For “Boop! The Musical” star Jasmine Amy Rogers, Betty Boop was “at all times within the background of my life someplace,” says the dynamic Broadway lead. “I at all times knew who she was as a result of she’s in our popular culture,” she provides. “However I positively didn’t know her the best way I do now.”
Rogers explored nearly a century of Betty Boop lexicon, from the character’s catchphrases to signature poses and coquettish red-lipped pout, whereas working to convey the character to life onstage in “Boop! The Musical.” The ever-present character, who first appeared in 1930, has gone by way of a number of cultural resurgences all through the many years.
“I simply fell in love together with her so deeply as a result of I believe she is — at the least for me, and I believe for lots of people — the embodiment of all the things {that a} girl is able to,” says Rogers, who originated the position throughout the present’s world debut in Chicago. “She believes in a robust proper and incorrect, and her ethical compass is unwavering, and I really like that about her. It encourages me to be courageous in my each day life.”
Jasmine Amy Rogers onstage in “Boop!”
Courtesy of Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
The musical opens with Betty Boop starring in her personal fictionalized gray-toned world, frozen in time. Searching for a break from her unwavering fame, Betty travels (with the assistance of a gadget invented by supporting character Grampy) to the present day “actual world” of New York Metropolis, touchdown in a technicolor Comedian-Con the place Betty Boop discovers that she continues to be well-liked there too, simply as cosplay lore. In New York she shortly befriends a teen woman, moving into the position of non-public coach-slash-cheerleader.
The present, which contains a splashy ensemble forged, opens with a big faucet dance routine that nearly stood in the best way of Rogers getting the position — her first dance audition fell flat.
“The toughest factor going into it for me was the dance and the physicality,” says the 25-year-old actress, who ended up getting a second shot on the half. “I used to be actually intimidated for some time, however as soon as I made a decision that I actually needed it, I simply needed to take it into gear. I went to faucet lessons and I simply acquired myself again into form to do what was being requested of me,” she provides. “Betty is a cartoon, however she’s additionally drawn in such a selected means. So the best way she strikes, the best way she walks, the best way she stands, all of it issues. And that was one thing that was actually, actually nerve-wracking to me after I began out.”
Jasmine Amy Rogers onstage in “Boop!”
Courtesy of Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Much less intimidating, however nonetheless nerve-racking, was the character’s high-pitched voice, which has since develop into second-nature for Rogers. “After I was figuring it out, I used to be so nervous about it that I didn’t wanna observe it even on my own at dwelling as a result of I used to be nearly embarrassed,” she says, including that she leaned on her childhood aptitude for cartoon impersonations.
“It’s at all times been ingrained in me to type of be a personality. I’ve spent most of my life being that cartoon character, and making an attempt to chill it all the way down to undergo my on a regular basis life so I’m not so out of whack,” she says. “I believe loads of theater children come from a spot like that.”
Rogers, who grew up in Texas, started dancing and singing at a younger age, and fell in love with musical theater after auditioning for a area people theater efficiency of “Peter Pan.”
“I ended up getting a task in Tiger Lily’s tribe, within the ensemble. But it surely was actually an eye-opening second for me the place I used to be like, I’m attending to sing, I’m getting to bounce, I’m attending to have enjoyable,” says Rogers. “I’m attending to do all this stuff that I actually, actually love, and I’m attending to do it on stage and I’m obsessed. From that second on, I simply was hooked on it. And I’ve been doing it since.”
After highschool, Rogers moved to New York to attend the Manhattan College of Music, and after commencement starred in a number of regional musical productions and as Gretchen Weiners in a nationwide tour of the “Imply Women” musical in 2022.
With the “Boop!” opening night time behind her — and Tonys Awards season nonetheless forward — Rogers is wanting ahead to discovering new features of Betty Boop to discover onstage, and persevering with to attach with cross-generational audiences in what’s already proved to be a life-changing position.
“[Betty] has modified the best way that I transfer by way of the world,” provides Rogers. “I’m just a bit bit extra of a constructive individual recently, as a result of I’m so filled with pleasure and love.”
Jasmine Amy Rogers
Courtesy of Nicole Wilson
