Boop! The Musical

Act One

In the animated black-and-white cartoon world, the star of "ToonTown", Betty Boop, performs one of her shorts ("A Little Versatility"). After the performance has wrapped, an interviewer asks Betty a question that makes her reflect: "Who is the real Betty Boop?" Betty replies, "Whoever you want me to be!" At Betty’s house, Grampy is cooking dinner in one of his great inventions. Another of Grampy's inventions is a teleporter to the real world. Betty wishes to go there, but Grampy refuses to send her. After Grampy falls asleep, Betty wishes for a world where no one would recognize her ("Ordinary Day"). Betty uses Grampy's invention to travel to the real world and ends up at New York City's Comic Con.

She meets Dwayne, commenting on his bright blue eyes. Betty, confused by all the colors, starts to learn ("In Color"). She next meets and befriends Trisha, a Betty Boop superfan, dressed in Betty's style. Betty is surprised that people know her and finds that she is as famous here as at home. Betty takes on the name Betsy Crampwhiler to disguise her true identity. Back in ToonTown, Grampy discovers that Betty is gone and has used his invention. He laments about what will happen to ToonTown without Betty ("Get Her Back!"). Grampy and Pudgy, Betty's dog, use the invention to follow Betty to the real world to search for her.

At Trisha's house, Betty reunites with Dwayne, who lives with Trisha. Betty reveals that she is a jazz singer, and Dwayne demonstrates that he is a jazz musician ("I Speak Jazz")'. Meanwhile, Raymond Demarest is running for mayor of New York with his slogan, "You can DoDo it!" In Trisha's room, Betty asks why Trisha likes Betty so much. Trisha says that she wishes she could be as confident as Betty ("Portrait of Betty"). Betty then confides that she is the real Betty Boop, not Betsy.

Alternating between ToonTown and New York, The Director, Assistant Director and Dwayne explain that Betty (Dwayne still knows her as Betsy) is the sunlight in their lives ("Sunlight"). Betty and Trisha meet Dwayne at the red steps in Times Square; Dwayne shares the story of his life in New York ("My New York"). Grampy reunites with Valentina, a NASA scientist who had an affair with Grampy. Grampy gets a "Love Sneeze" and refuses to believe he still loves her, but Valentina knows that there is no cure for love ("A Cure for Love"). Nelly's place, a club where Dwayne wishes to perform, invites Betty (as Betsy) to sing onstage. When Betty shocks everyone with how much she sounds and looks like Betty Boop, they chant "Thats Betty Boop!" and Betty says she is right where she wants to be ("Where I Wanna Be!").

Act Two

After Betty has revealed that she is alive and in New York, she wishes she had kept it to herself. The people in ToonTown hope she will come back to them ("She’s Here/She’s Gone"). Raymond uses Betty as his campaign manager but refuses to let her speak ("Win with Betty"). At Nelly’s, Dwayne laments that he loves Betty so much, but she is not a real person ("She Knocks Me Out"). Trisha thinks she is not good enough and has to dress up as Boop to feel confident. Betty tells her that she doesn't have to be Betty to be confident and that Trisha is her hero ("My Hero").

At Valentina's apartment, Grampy and Valentina realize that they are meant for each other ("Together You and Me"). At Raymond's office, Raymond hits on Betty and tries to take advantage of her, so she hits him in the face with a lamp ("Take It to the Next Level"). Betty, realizing what a jerk Raymond is, declares that Carol, Raymond's campaign manager and Trisha's foster mom, should run for mayor. Carol agrees ("The Campaign").

Dwayne and Betty comment that we shouldn't think and wish for the future, but instead focus on the present. Betty starts to fall in love ("Why Look Around the Corner"). Suddenly, Grampy bursts in and declares that Betty must return to ToonTown or it will disappear. Betty, while traveling, laments that she has nothing left to amuse her. She almost knew what she wanted, but now it is gone ("Something to Shout About"). Back in ToonTown, Betty declares she is done running away from men. Grampy, Valentina, Trisha, and Dwayne appear in Toontown because Valentina figured out a way to travel to both dimensions safely. Dwayne and Betty share a kiss and the world starts to turn to color ("Color of Love").

The idea for a Betty Boop musical first arose in 2004.{{cite news |date=2023-11-24 |title=Veteran Broadway team crafts Boop! The Musical as a love story for a new age |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/11/24/23949862/bett-boop-musical-jasmine-amy-rogers-jerry-mitchell-cibc-theatre |access-date=2023-11-25 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times}}

The musical premiered at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, with previews from November 19 and closed on December 24, 2023, starring Jasmine Amy Rogers in the title role. The production was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. It featured set designs by David Rockwell, costumes by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Philip S. Rosenberg, sound by Gareth Owen, and projections by Finn Ross; The show's musical arrangements were by Daryl Waters.{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Molly |last2=Gans |first2=Andrew |date=September 28, 2023 |title=BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical Reveals Complete Casting |url=https://playbill.com/article/boop-the-betty-boop-musical-reveals-complete-casting |access-date=November 13, 2023 |magazine=Playbill}}

