Principal casting is set for the Broadway bow of “BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical.” The previously announced production will begin previews on March 11, 2025 and open on April 5 at the Broadhurst Theatre. Jerry Mitchell will direct and choreograph the musical, which will star the previously revealed Jasmine Amy Rogers, reprising her turn as Betty Boop from the 2023 world premiere engagement in Chicago.
Also reprising their turns on Broadway will be Tony Award winner Faith Prince as Valentina, Erich Bergen as Raymond, Ainsley Melham as Dwayne, Stephen DeRosa as Grampy, Anastacia McCleskey as Carol, Angelica Hale as Trisha, Phillip Huber as Pudgy the Dog and Aubie Merrylees as Oscar.
Creative team members newly announced are associate director DB Bonds and associate choreographers Rachelle Rak and Jon Rua. Rick Fox will serve as music director, taking over for the previously announced Andrew Resnick.
Prince won a 1992 Tony for her leading turn as Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” Bergen appeared in multiple tenures in both “Waitress” and “Chicago.” Melham played the title role in “Aladdin” on Broadway and in Australia. McCleskey, also a “Waitress” alum, is currently featured as Mary Church Terrell in “Suffs.” DeRosa, now appearing Off-Broadway as Mushnik in “Little Shop of Horrors,” was most recently seen on the Main Stem in “Mr. Saturday Night.” Merrylees’ most recent Broadway appearance was in “KPOP.”
“BOOP!” will mark the Broadway debut of Hale, who has competed on “America’s Got Talent,” as well as Huber, a marionette artist whose film credits include “Being John Malkovich” and “Oz the Great and Powerful.”
Additional casting for “BOOP!,” by Tara Rubin and Kevin Metzger, will be announced.
“I am over the moon that our Chicago principal cast will be joining us on the journey to Broadway,” said Mitchell in a statement. “Everyone embodies the infectious positive spirit of Betty Boop, and I can’t wait to get back in the rehearsal room to bring ‘BOOP!’ to Broadway.”
Bonds’ previous associate directing credits include “Pretty Woman” and “Kinky Boots,” both of which were helmed by Mitchell. Rak and Rua both have extensive résumés as performers and choreographers, however “BOOP!” will mark the first Broadway choreographer credit for Rak, who has appeared in “Fosse” and “Cats,” while Rua, an alum of the “Hamilton” ensemble, has choreographed elements of “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “The Cher Show.” Fox most recently served as music director for the 2024 revival of “Tommy.”
Featuring music by David Foster, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead and a book by Bob Martin, “BOOP!” is based on the Betty Boop cartoon created by Max Fleischer. In the musical, Betty longs for a break from her black-and-white world of super celebrity to enjoy an ordinary day off. Armed with inimitable looks, voice and style, Betty embarks on an adventure of color, music and love in New York City.
“BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical” is being produced by Ostar Productions. Foresight Theatrical will serve as general manager.
