| Full Broadway Cast Announced for BOOP! The Musical | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 11:45 am EST 01/13/25 | |
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| Complete Broadway Casting Announced! BOOP! The Musical BOOP! Arrives on Broadway in 57 Days! Performances Begin March 11, 2025 Official Opening April 5, 2025 Broadhurst Theatre Starring Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop Ainsley Melham Stephen DeRosa, Anastacia McCleskey Angelica Hale, Phillip Huber, Aubie Merrylees with Erich Bergen and Faith Prince Joined by Lawrence Alexander, Courtney Arango, Colin Bradbury, Tristen Buettel, Joshua Michael Burrage , Victoria Byrd, Dan Castiglione, Rebecca Corrigan, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, RJ Higton, Nina Lafarga, Morgan McGhee, Ryah Nixon, Lizzy Tucker, Christian Probst, Ricky Schroeder, Gabriella Sorrentino, Derek Jordan Taylor, David Wright Jr., Damani Van Rensalier and Amy Van Norstrand With music by David Foster and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead Book by Bob Martin Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell Tickets On Sale Now! BoopTheMusical.com New York, NY (January 13, 2025) – Complete casting for the new Broadway musical BOOP! The Musical has been announced. Following a critically acclaimed engagement in Chicago last year, previews of BOOP! The Musical will begin on March 11, 2025. The new family musical will open officially at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Tickets to BOOP! The Musical are available at Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. Group sales available through Group Sales Box Office or by calling 1-800-Broadway. The principal cast of BOOP!, who received critical acclaim in the Chicago pre-Broadway run last year, is headed by Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop and Tony Award®-winner Faith Prince as Valentina, Ainsley Melham as Dwayne, Erich Bergen as Raymond, Stephen DeRosa as Grampy, Anastacia McCleskey as Carol, Angelica Hale as Trisha, Phillip Huber (Pudgy the Dog), and Aubie Merrylees as Oscar. The cast also includes Lawrence Alexander (Follies), Courtney Arango (Broadway debut, A Chorus Line National Tour), Colin Bradbury (Elf), Tristen Buettel (Bad Cinderella), Joshua Michael Burrage (Cats), Victoria Byrd (Back to the Future), Dan Castiglione (Broadway debut, The Tick), Rebecca Corrigan (Broadway debut, In the Heights film), Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald (Kinky Boots), RJ Higton (The Outsiders), Nina Lafarga (In the Heights), Morgan McGhee (Jelly's Last Jam), Ryah Nixon (The Great Gatsby), Christian Probst (Bad Cinderella), Ricky Schroeder (Broadway debut, Kinky Boots National Tour), Gabriella Sorrentino (Hamilton), Derek Jordan Taylor (The Great Gatsby), Lizzy Tucker (Broadway debut), Amy Van Norstrand (Holiday Inn), Damani Van Rensalier (Hadestown), and David Wright Jr. (Aladdin). Tony Award®-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) brings the Queen of the Screen to the theater in BOOP! The Musical , with celebrated multiple Grammy® Award-winning composer David Foster ("You're The Inspiration,” "I Will Always Love You”), Tony Award®-nominated lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Working, Jelly's Last Jam) and Tony Award®-winning book writer Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). Director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell said "The joy this cast has brought to BOOP! The Musical is infectious. BOOP! is filled with some of the greatest dancers, singers and actors I've ever had the pleasure of working with on a new original musical. We had a blast bringing BOOP! to the stage in Chicago and I can't wait for audiences to see this original Broadway Cast go Fullout.” For almost a century, Betty