Episode Details

Betty Boop is boop-oop-a-dooping her way into 2025.

In this episode of “Theater: All the Moving Parts,” host Patrick Pacheco pulls back the curtain on “BOOP! The Musical,” Broadway’s bold, feminist reimagining of the iconic cartoon star Betty Boop. With a heart as timeless as its heroine, the musical brings this vintage character into a glittering, modern spotlight.

Jasmine Amy Rogers stars as Betty, capturing both the charm and power of the character with a performance that’s equal parts sparkle and soul. She’s joined by Tony Award winner Faith Prince, who plays Valentina—a brilliant astrophysicist who finds love later in life—and Ainsley Melham as Dwayne, a trumpet-playing romantic whose cool swagger and jazz roots make him Betty’s perfect match.

Director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, the Tony Award-winning creative force behind “Hairspray” and “Kinky Boots,” brings his signature flair to the production, combining classic Broadway showmanship with contemporary storytelling.

In the second half, the episode showcases the designers responsible for creating Betty’s dual worlds. Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Rockwell and Emmy Award-winning hair and wig designer Sabana Majeed share how they crafted a visual landscape that nods to Betty’s animated origins while embracing a fresh theatrical vocabulary. Frank Caruso, longtime Betty Boop animator and creative director at Fleischer Studios—which birthed the character in 1930—joins the conversation to reveal what makes Betty leap off the page and onto the stage.

With a score by David Foster and Susan Birkenhead, a book by Bob Martin, and a message that champions individuality and empowerment, “BOOP! The Musical” is a joyful, time-traveling celebration of femininity, flair, and finding your voice.

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