Broadway’s ‘BOOP! The Musical’ Casts a Black Woman as Betty Boop
Written by Site Hub on May 21, 2025
A Bold Reclamation of Jazz Legacy
BOOP! The Musical, now on Broadway, reimagines the iconic Betty Boop as a Black woman, played by Tony-nominated Jasmine Amy Rogers. The character is loosely based on Esther Jones, a Harlem jazz singer whose influence had long gone uncredited.
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Musical and Cultural Relevance
The show follows Betty as she seeks adventure beyond her black-and-white cartoon world, landing in a modern-day setting. Through music composed by David Foster and 18 original tracks, the musical pays homage to 1930s jazz with a fresh lens on identity and representation.
Impact and Representation
Directed by Jerry Mitchell, the production visibly reflects its cultural roots in jazz and Black performance history. Rogers, only 26, brings authenticity to the role with influences from legends like Dorothy Dandridge and highlights the significance of Betty Boop’s visual and musical transformation.
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Source: BET
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