BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical - Pre-Broadway Chicago- Page 12

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 12/7/23 at 11:40pm

I like how composer David Foster is adjusting the arrangements during the run, with an instrument added or removed from a song - even if it’s a different choice on the electric keys. There is endless joy in Boop’s music.

The Pedicab Entry music has a changed arrangement.

Valentina’s entrance was not in the vehicle. Instead, she walked on tonight. To no entry applause.

The performance was closed captioned, so I made certain to read the ending lyrics of PORTRAIT OF BETTY. Though the start-of-song verses have always been clearly sung by Boop superfan Trisha, I hadn’t realized the “human rights, world affairs” lyric until tonight.

In an opening black and white short, Boop ducked when hearing the animated gunshot.

TV anchor Cheryl King’s first appearance was an empty, no picture screen, but the full audio played.

Excellent recovery of a dropped red hat. It was on stage at the end of SHE KNOCKS ME OUT, then Boop started the rooftop scene by picking up the dropped item.
 

 

 

Updated On: 12/10/23 at 11:40 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/8/23 at 4:15pm

BroadwayGirlie2 said: "Who is handling the marketing and socials for this? They seem to be doing a good job pushing out content and promoting the Chicago run. Clips of the music and choreography are getting a lot of attention and they seem to be generating a great community excited for a transfer.

Other shows with upcoming out of town runs should start implementing similar tactics. In this age of social media, you need to cultivate your audience before an announcement."

 

Michele Groner is a marketing wiz w/ brand-nexus. RPM Advertising in Chi and BONEAU/BRYAN-BROWN for Press. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 12/8/23 at 4:52pm

I'm hearing the Broadway theatre too.

They want a big house. Believe they have a big hit. Maybe Shubert or Imperial will open up faster than some think. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/8/23 at 5:14pm

BETTY22 said: "I'm hearing the Broadway theatre too.

They want a big house. Believe they have a big hit. Maybe Shubert or Imperial will open up faster than some think."

The thing with Boop is that I heard from industry friends 3 months ago in the know that Boop had the Shubert and was bumped for Hell's Kitchen! Not sure how these things work and that Boop was planning for this season. Nobody knows where it's going now or if it's def for this season? At this point, feel they should wait and open in the fall for their show as all attention-eyes is going to be on HK in a crowded season of musicals and Boop will have all around better chances for Tonys especially for Jasmin Rogers as the girl from HK I bet will be the favorite to win along with show! We shall see in the coming weeks what they decide to do and where it lands if it does come in.

Updated On: 12/9/23 at 05:14 PM

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 12/10/23 at 2:28pm

Swing Derek Jordan Taylor played the role of Director at the Sunday, December 10 matinee.

Faith Prince’s entrance has returned to the pedicab.

David Foster was interviewed on WGN radio Sunday morning. He said he had composed about 40 numbers for the production. Half didn’t make it into the Chicago tryout.

Updated On: 12/10/23 at 02:28 PM

[gleek4114]

Posted: 12/10/23 at 9:30pm

Forgive me if this has been asked, but is the merch booth selling window cards?

[Voter]

Posted: 12/10/23 at 10:28pm

gleek4114 said: "Forgive me if this has been asked, but is the merch booth selling window cards?"


I checked if there were a shop link on the shows website but there wasn’t one 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/10/23 at 11:40pm

gleek4114 said: "Forgive me if this has been asked, but is the merch booth selling window cards?"

A merch item list that was posted on Twitter does not list one. 

[Iceberg3]

Posted: 12/10/23 at 11:58pm

BalconyClub said: "Swing Derek Jordan Taylor played the role of Director at the Sunday, December 10 matinee.
 

And it looks like the day before that Asst. Director DB Bonds probably played that same role, not in costume, with script in hand (due to covid)

https://twitter.com/kkassal/status/1733664966266302562

Now that is something you don't see every day!

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 12/11/23 at 6:18pm

BalconyClub said: "Swing Derek Jordan Taylor played the role of Director at the Sunday, December 10 matinee.

Faith Prince’s entrance has returned to the pedicab.

David Foster was interviewed on WGN radio Sunday morning. He said he had composed about 40 numbers for the production. Half didn’t make it into the Chicago tryout."

40 songs is impressive! I always think it must be difficult as a musical songwriter to have to cull songs that you might personally love but unfortunately just don’t fit!

I saw an interview with David on the Boop Chicago opening night red carpet where he said he wrote a new song in 2 days for the musical that they just put in it (which you will probably know what song!) … it was giving some serious Julia and Tom in Smash vibes, lol!

 

 

Updated On: 12/11/23 at 06:18 PM

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/11/23 at 7:08pm

WestEndGal said: "BalconyClub said: "Swing Derek Jordan Taylor played the role of Director at the Sunday, December 10 matinee.

Faith Prince’s entrance has returned to the pedicab.

David Foster was interviewed on WGN radio Sunday morning. He said he had composed about 40 numbers for the production. Half didn’t make it into the Chicago tryout."

40 songs is impressive! I always think it must be difficult as a musical songwriter to have to cull songs that you might personally love but unfortunately just don’t fit!

