Meet the cast of 'BOOP! The Musical' on Broadway
Get to know the actors who play Betty Boop and her friends in her black-and-white cartoon world and the real world, where she travels in this family-friendly show.
Add big-eyed, baby-voiced Betty Boop to the list of animated characters who’ve found added dimension while being celebrated live on stage. In BOOP! The Musical, now running on Broadway, she gets a “technicolor transformation,” according to New York Theatre Guide’s review.
Betty makes a quantum leap from the animated Jazz Age to modern-day Manhattan, where adventures — and a little romance — await. The musical's tone is light and bright as imagined by the creative team: book writer Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), composer David Foster (a 16-time Grammy winner), lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Working), and director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde).
To keep you in the BOOP! loop, New York Theatre Guide spoke with the company about their characters and what they love most about cartoon icon Betty. Learn more about the talented cast, and be sure to get tickets to see them live in living color at the Broadhurst Theatre.
Jasmine Amy Rogers
Who she plays: Betty Boop. She’s like the show: funny, joyful, bold, loving, and colorful.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: She's just every woman. Every woman can see themselves in her in some way, shape, or form. She’s so free and fun and full of love and joy, people flock to her.
Ainsley Melham
Who he plays: I play Dwayne, a jazz musician who lives in New York in 2025. He’s trying to carve out his space in the music world. He meets Betty Boop, and she helps him find his way, and perhaps they have a little bit of a romance along the way.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: She's ubiquitous across the world. She stands for a woman who is strong and sexy and independent and can do anything. I'm excited to share that message.
Angelica Hale
Who she plays: I play Trisha. She’s an energetic and artistic girl who’s not part of the original cartoon. She’s a huge fan of Betty Boop, so much so that it overshadows herself. One of the show’s themes is self-love, and when it comes to Trisha, Betty helps show her that.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: She's just a symbol of empowerment. She's that girl. She is always seen standing up for herself and symbol of strength and girl power.
Stephen DeRosa
Who he plays: I play Grampy Boop, which, as you may guess, is Betty Boop’s grandfather. I'm a wacky inventor who accidentally sends Betty into 2025. You’re welcome. That’s how the play happens.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: Betty is all about female empowerment. She’s all about not being afraid to stand up for herself. She's also about the joy of performing and singing and dancing and love.
Faith Prince
Who she plays: I’m Valentina, an astrophysicist who does vaudeville. I’m Grampy’s girlfriend in the show. We’d met 40 years prior; now it's 40 years later. I'm helping him find Betty, and we fall in love.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: She's pretty iconic. I grew up watching the cartoons, and I always loved her because she was a strong woman who became anything she wanted to. I loved that. I think this show has an incredible message for many people.
Erich Bergen
Who he plays: I play Raymond Demarest, a candidate for mayor of New York City who is possibly up to some alternate plans behind the scenes. He gets a little dose of reality.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: I've seen, as we all have, Betty Boop all my life. She's been on backpacks and jackets and PJs. She means a lot of different things to different people. We talk about that in the show.
Anastacia McCleskey
Who she plays: I play Carol Evans, who is the campaign manager for Raymond Demarest, Trisha’s aunt, and kind of big sister to Dwayne. Carol keeps everything rolling, all the balls in the air for those people. She's overworked, very passionate, very loving. Betty reminds her of the dreams and aspirations she had.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: Her [catchphrase], "boop-oop-a-doop," and her joy. She's very adventurous. That inspires people to go out and do their own thing.
Phillip Huber
Who he plays: Pudgy, Betty’s marionette dog, who’s her best friend and companion. She never really had a love interest in the cartoon, so the dog serves that purpose.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: She was a liberated woman before that term even existed. She was just a fabulous character. She had no limitations to what she could do.
Aubie Merrylees
Who he plays: Oscar Delacorte, her director in her cartoon world.
Favorite thing about Betty Boop: Her voice and her side-eye. She has great side-eye.
Maggie Zampino contributed reporting to this story.
Responses have been condensed and edited for length and clarity.
Photo credit: BOOP! The Musical on Broadway. (Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)
Frequently asked questions
Where is BOOP! The Musical playing?
BOOP! The Musical is playing at Broadhurst Theatre. The theatre is located at 235 West 44th Street, New York, 10036.
How long is BOOP! The Musical?
The running time of BOOP! The Musical is 2hr 30min. Incl. 15min intermission.
What is BOOP! The Musical about?
After wowing audiences in Chicago, the three-time Tony Award-nominated BOOP! The Musical takes the Big Apple by storm in a dazzling production directed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, La Cage aux Folles, Hairspray). BOOP! The Musical brings the beloved cartoon character to the stage, singing and dancing, for the first time ever.
How do you book tickets for BOOP! The Musical?
Book tickets for BOOP! The Musical on New York Theatre Guide.
What's the age requirement for BOOP! The Musical?
The recommended age for BOOP! The Musical is Ages 8+. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted..
What are the songs in BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical?
The jubilant songs have the feel of a razzle-dazzle Broadway show complete with love ballads and show-stopping dance numbers.
Who wrote BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical?
Grammy Award winner David Foster, Tony Award nominee Susan Birkenhead, and Tony Award winner Bob Martin wrote this new musical.
Who directed BOOP! The Betty Boop musical?
Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, a Broadway legend known for his song-and-dance pizazz, stages this new musical.
Is BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical good?
Critics loved the Chicago production, now coming to Broadway. “David Foster's score is filled with riches," the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, and audiences are responding to the feel-good energy of seeing this story and the character coming to life.
What is the age recommendation for BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical?
The musical is recommended for ages eight and up. Children under four years old will not be admitted.
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