Betty Boop Musical Aims for Broadway in 2010- Page 2

[Marianne2]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 6:27pm

Seems like sort of a weird idea, but then it might not be so bad since she did do a lot of singing in the cartoons.

[Jon]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 7:58pm

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.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 8:01pm

Kristen Chenoweth would be a knockout in this role. I have a feeling she will at least be offered the role.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 8:12pm

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...

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 8:53pm

30 Rock also isn't doing too well in the ratings department

Actually, last week the show's Season 3 premiered did really well, had quite an increase in viewers from last season, and made the execs at NBC pretty happy. I have no doubt the show will at the very least get a Season 4. PUSHING DAISIES is probably in its last season (unfortunately, I'm distraught over it).
Jon, it's interesting you mention a Bernadette Peters Betty Boop sketch since Chenoweth has been compared to Peters by a lot of critics.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 8:56pm

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

[lakezurich]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 9:04pm

First Thriller, now Betty Boop... I wonder what will be next?

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 9:20pm

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...

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 9:45pm

Jule Styne, Frank Loesser, Bob Merrill, Burt Bacharach, Elton John and Duncan Shiek are pop songwriters of their respective eras who have found success on Broadway. I'm not certain that using "pop songwriter" as a pejorative is quite fair until we can hear the results.

And while Betty Boop is certainly a commercial choice for a Broadway musical, I don't see what is necessarily crass or repellant about the idea of the project. It is not like the producers are buying into a multi-billion dollar recent film success and slapping "The Musical" on the title.

Updated On: 11/6/08 at 09:45 PM

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 10:07pm

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.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 10:07pm

doublepost


oops

or should I say "boop-boop-be-doop-oops!"

Updated On: 11/6/08 at 10:07 PM

Posted: 11/7/08 at 5:52am

"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...

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 9:22am

A featured artical on Lindsey-Abaire in the New York Times magazine awhile back when he was on board for its creation, the show had a plot line starting with Betty waking up surrounded by all singing, all dancing, household appliances in the Roaring 20's as the big opening number. At the end of that number she 'wakes up' again to find herself on a trash heap in the middle of the Great Depression. We then followed her journey from there.

Updated On: 11/7/08 at 09:22 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 10:07am

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

Betty, or Change

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 11:06am

It seems like a strange choice BUT it could be brilliant and take the town by storm. You never can tell with Broadway.

basing something around a character is not a bad idea. It's what musical theatre is based off of.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 11:50am

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

[Brick]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 11:50am

I think the material is a fantastic idea for a musical and not as easy as many here are making it sound. That said, I'm not too excited by the creative team they've announced. I was much more excited when Lippa was attached, and I don't even care for Lippa much...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:35pm

Smaxie, you left out Roger Miller on your list.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 12:59pm

I'm gonna agree with everyone saying Jane Krakowski could be a knock-out in this. :)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 1:05pm

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

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 1:27pm

And did anyone mention Dolly Parton?

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 1:29pm

And Joe Br...er, never mind.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 1:49pm

I wonder if, in addition to the new songs, we'll see some of the "staples" like "I Wanna Be Loved By You" or "I Wanna Be Bad".

[dg22894]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:33pm

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

[dramarama2]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:42pm

I am very excited about this. Stop complaining. We all knew it was coming. Ever since Lippa spoke about it in interviews. Even though he's no longer involved we've known producers have been involved for years. It will be a fun, entertaining musical.

And dg22894...shut the f*ck up. If you were any fan of theatre you would know how disrespectful it is to wish ANY show to flop, lose money, and embarrass all involved. Leave Broadway alone.

Updated On: 11/7/08 at 04:42 PM