Boop, created by animation pioneer Max Fleischer, has won hearts and inspired fans around the world with her trademark looks, voice, and style. Now, in BOOP! The Musical, Betty's dream of an ordinary day off from the super-celebrity in her black-and-white world leads to an extraordinary adventure of color, music, and finding love in New York City — one that reminds her and the world, "You are capable of amazing things.” The design and creative team for BOOP! The Musical includes Tony Award®-winner David Rockwell (She Loves Me), scenic design; Three-time Tony Award®-winner Gregg Barnes ( Some Like It Hot), costume design; Philip S. Rosenberg (Mrs. Doubtfire), lighting design; Tony Award®-winner Gareth Owen (MJ: The Musical), sound design; Tony Award®-winner Finn Ross ( Back to the Future), projection design; Emmy Award®-winner Sabana Majeed ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), hair and wig design; Michael Clifton (Gypsy), makeup design; OBIE Award®-winner Skylar Fox ( Once Upon a Mattress), illusions design; The Huber Marionettes (Suspended Animation), marionette design; Tony Award®-winner Daryl Waters (A Wonderful World), music supervision and arrangements; Three-time Tony Award®-winner Doug Besterman (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Orchestrations; Rick Fox (The Who's TOMMY), music director; and Tony Award®-nominee Zane Mark (A Wonderful World), dance music arrangements. Casting is by Tara Rubin, CSA and Kevin Metzger, CSA. DB Bonds is Associate Director, Rachelle Rak and Jon Rua are Associate Choreographers, and General Management is by Foresight Theatrical. BOOP! The Musical premiered at Broadway In Chicago's CIBC Theatre November 19 through December 24, 2023, opening December 6, 2023. BOOP! The Musical is based on the characters created by Max Fleischer. ABOUT BETTY BOOP AND FLEISCHER STUDIOS First introduced in 1930, Betty Boop was created by Max Fleischer for his "Talkartoons” series, the world's first animated "talkies” which Max's company, Fleischer Studios, produced for Paramount Studios. Betty initially appeared as a dog-like stage performer who sang and danced with another dog-like character named Bimbo, joyfully entertaining vast audiences of other Fleischer characters from the animal kingdom. Inspired by the collective energy, style and sound of the many popular Jazz Age flappers and entertainers of the 1920s, Betty quickly evolved into a full-fledged human character, and by 1932 she had become the only female animated screen star in the world. Voiced by Mae Questel, Betty starred in more than 100 cartoons, 90 of which are included in the official Betty Boop series, which ended in 1939. Since then, Betty has appeared in dozens of hit movies, television specials, commercials, and was the first cartoon character to be profiled by A&E's Biography series. Today, Fleischer Studios with their team of creative professionals and worldwide licensing agency, Global Icons ( www.globalicons.com), continue to parlay the iconic Betty Boop into a worldwide licensing and entertainment phenomenon, delighting millions of fans and collectors alike. Please visit them online at www.fleischerstudios.com and www.bettyboop.com. Connect with BOOP! The Musical: Facebook: @boopthemusical Instagram: @boopthemusical X: @boopthemusical TikTok: @boopthemusical YouTube: @boopthemusical JASMINE AMY ROGERS ( Betty Boop) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut in BOOP! The Musical after receiving rave reviews for her performance in the pre-Broadway Chicago run. Her theatre credits include Anita in Jelly's Last Jam (Pasadena Playhouse), Gretchen Wieners in the National Tour of Mean Girls, Melody Green in The Wanderer (Papermill Playhouse) and Francis in the world premiere of Becoming Nancy, directed by Jerry Mitchell (Alliance