jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#1BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 8:21pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Development-Continues-on-BETTY-BOOP-Musical-Jerry-Mitchell-Bob-Martin-and-Susan-Birkenhead-Join-Creative-Team-20220303
According to a recent casting notice, the new musical based on the cartoon character, Betty Boop, will continue development in 2022.]
Joining the musical's creative team are book writer Tony Award-winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Prom) and lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Jelly's Last Jam, High Society).
As BroadwayWorld previously reported the musical will feature music from legendary songwriter and producer, David Foster.
Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde) has signed on to direct and choreograph the piece.
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#2BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 8:41pm
I’m kind of surprised that this group (especially Jerry Mitchell) would collaborate with tRump supporter David Foster.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#3BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 8:53pm
At one point, JRB and David Lindsay-Abaire were supposed to write this show. JRB wrote about it on his blog:
http://jasonrobertbrown.com/2009/10/26/sound-blog-13-title-withheld-on-advice-of-counsel/
DaveyG
Leading Actor Joined: 8/11/05
#4BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 10:03pm
Alex Kulak2 said: "At one point, JRB and David Lindsay-Abaire were supposed to write this show. JRB wrote about it on his blog:
http://jasonrobertbrown.com/2009/10/26/sound-blog-13-title-withheld-on-advice-of-counsel/"
I could swear Andrew Lippa was also on it at some point and then Jeff Blumenkrantz too? This thing has been around forever and never seems to actually happen.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#5BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 10:53pm
So I guess Kat McPhee isn't involved anymore if they want someone early 20s who's a great dancer?
I'd be more concerned about the optics of this show and how this team treats Betty Boop more so than the Some Like It Hot musical.
#6BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 11:44pm
Jessica Vosk mentioned during her Carnegie Hall concert she’d been working on this and even sang a song from it.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#7BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/3/22 at 11:51pm
Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Jessica Vosk mentioned during her Carnegie Hall concert she’d been working on this and even sang a song from it."
As Betty?
SouthernCakes
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#9BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/4/22 at 2:27am
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Jessica Vosk mentioned during her Carnegie Hall concert she’d been working on this and even sang a song from it."
As Betty?"
Yes. It was a drippy "I Want" song. She wanted "something to shout about" and it had all the key changes and flourishes that kept rising but never actually building momentum or excitement. She tried to make it a power ballad but the song resisted her attempts.
With names like Bob Martin, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Jeff Blumenkrantz it sounds like they want it to be somewhat funny but can't seem to figure it out.
Ke3
Broadway Star Joined: 6/25/20
#10BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 3/4/22 at 5:33pm
Foster is just such a bad choice for this. Kat McPhee has sung "Something To Shout About" a few times and every time I watched it I kept thinking, "this sounds like a song he wrote in the 90s during the animated musical boom and then pulled out of the trunk". It's so generic. It's nice, but generic nonetheless. JRB and Lippa both made more sense to me.
When I was researching this show last month I kinda got the sense that the producers weren't looking for a pastiche style score (like Lippa or JRB would've presumably provided) but more of a Disney on Broadway pop styling.
It would be more interesting if the musical or the (now cancelled) movie would lean into the adult origins of Betty Boop. I know that's wishful thinking though.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#11BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 12/20/22 at 9:38am
David Foster, who wrote the music for the upcoming production, appeared on Live With Kelly and Ryan yesterday with wife and performer Katharine McPhee, where he confirmed that Betty Boop is coming to the stage soon! "It's coming, 2023, finally," Foster said. "All of the pieces are in place and we hope to be in Chicago in the fall and then, God-willing, Broadway!"
BETTY22
Broadway Star Joined: 12/29/13
#12BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 12/20/22 at 11:17am
It is great to read about new shows with original scores.
I wish them the best of luck.
#13BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 12/20/22 at 11:23am
I’m all about the creative process and producing original shows, but I’m always shocked when a blatantly terrible idea gets by enough people and makes it to this phase.
KevinKlawitter
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/20
Lola Getz2
Stand-by Joined: 7/17/22
#15BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 12/20/22 at 12:02pm
Not sure I want to hear a whole musical with a Betty Boop voice in the lead. Also, did someone just tell David Foster that musicals must have an "I want" song? Because that one is one of literally the worst. Those lyrics? Oy.
Ke3
Broadway Star Joined: 6/25/20
#16BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 12/20/22 at 12:16pm
So glad they got Birkenhead on board because that song is so bad. Hopefully they let her clean things up some.
KevinKlawitter
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/20
Robbie516
Leading Actor Joined: 10/3/22
#18BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 10:40am
Is this the show Kristen Chenoweth is doing?
WestEndGal
Broadway Star Joined: 6/25/18
#19BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 10:52am
KevinKlawitter said: "Officially titled "Boop!: the Betty Boop Musical"; will open pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago in November "
Could it not just be called ‘Betty Boop’?! lol
I’d like to see this do well because I always root for new musicals with original scores, but I worry that, if it makes it to Broadway, this might go the same way as “Some Like It Hot” with a 1930s (if that’s the year they set it in) themed musical not really appealing to the masses.
I really like the song “A Little Versatility” from the show that David and Katharine sang on their insta during lockdown - it’s catchy and fun and would probably be great on stage with an orchestra and dancers.
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#20BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 11:31am
Please let the prologue cover the origin of her name:
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#21BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 3:50pm
Look, I'm not saying that Chicago is a city without sin, but we don't deserve this. Not so soon after Devil Wears Prada.
MannPhan24601
Broadway Star Joined: 11/4/15
#22BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 5:12pm
JSquared2 said: "I’m kind of surprised that this group (especially Jerry Mitchell) would collaborate with tRump supporter David Foster."
He's oddly only donated to Ds according to the FECs site . Kat was the one who gave to Trump 🤢
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#23BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 6:43pm
"Something To Shout About" from The Today Show
"A Little Versatility" from a lockdown session with Kat & David
Interview with David & Kat from Kelly & Ryan
#24BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 6:55pm
So Kat McPhee is playing Betty Boop? 
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#25BETTY BOOP Musical - News & Discussion Thread
Posted: 2/14/23 at 6:57pm
ACL2006 said: "So Kat McPhee is playing Betty Boop?"
According to McPhee and Jones in the Tribune article, she is not. lol.