I saw an interview with David on the Boop Chicago opening night red carpet where he said he wrote a new song in 2 days for the musical that they just put in it (which you will probably know what song!) … it was giving some serious Julia and Tom in Smash, lol!



"

Katharine probably told David to do it. 

 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 12/14/23 at 12:05am

Feels like writer Bob Martin has decided not to add a punchline to Trisha’s observation to Betty that there are 8.5 million residents of New York.

Betty simply responds to the remark with a “Gee Whiz”

In earlier performances, Betty replied with “I’m surprised the city doesn’t sink under the weight of all those shoes.”

Then, for a few performances, Betty’s reply was “That’s a lot of bagels.”

Not every back and forth needs a laugh, and Betty’s simple “Gee Whiz” is fine.

The excellent Aubie Merrylees, who plays the Director character, has returned to the show, yet the track played by Ryah Nixon (which includes the Mascot Ape) was covered by good swing Amy Van Norstrand on Wednesday night.

The swing wore a different novelty costume than what usually appears in the ComicCon scene.

When was “Watch out, Hamilton!” added to the Trashettes exit? Mayoral candidate Raymond Demarest said the short phrase when leaving the stage at the conclusion of WIN WITH BETTY.

Erich Bergen is having a lot of fun playing the candidate putz, especially in his comedic TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Updated On: 12/14/23 at 12:05 AM

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/17/23 at 3:30pm

Jerry Mitchell and David Foster said in a new interview that they're really gonna work on the second act. They were gonna also make some more changes but had to pivot because of Covid cases to rehearsing covers instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip6Hk93VC4s&t=232s

[BETTY22]

Posted: 12/20/23 at 1:03pm

I surprised this isn't selling better in Chicago.

It got solid reviews and word of mouth is good.

Are people no longer familiar with Betty Boop?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/20/23 at 1:21pm

BETTY22 said: "Are people no longer familiar with Betty Boop?"

I think as always it's less about familiarity, more about caring. Marketing needs to answer the question of WHY should people care about a Betty Boop musical, WHY should they go, WHY is it relevant?

I don't know a ton about the Chicago theatre scene, but I feel like this is a bad time of year to preview a show there? Unlike NYC, where there's a ton of tourism between Thanksgiving and New Years.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/20/23 at 7:24pm

These kinds of pre-broadway tryouts don't sell out in Chicago without some sort of star or celebrity connection. It's an 1,800 seat theater for a brand new show with little to no buzz. It doesn't run long enough to really build word of mouth. The reviews came out a few weeks ago and it closes this weekend. The Who's Tommy was a smash at the Goodman... but it's an established property in a 900-seat theater.  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/20/23 at 8:53pm

Agreed. It’s a giant theater. It’s just not established. To that point, Beetlejuice sold so well it’s coming back next summer.  People just don’t really like “new.” 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/20/23 at 9:46pm

RippedMan said: "People just don’t really like “new.”"

Precisely, and Boop is all but DOA when it comes to New York. 

On the bright side, some of these newer musicals would make great Encores revivals around 20-30 years from now! 

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/21/23 at 12:51pm

KJisgroovy said: "These kinds of pre-broadway tryouts don't sell out in Chicago without some sort of star or celebrity connection. It's an 1,800 seat theater for a brand new show with little to no buzz. It doesn't run long enough to really build word of mouth. The reviews came out a few weeks ago and it closes this weekend. The Who's Tommy was a smash at the Goodman... but it's an established property in a 900-seat theater."

Comparatively The Devil Wears Prada sold out for five weeks in a theatre that holds 2100 people. I’ll be curious how Death Become Her sells, because that film is more niche than DWP, but probably more well known than Betty Boop.

 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/21/23 at 12:56pm

Prada tickets were never hard to come by, particularly at the start and end of its run. I'm surprised to hear it "sold out."

[Hey, Zelda!]

Posted: 12/21/23 at 2:22pm

More thoughts on BOOP! from the Chicago Tribune, this time from film critic Michael Phillips. Includes a few thoughts on the character's origins and an interview with Mark Fleischer, the grandson of Max and probable muscle behind the musical.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/21/23 at 10:17pm

KJisgroovy said: "Prada tickets were never hard to come by, particularly at the start and end of its run. I'm surprised to hear it "sold out.""

I just remember there being an article announcing it was the most successful tryout in Broadway in Chicago history. Maybe they were being a little too kind with that phrasing. If I recall correctly it grossed 6 million dollars over the span of its 5 week run.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/21/23 at 10:26pm

Of all the recent ones the Wiz sold the best. I couldn’t even get a ticket. The resale was insane. 

[Globefan]

Posted: 1/25/24 at 6:52pm

Jasmine Amy Rogers said the show is coming to Broadway spring of next year. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/25/24 at 6:58pm

Globefan said: "Jasmine Amy Rogers said the show is coming to Broadway spring of next year."

Interesting... this felt like a definite fall 2024 opening to me. Holiday season rush, the perfect kind of show to perform on the Macy's parade, etc. 

It's not like this is going to take home any awards, from what I have heard about the Chicago tryout. (Look for Jasmine to get a well-earned nod, though.)