PH
Jasmine Amy Rogers, a 23-year-old African American actress, will play the title role in “BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical,” which will make its Broadway premiere. The musical, which promises to bring Betty’s charm to life on stage, will premiere in Chicago in November before making its way to Broadway.
This Tony Award-winning musical, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, brings Betty Boop to life. Mitchell lavishes praise on Rogers, praising her diverse talents in acting, singing, and dancing, which she believes perfectly fit the character of Betty Boop.
“From the moment Jasmine walks into a room and shares that magnificent smile and her contagious laugh, you know you are in the presence of Betty Boop. And, like the cartoon Betty, Jasmine can do everything brilliantly — acting, singing, dancing — I know her performance will capture the hearts of audiences of all ages,” he told Blex Media.
Behind the scenes, a skilled team of set designers, costume designers, lighting designers, sound designers, projection designers, and musical supervisors including David Rockwell, Gregg Barnes, Philip S. Rosenberg, Gareth Owen, Finn Ross, and Daryl Waters is hard at work.
Music by Grammy winner David Foster, lyrics by Tony nominee Susan Birkenhead, and a book by Tony winner Bob Martin inspired the musical, which is based on Max Fleischer’s classic characters.
Betty’s yearning for an ordinary day apart from her star position is depicted in the story. Her journey takes her to vibrant, musical New York City, where she delivers a message of empowerment: “You are capable of amazing things.”
Betty Boop made her stage debut in 1930 as a dog-like performer. She grew into a human character, becoming the world’s only female animated cinema star in 1932, with Mae Questel providing the voice.
Furthermore, it is critical to recognize the Black historical relation to Betty Boop’s creation. Esther Jones, often known as “Baby Esther,” is said to have inspired the character. She was a gifted kid performer recognized for her unique singing style and black-bottom dancing. She was born in 1918 in Chicago.
Betty Boop’s true origins were revealed in a lawsuit in 1930. Helen Kane, a white performer, filed a lawsuit against Fleisher Studios for stealing her “Betty Boop” character. During the trial, it was revealed that Kane had replicated Jones’ scat act, resulting in neither Kane nor Jones being identified as the source.
