Betty Boop Musical Aims for Broadway in 2010 — Page 2

Anyone remember Bernadette Peters hosting SNL in the late 70's/early 80's? She did a great Betty Boop sketch - it was a WWII training film - teaching soldiers how to avoid getting V.D.

It was shot in Black & White - complete with her emerging from a giant ink bottle.

It's sad that two of the most recent original musicals, Passing Strange and [title of show], were flops.

I'm going to keep an open mind, but it's probably not going to be anything I'm going to rush to see.

And with the likelihood of Pushing Daisies being cancelled son, maybe Kristin Chenoweth will have time for this. 30 Rock also isn't doing too well in the ratings department, so it looks like both of those ladies will have time for this. I don't know which I'd prefer...Chenoweth or Krakowski...

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I hope this eases Corine's pain of losing FB, Ave. Q and Hairspray. I predict a "my favorite musical of all time!"

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Ya know I never made the Little Orphan Annie connection, but I'm still skeptical about this, if only because the composer doesn't sound so hot to me. A mainstream pop songwriter? I'm also wary since it's one more show that is making Broadway seem like a theme park, and I know that's just a turn of phrase, but you know what Broadway and Universal Studios now have in common? Shrek, Spiderman and Betty Boop...

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good point






like always, we'll have to see. I think it's the fact that these cartoons turned musicals are all happening on top of each other that's turning me off a bit. Betty would be a fun character to see brought to life on stage though.

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"Wasn't that the same reaction Charles Strouse had when he was first pitched the idea of doing a stage musical based on Little Orphan Annie? You never know how these things will turn out. "

To be fair Annie was based on an *adventure serial* comic strip which had a lot of story (though the musical is largely original). Betty Boop worked best in the original MaX Fleischer cartoons where she got into very surreal, slightly sexual, adventures. Some of these are brilliant, but they don't seem possible to flesh out to a full length live action musical. WHen the Movie Code came in aroudn 1932-1933 Betty Boop was censored--she couldn't have the strapless dress anymore, was less sexual, her boyfriend Bimbo was erased--and she started hanging around with Grampy and with her little pet Dog and rescuing children and stuff. The surreal brilliance of the early cartoons was gone.

So I am a huge fan, and the thought of Krakowski in the role does appeal to me but... I really don't see any real Broadway potential here.

Some of the classic Betty Boops: Snow White https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h-KnBpEKJA

Minnie the Moocher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaZOXF83zBg&feature=related

David Foster isn't someone I have too much faith in. Even though he co wrote one of my fave Madonna songs--and is from my hometown of VIctoria where he does a lot of great charity work, I don't think much of him as a songwriter--most of his "hits" are producing songs he didn't write (Diane Warren ballads largely ). I'm all for pop writers havign a voice on Broadway--as was pointed out, it used to be more common, and I'm a big defender of the Pet Shop Boys' Closer to Heaven...

>the show had a plot line starting with Betty waking up surrounded by all singing, all dancing, household appliances<

Betty, or Change

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You know, even though she is wrong for the part, Frances Ruffelle always looks like Betty Boop to me.

Smaxie, you left out Roger Miller on your list.

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I forgot about Roger Miller! There was also Rupert Holmes, too.

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And Joe Br...er, never mind.

TOO MANY MUSICALS GEARED AT CHILDREN. WHAT HAS BROADWAY COME TOO? I HOPE THEY BECOME A FLOP OR DOES NOT GET TO BROADWAY.