Please help save BOOP!, The Betty Boop Broadway Musical, from a VERY premature final bow! This production, which was years in the making, and had an outstanding pre-Broadway run in Chicago, opened in NYC just a few months ago. The show features Direction and Choreography by Jerry Mitchell, and his team, featuring DB Bonds, Jon Rua, Zane Mark, and Rachelle Rak... Music/Lyrics/Book by the trio of David Foster, Susan Birkenhead, and Bob Martin, with additional arrangements by Daryl Waters....Costumes by Gregg Barnes... Wigs by Sabana Majeed... Scenic Design by David Rockwell, and a list of Artists and Technicians that is just too long to mention. But believe me, every person is an absolute ROCK STAR!

Now let's get to the Cast, lead by Jasmine Amy Rogers, Ainsley Melham, Faith Prince, Stephen DeRosa, Anastacia McCleskey, Erich Bergen, Phillip Huber, Aubie Merrylees, Ricky Schroeder, and the wildly talented Angelica Hale. With an Ensemble that is beyond words, featuring the trio of Morgan McGhee, Ryah Nixon, and Christian Probst as the NYC Mascots, the velvety smooth tap skills of the beautiful Gabriella Sorrentino, the grace and angelic smile of Lizzy Tucker, the electric energy of Joshua Burrage, and the incredible versatility of Tori Byrd, just to highlight a few. Rounding out this INSANELY gifted squad, you have Amy Van Norstrand, Damani Van Rensalier, Tristen Buettel, Colin Bradbury, Eric Wright, David Wright Jr., Lawrence Alexander, Courtney Arango, Derek Jordan Taylor, Nina Lafarga, RJ Higton, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, Rebecca Corrigan, Arlee Chadwick, Dan Castiglione, and PUDGY!!!....each one of them will grab your attention, steal your heart, and never let go. They are JOY, they are LIGHT, they are LOVE!

Sadly, the show has been on the struggle bus for quite some time. It seemingly had minimal to no marketing, or perhaps it was just too little too late, and while other shows had opportunities for additional exposure by performing at gatherings such as the Ham4Ham sidewalk concert series, and the Tony Awards, Boop did not. You can have the greatest product, the greatest restaurant, the greatest show, but word of mouth can only do so much. So now, here we are, Boop has announced that they will be closing in just a few weeks, on July 13th, having performed just 25 previews, and 112 regular performances. I personally have seen it 8 times, and I'm not done yet. If you're a fan of Classic Musicals, the big, bright, colorful, energetic shows of Broadway's heyday, search no further! It's not another jukebox musical featuring songs that have been out for decades...it's not a revival that has been done fifty times....it's not a show that uses movie stars to boost ticket sales... and it doesn't feature the same faces and names that we see season after season. This is a NEW show, with NEW music, NEW choreography, and NEW TALENT!!! The Broadway community preaches about inclusion, diversity, and nurturing new shows, and new talents, but I am seeing show after show announcing closings, because folks aren't buying tickets. Where is the follow through? The only way to truly support a show is to put your butt in a seat! 

Icons of the industry, like Cynthia Erivo, Pink, Martin Short, Kristin Chenoweth, Dionne Warwick, ..and even Bill Gates, all have seen, and LOVED the show! What this team has done is beyond words. To take a black and white cartoon, and quite literally breathe life into the pages, is a remarkable feat. Believe me, when I first heard of the show a few years back, I rolled my eyes and continued with my day. But then I stumbled upon Jasmine, started following her story, and was drawn in by her beauty, talent, heart, and authenticity. And then, in time, I discovered that those same qualities flow throughout the entire cast and creative team. 

I could babble on and on about these folks for days, they really are that wonderful, but there is simply nothing better than buying a ticket and witnessing their brilliance for yourself. Look...I don't know if this petition will grow legs, or make any sort of difference, but at the very least it can serve as a love letter to this incredible company who were the light that I needed when I was lost in the dark. If we let our voices be heard, AND BUY TICKETS lol, then maybe...just maybe the Producers will open up their wallets and take a chance on Betty. I truly believe that if they can get through the Summer, Boop could fly high during the Holidays. Please sign the petition, buy a ticket, spread the word, and keep supporting the Arts!