The show began previews at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre on March 11, with an official opening on April 5, 2025.Broski, Jennifer. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photos-BOOP-THE-MUSICAL-Cast-Takes-First-Bows-20250312 "Photos: Boop! The Musical Cast Takes First Bows"], BroadwayWorld, March 12, 2025 Mitchell is again directing and choreographing, with the Chicago principal cast and creative team on board.Culwell-Block, Logan. [https://playbill.com/article/boop-the-musical-finds-full-broadway-cast "Boop! The Musical Finds Full Broadway Cast"], Playbill, January 13, 2025{{cite web | last=Evans | first=Greg | title='Boop! The Betty Boop Musical' Sets Broadway Opening Date, Venue | website=Deadline | date=July 17, 2024 | url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/betty-boop-musical-broadway-opening-date-2-1236013007/ | access-date=July 17, 2024}}

;Act I

• "A Little Versatility" – Betty Boop, Ensemble
• "Ordinary Day" – Betty Boop
• "In Color" – Betty Boop, Ensemble
• "Get Her Back" – Grampy, Ensemble
• "I Speak Jazz" – Dwayne, Ensemble
• "Portrait of Betty" – Trisha
• "Sunlight" – Dwayne, Oscar Delacorte, Clarence
• "My New York" – Dwayne, Betty Boop, Trisha, Ensemble
• "A Cure for Love" – Valentina, Mascots
• "Where I Wanna Be" – Betty Boop, Ensemble

;Act II

• "Where Is Betty?" – Grampy, Valentina, Ensemble
• "Where Is Betty? (Reprise)" – Raymond Demarest
• "She Knocks Me Out" – Dwayne, Ensemble
• "My Hero" – Trisha, Betty Boop
• "Whatever It Takes" – Valentina, Grampy
• "Take It to the Next Level" – Raymond Demarest
• "The Campaign" – Company
• "Why Look Around the Corner" – Dwayne, Betty Boop
• "Something to Shout About" – Betty Boop
• "The Color of Love" – Company

Reviews for the Chicago production praised the show's music, choreography, and cast, Rogers in particular, but thought the story and characters needed additional development.{{cite news |last=Spiselman |first=Anne |date=2023-12-11 |title=Boop! The Musical bound for Broadway |url=https://www.hpherald.com/arts_and_entertainment/boop-the-musical-bound-for-broadway/article_aac793d4-984c-11ee-9d05-130e95c7417d.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |newspaper=Hyde Park Herald}}{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Hedy |date=December 7, 2023 |title=That Girl Named Boop is Headed to Broadway: Review |url=https://news.wttw.com/2023/12/07/girl-named-boop-headed-broadway-review |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=WTTW News}}{{cite web |last=Hieggelke |first=Brian |date=2023-12-08 |title=In Living Color: A Review of Boop! The Betty Boop Musical at Broadway in Chicago |url=https://www.newcitystage.com/2023/12/08/in-living-color-a-review-of-boop-the-betty-boop-musical-at-broadway-in-chicago/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Newcity Stage}}

On Broadway, the production received mixed-to-positive reviews. While Rogers was widely praised for her charismatic and vocally strong performance as Betty Boop, and the production values, including Mitchell's choreography and Rockwell's scenic design, were acknowledged for their energy and polish, reviewers questioned the musical’s story, overall purpose and execution. Jesse Green of The New York Times criticized the show as a "why?" musical, suggesting it felt more like a brand extension than a fully realized artistic endeavor.{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Jesse |date=2025-04-08 |title=Boop! The Musical Review: Betty Gets a Broadway Brand Extension |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/theater/boop-the-musical-review-broadway.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} TheWrap observed the show's lack of conflict and emotional depth, calling it a "Pooph-worthy" attempt to modernize an outdated cartoon icon.{{Cite web |last=Hofler |first=Robert |date=2025-04-08 |title=Boop! Broadway Review: First Barbie, Now Betty Gets Dragged Into the 21 Century |url=https://www.thewrap.com/boop-the-musical-broadway-review-david-foster/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} Even among more favorable reviews, such as in the New York Post, the critics conceded that the plot was thin and derivative.{{Cite web |last=Oleksinski |first=Johnny |date=2025-04-08 |title=Boop review: Broadway star Jasmine Amy Rogers is born in new musical |url=https://nypost.com/2025/04/07/entertainment/boop-review-broadway-star-jasmine-amy-rogers-is-born-in-new-musical/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |language=en-US}} Critics generally cited the show's predictable storyline, over-reliance on nostalgia, and marketing-heavy tone as a major shortcoming.{{Cite web |last=Rubins |first=Dan |date=2025-04-08 |title='Boop! The Musical' Review: A Maximalist Goof-Fest |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/theater/boop-the-musical-review/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rizzo |first=Frank |date=2025-04-08 |title=Boop! Review: This Cartoon of a Broadway Musical Is Stuck in Two Dimensions |url=https://variety.com/2025/legit/reviews/boop-review-broadway-musical-1236361705/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://boopthemusical.com}}
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/theater/betty-boop-history-broadway.html "The Surprising History of Betty Boop"], The New York Times

Category:2023 musicals

Category:American musicals

Category:Betty Boop

Category:Musicals based on animated films

Category:Musicals set in the 21st century

Category:Musicals set in New York City