Theatre). TV credits include "Evil” on Paramount+. She was a Jimmy Awards' finalist and appeared in Cabaret as Sally Bowles at the Manhattan School of Music where she studied musical theatre. FAITH PRINCE (Valentina) Broadway: Tony Award winner for Guys and Dolls. Other nominations for: Jerome Robbins Broadway, Bells Are Ringing, A Catered Affair. Also Nick & Nora, What's Wrong With This Picture?, The King and I, Little Me, James Joyce's The Dead, Noises Off, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Annie, and Disaster. TV/Film appearances include "Monarch”, "Emily in Paris”, "Scream Queens”, "Modern Family”, "Drop Dead Diva”, "Huff”, "Spin City”, Dave, My Father the Hero, Picture Perfect, Our Very Own. Her many live appearances and two solo albums available for streaming. Ms. Prince has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. AINSLEY MELHAM he/him (Dwayne) starred as Aladdin in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway and the Australian National Tour (Helpmann Nomination). Other credits in his home country—Australia—include the national tours of Wicked (Fiyero), Pippin (Pippin), and Rodger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Prince Topher). Also Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Molina), Merrily We Roll Along (Charley Kringas), The Normal Heart (Felix), Xanadu (Sonny), Watershed: The Death of Dr. Duncan (Lost Boy), and Hi-5 (host). He is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and his work on Boop! is dedicated to his dear friend Diana and the Perini family. @ainsleymelham ERICH BERGEN (Raymond Demarest) is best known as Blake Moran on the hit television show "Madam Secretary,” and for his performance as Bob Gaudio in the film Jersey Boys, reprising his performance from the National Tour and Las Vegas casts of the Tony Award-winning stage musical. On Broadway, Erich also starred in the musicals Waitress and Chicago, and has been featured on the television shows "Bull,” "The Good Fight” and "Gossip Girl” among many others. Erich is also the creative force behind 6W Entertainment, an entertainment and social impact-focused production company. @erichbergen STEPHEN DeROSA (Grampy ). Broadway: Mr. Saturday Night, Gary: A Sequel, On the Town, Betrayal, The Nance, Hairspray, Twentieth Century, Henry IV, Into the Woods, The Man Who Came to Dinner. Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors, The Alchemist, The Government Inspector, These Paper Bullets!, Love's Fire (The Acting Company),The Mystery of Irma Vep. Regional: Bay Street Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse. World Premiere: The Queen of Versailles (Boston). Film/TV: "A Holiday Spectacular,” "Blue Bloods,” "The Blacklist,” HBO's "Boardwalk Empire” (Eddie Cantor). MFA: Yale. ANASTACIA McCLESKEY (Carol). BROADWAY: Currently MCT-Suffs (OBC), Dottie-Revival of Caroline/Change, Nurse Norma-Waitress, Abraham Lincoln-HAIR, The Book of Mormon, DIVA-Priscilla Queen of the Desert (OBC), Violet (OBC), Tarzan (OBC). OFF B'WAY: May-The Secret Life of Bees, Izora-Mighty Real. WEST END: Close to You, What's it All About. TV/FILM: "The Good Fight,” "New Amsterdam,” "Madam Secretary,” "Annie -Live,” "Waitress Live!” "Daredevil.” FAVORITE REGIONAL: Joanne-RENT & Celie-The Color Purple @ The Muny (Best Performer in a Musical - St. Louis Theater Circle), Muse in Disney's Hercules @ Paper Mill, Nominated for Helen Hayes Award, Alliance Award, Audelco Award. Asé ANGELICA HALE (Trisha) is a young artist and performer based in Atlanta, Georgia, who is known for competing on "America's Got Talent” and finishing as the youngest runner up in the show's history. She has performed all over the world and made numerous television appearances on shows like "Little Big Shots,” "TODAY,” and the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.” She