BOOP! The Musical
BOOP! The Musical is a vibrant, family-friendly show that reimagines the 1930s cartoon icon Betty Boop for a new generation.
Acting within her black-and-white world, Betty's life has been reduced to a round of fame and ordinariness. 2025 Tony nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers performs with acuity and a touch of glitter as Betty, and brings the title character back to life. When Betty wants more than her usual, her inventor grandfather, Grampy (Stephen DeRosa), offers her an adventure in one of his inventions. She is sent forward to the modern-day world of New York City, dropping right into the midst of Comic Con. She wishes to finally mind her p's and q's where she hopes no one will know her, but it doesn't work. Her picture is all over billboards, magazine covers, and even t-shirts. Her fame obviously hasn't faded yet.
Her initial encounter is Trisha, portrayed by Angelica Hale, who's fully dressed up as Betty Boop cosplaying. Trisha is startled at the eerie impersonation of Betty, thinking she's just another fan dressing up. Trisha invites her in, and Betty encounters a new cast of characters who gradually begin to impact her understanding of reality. Beyond her own world, Betty starts learning about how to relate and think concerning her own self in a more profound manner.
The visual aesthetic mirrors the storytelling. The show begins in grays to portray the world of the cartoon, and as Betty enters the contemporary world, color dominates the stage. David Rockwell's set brings physical elements together with LED screens so that it enhances the action without ever subtracting from it. Gregg Barnes' costumes walk that fine line between old-fashioned and new, maintaining the essence of the original character without allowing her to become outdated.
Betty falls in love with Dwayne, a political speechwriter and jazz pianist, and the actor who plays Ainsley Melham. The romance provides the show with an earthy emotional plot. Grampy, tagging along with Betty to the real world, realizes her disappearance makes the world of cartoons unbalanced. In doing so, he rekindles his affair with Valentina, his forgotten love. Their subplot is tertiary to the narrative but adds charm and some sweet, loving moments with their song numbers.
The music by David Foster, with lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, is suited to the tone of the show. Some of the songs are better than others, but the cast makes them work. Jasmine Amy Rogers thoroughly embodies Betty—voice, movement, and presence. She is the anchor of the whole production, and the supporting cast backs her with a strong performance throughout.
At two hours and thirty minutes, the show does become too long. A couple of scenes could be trimmed without sabotaging the overall narrative. There are some themes of self-worth, individuality, and a bit of feminism that are brought up early on but which don't quite reward by the end. The plot prefers to lean toward charm and nostalgia over more rigorous questioning, and it works for the tone, but there are some strings that feel left untied.
Regardless of its flaws, BOOP! is still a good time. The animation is clever, the acting is solid, and the whole thing is enjoyable. Despite its length and some missed opportunities, it is an enjoyable production. Whether you've been with Betty Boop since the beginning or just hopping on board, there's plenty to like here.
Tickets are available now on Broadway.com, and the original cast recording drops in June—it’s well worth a listen!!
