advertising and with this page on the show's website.

https://boopthemusical.com/kids

Is this actually a show geared towards children?

[Ensemble1665759202]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 11:10am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "The produceris really leaning into this being a "family-friendly" musical in the advertising and with this page on the show's website.

https://boopthemusical.com/kids

Is this actually a show geared towards children?"

It 100% was in Chicago. The group I went with took some kids, and they had a blast - some jokes went straight over the kids' heads and were a nod and a wink to the adults, but it definitely falls squarely in the family-friendly category.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 11:12am

As of now, there appears to be a new second-act opener and a different duet for Prince and DeRosa later in the act. 

Website says 2:30 runtime, including intermission.

Updated On: 3/11/25 at 11:12 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 11:25am

EDSOSLO858 said: "As of now, there appears to be a new second-act opener and a different duet for Prince and DeRosa later in the act."

The Prince/DeRosa portion seemed to receive the weakest response out of town, right?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 11:27am

Correct. Most of the music is quite good. I loved the duet with Boop and the daughter. 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 11:35am

mrshowbiz90210 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Looks like we've got a 15-piece orchestra for this one, conducted by Rick Fox. Orchestrations are by Doug Besterman."

The out of town had 18 players, iirc.Unusual - but not unheard of - to scale back the orchestra for Broadway."

Given the ticket sales, we will see a lot being scaled back post reviews "

Please get a life.

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 11:57am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "As of now, there appears to be a new second-act opener and a different duet for Prince and DeRosa later in the act."

The Prince/DeRosa portion seemed to receive the weakest response out of town, right?"

Absolutely.  And this is the material that I heard was being reworked but never made it into Chicago performances.

I thought Boop! was fine, but most importantly I thought it improved immensely during their out-of-town run.  I continue to have hope that it has gotten even better, and I hope that other shows take note and actually use their tryouts to try out new material before moving to Broadway.