has also originated the role of Trisha in BOOP! The Musical in its pre-Broadway run in Chicago. Her music and videos have amassed hundreds of millions of views across social media as she continues to embark on her journey as a performing artist. PHILLIP HUBER (Pudgy ). World-renowned marionette artist known for films Being John Malkovich and Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful. Theatrical: ‘Paul the Dog' Darling Grenadine, Goodspeed and Chicago's Marriott. That's Christmas, Shubert Theater, Chicago, The Road to Hollywood, Goodspeed, Busker Alley pre-Broadway tour. Nightclubs: Lido de Paris, Casino de Monte Carlo, Magic Castle, Hollywood, Hansa Theater, Hamburg, Place Au Spectacle, Geneva. Television: "The Tonight Show,” Emmy/Peabody Award winning "Dusty's Treehouse,” "Le Plus Grande Cabaret Du Monde” (France), "Variete” (Chile). Art Exhibition: Don't Trust Anyone Over Thirty,” Art Basel-Miami Beach, Vienna, Berlin, and Whitney Museum. Phillip' s one man show Suspended Animation appears worldwide. AUBIE MERRYLEES (Oscar). Broadway: To Kill A Mockingbird, KPOP. Other theatre: Wolf Play (Soho Rep); Hamlet in Hamlet (Bedlam), Off By One with David Strathairn (People's Light); Barrymore nominations for Hand to God (Philadelphia Theatre Co.) and The Aliens (Theatre Exile). Film/TV: Jules; "The Bite.” LAWRENCE ALEXANDER he/him/they (Ensemble ). Boston Conservatory graduate, Lawrence danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago after school. Bway credits: Follies, Anything Goes and The Lion King. 1st Nat/Young Frankenstein, The Band Wagon (Encores!), "On The Town” (Encores!) Showboat (Carnegie Hall)! commercial/tv: SMASH (pilot) (Beyoncé) Back-up dancer "MIA”He recently performed in the "NBCU UPFronts” at RCMH. You can catch him in the upcoming 3rd season of "The Gilded Age”. Cabaret: "1 Night in KC with LA” (Crown Center) Multimedia: "For Sure” (YouTube) 2022 "Best Music video” at the illustrious Awareness Film Festival in LA at the Regal theater! Praise God to all God‘s children! COURTNEY ARANGO (Swing). Broadway Debut! Favorite Credits Include: West Side Story (Anita), Pippin (Fastrada), In The Heights (Nina u/s/ Yolanda), A Chorus Line (Diana), Jesus Christ Superstar US Tour (Assistant Choreographer & Dance Captain). 2019 Craig Noel Award Recipient. Thanks to God, AAG, Tara Rubin Casting, and MY VILLAGE (Especially Mom & Dad)! I am only here because YOU have stood in my corner and championed me. Thank you for seeing me to this moment and nurturing my heart and spirit along the way. WOW. WOW. WOW. WE DID IT! <3 IG: @courtney_arango COLIN BRADBURY (Ensemble, u/s Raymond, Grampy). Broadway: Elf; Funny Girl; Carousel; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Come Fly Away. Tours: Hello Dolly!; The Book of Mormon; A Chorus Line; White Christmas; 42nd Street. Other Favs: BOOP! (Pre-Broadway World Premiere); Radio City Christmas Spectacular; Bombshell: In Concert; The Jack Cole Project (World Premiere); Lovin' The Bogin. SO much Regional Theater. TV/Film: Isn't It Romantic?; Fosse/Verdon; Hail Caesar! TRISTEN BUETTEL (Ensemble, u/s Valentina ). So excited for BOOP! to finally be on Broadway! Broadway: OBC Bad Cinderella. Off-Broadway/Tour: Jersey Boys. Regional: Frozen (Elsa, Maltz Jupiter Theatre), Anne of Green Gables (Josie Pye, Goodspeed), Ever After (The Alliance), MT Wichita. Queens, NY native and Syracuse University alum. Thank you to Jerry, Rachelle, Marc & Dustin. For Mom, Dad & my future hubby John! @tristenjadee JOSHUA BURRAGE (Ensemble). BOOP YEAH! Broadway: Cats (2016 Revival). National Tours: Disney's Newsies, A Bronx Tale. TV/Film: Imaginary Friends (Paramount Pictures), "The Gilded Age” (HBO), "Westworld” (HBO), Newsies: LIVE (Disney+). All the thanks in the world to Jerry, my incredible parents, brothers