BOOP! Previews
BOOP! Previews
#1BOOP! Previews
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?
Well, I’ll be. That bird really did it.
#2BOOP! Previews
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.
#3BOOP! Previews
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.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
mrshowbiz90210
Swing Joined: 12/16/24
#4BOOP! Previews
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 .
#5BOOP! Previews
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.
Well, I’ll be. That bird really did it.
Ensemble1665759202
Understudy Joined: 10/14/22
#6BOOP! Previews
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#7BOOP! Previews
Posted: 3/10/25 at 10:22am
Glad you saw it in Chicago, can't wait to hear your thoughts.
#8BOOP! Previews
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.
#9BOOP! Previews
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/20
#11BOOP! Previews
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!!
#12BOOP! Previews
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
Well, I’ll be. That bird really did it.
Ensemble1665759202
Understudy Joined: 10/14/22
#13BOOP! Previews
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
Leading Actor Joined: 4/13/13
#14BOOP! Previews
Posted: 3/10/25 at 7:20pm
Seemed like a good crowd for what must be the invited dress outside tonight.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#15BOOP! Previews
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
Swing Joined: 12/16/24
#16BOOP! Previews
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
#17BOOP! Previews
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?
Jesus saves. I spend.
Ensemble1665759202
Understudy Joined: 10/14/22
#18BOOP! Previews
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#19BOOP! Previews
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
Understudy Joined: 10/14/22
#20BOOP! Previews
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.
#21BOOP! Previews
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.
Well, I’ll be. That bird really did it.
Updated On: 3/11/25 at 11:12 AM
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#22BOOP! Previews
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#23BOOP! Previews
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#24BOOP! Previews
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.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#25BOOP! Previews
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.
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