and Rebecca & Sofia at CESD! This one is for you, Noni. VICTORIA BYRD (Ensemble, u/s Betty Boop, Trisha) is thrilled to be returning to Broadway in BOOP! She made her Broadway debut in Back to the Future as a member of the ensemble and understudying Jennifer Parker. Most recently, she was seen in Macbeth in Stride at Yale Repertory Theatre. Off-Broadway: Cheek To Cheek. National Tour: Aladdin. Regional credits include: Chicago (MUNY), An American in Paris (Cape Playhouse), School Girls (SpeakEasy Stage) West Side Story (Asolo Repertory Theatre). BFA Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Many thanks to the team at Tara Rubin Casting, and endless gratitude to my agents at DGRW and my parents for their support. DAN CASTIGLIONE (Ensemble) is honored and excited to be making his Broadway debut with this incredible cast! Credits: The Tick (Prime Video), Isn't it Romantic, West Side Story (Milwaukee Rep), "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” So much love to my family, friends and all the amazing educators who got me here! @imstigs REBECCA CORRIGAN (Ensemble, Assistant Dance Captain) is a New York based artist. Some credits include Warner Brothers' In the Heights, the role of Graziella in MRT's West Side Story, PHISH at MSG. Rebecca has toured and performed with Nadine Bommer Dance Company, Castle Rat and other artists around the country. IAN GALLAGHER FITZGERALD he/him (Swing, Dance Captain) is endlessly humbled to join in a story reflective of the female empowerment he has witnessed his entire life. He would like to extend his gratitude to the remarkable women who shaped his world: Mom, Connie, Paige, Blair, Nora, Joyce, Bethany, Pat, Rak, and Dr. M . For my original Bette. RJ HIGTON (Ensemble, u/s Raymond ). Originally from Huntington Beach, CA. Broadway: The Outsiders OBC (Chet/Bob u/s Paul u/s, Dir. Danya Taymor). TV: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” S5 on Amazon Prime (Dir. Amy Sherman-Palidino). Film: Caught Stealing (Dir Darren Arnofsky), Born 2 loose (Dir. Carlos Cardona) World Premiere: Boop! (CIBC Theatre). Regional: West Side Story (The Muny). All my love and gratitude to my Family, Friends, UMICH MT and DGRW @rj_higton NINA LAFARGA (Ensemble). Broadway: In The Heights (Yolanda, u/s Nina, Original Broadway Cast), Frozen (OBC), On Your Feet! (Robin, OBC), Women On the Verge Of a Nervous Breakdown (Ana, OBC), Sweet Charity (Alice), Aida. Off/pre-Broadway: Boop!, In The Heights (Drama Desk Award), Frozen, On Your Feet!, Encores! (Oliver!, Fanny), Chess, The Capeman (Public Theatre). 1st Nat'l Tour: Aida. TV: "Fosse/Verdon”,"Elementary”, "Smash”, " Blue Bloods”, "30 Rock”, "SNL”, "Late Night With Seth Meyers”, " The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, "All My Children”, "As The World Turns” and more. Film: In The Heights, Kiss Of The Spiderwoman (2025), Friends With Kids, Sleeping With The Fishes, The Irishman, Ted 2, Music and Lyrics. NYU grad. @ninalafarga MORGAN McGHEE (Ensemble, u/s Carol). Baton Rouge native, Clark Atlanta University and AMDA grad. Jelly's Last Jam (Encores!) The Who's Tommy (Goodman) Ain't Too Proud (Broadway), The Harder They Come (Public Theatre). TV/Film: "Law & Order”, "Everything's Trash”, "Flatbush Misdemeanors”, "FBI”, "Bull”, "Daredevil: Born Again”, The Bride! Consistently grateful. Praise to God and gratitude to family. @morgan.eli RYAH NIXON (Ensemble, u/s Valentina ). Broadway/New York: The Great Gatsby (OBC), Once Upon a One More Time (OBC), Kinky Boots. National Tour: Dolly Parton's 9 to 5. World Premieres: Moonshine, Beaches. Cast Album: Lizzie, Broadway Records. TV: "The Good Fight,” "Dickinson,” "Louie.” Carnegie Mellon alum. @ryahnixon CHRISTIAN PROBST he/him (Ensemble, u/s Oscar). Broadway: Bad Cinderella (Ensemble, Sebastian, u/s) and The Book of Mormon (Swing, McKinley u/s). Tours: The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric), The Book of Mormon (Dance Captain). Select Regional: Ogunquit (Cosmo, Singin' In the Rain), Sacramento Music Circus (Billy Lawlor, 42nd Street), Goodspeed, PCLO, Paper Mill Playhouse, KC Starlight, and The Muny. Proud graduate of Yale University '17. Member of the Yale Whiffenpoofs, performing for Secretary Hillary Clinton, Dame Julie Andrews, PM Justin Trudeau, and Dame Angela Lansbury. Love and thanks to mentors, teachers, Tara Rubin Casting, BRS/Gage, friends, family, and Nicky! IG: @christianbprobst RICKY SCHROEDER (Ensemble, Asst. Director). Ricky can't believe he gets to write the words ‘Broadway Debut!' in his bio. 16 years after moving to NYC, he'd almost given up on that. Don't give up. He's done some Theatre and TV/Film gigs like Kinky Boots (1st National, Off-Bway), Pose, Tales of the City, but ‘Broadway Debut', remember? What else could matter?? When not onstage he thinks he's a popstar and releases music under the name Ricky Asch. He wouldn't have made it here if not for his parents and sister. Thanks JM for making his dreams come true. @RickyASchroeder @RickyAsch www.rickyaschroeder.com GABRIELLA SORRENTINO (Ensemble ). Proud New Yorker. Broadway: Hamilton, On Your Feet. Hamilton (Chicago). Other credits include Diana Morales in A Chorus Line and Consuela in West Side Story. BFA in Dance Point Park. Grateful to Jerry, David, Rak, and the rest of the creative team for this opportunity. Overjoyed to be part of this show! DEREK JORDAN TAYLOR (Ensemble, u/s Dwayne). Bway: The Great Gatsby, Funny Girl. Derek would like to thank his mom for putting her kids first, and her Chicken Parm. Shoutout Kayla and bk. Stay true to yourself. All the kiddos that want to do this when they're older… you can! @imderekjordan LIZZY TUCKER (Ensemble, u/s Betty Boop, Trisha). Broadway debut! This 22-year-old Texas-native has always dreamed of being on Broadway and is so grateful to be doing so alongside such incredibly inspiring artists and an iconic creative team. Regional credits include RENT (Summer Lyric at Tulane). Lizzy is making her Broadway debut in the theater where she saw her first Broadway show. TXSTMT Alum! Go bobcats! Lizzy would like to thank her agents at DGRW, her family and best friends for their continuous support and love. Major slay! @lizzytuckerr lizzytucker.com AMY VAN NORSTRAND (Swing). Broadway/National Tours: Holiday Inn, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Elf the Musical. Countless regional credits. Proud Point Park University alumni. Thank you to the creative team for this incredible opportunity. For my husband Brian and my boys D and G. You can have it all. DAMANI VAN RENSALIER (Swing, u/s Carol) is a performing artist from Paterson, NJ and is super grateful to be joining the company of BOOP! She enjoys making art with friends, caring for her plants and taking hot yoga classes in her free time. She was recently seen as an ensemble performer in the world premiere of The Preacher's Wife at the Alliance Theatre. Other Broadway credits include Hadestown and Hamilton. Damani thanks her family for their endless support, all of her dance teachers for the many years of training and her village for holding her up in prayer. God remains good! DAVID WRIGHT JR. ( Swing, u/s Dwayne) is excited to join BOOP! The Musical. Babe's 1st OBC! Broadway: Aladdin, National Tour credits: Mean Girls (OTC), Cruel Intentions (OTC), Rodgers & Hammerstein Cinderella . Regional credits: Becoming Nancy (LAB) and Newsies (Marriott). Thank you to Tara Rubin Casting! Many thanks to my loved ones for your constant support and guidance. Thank you to my agents at Boals, Winnett & Associates. Instagram - @davidwrightjr_ |
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