"BOOP! The Musical" runs November 17 - 29 at the Academy of Music

Karen Rogers, Steph WaltonSat, October 31, 2026 at 11:05 PM UTC

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The iconic Betty Boop jumps from page to stage in "BOOP! The Musical."

"She's zany and ditzy, but she's also smart," says Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations for Ensemble Arts Philly.

Her signature voice, eyes and style shine in this live action adaptation for a new generation.

Jerry Mitchell, director and choreographer of "BOOP! The Musical," calls Betty Boop a really empowering female character.

"She does what she wants, and she sort of says what she wants," says Mitchell. "She was so far before her time."

Mitchell recalls Betty Boop being a lawyer and a judge.

"She even ran for president," he says.

"She is definitely a woman to be reckoned with," says Egler.

Created in 1930, Betty Boop became known as the "Queen of the Animated Screen."

"She's a movie star from her time," she says. "Living in her own sort of black-and-white world."

In the musical version, she's on a journey of self-discovery.

Egler says through a misadventure, Betty Boop ends up in modern day New York City.

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She finds friendship and love that turns her monochrome world to color. "So your life is never full of color until your life is full of love," says Mitchell.

The music, set and costumes create a visually stunning portrayal of the metamorphosis.

"We change within an instant," he says. "From a black-and-white world to color."

And Mitchell says there is no AI used for the transition on stage, calling it kind of a "magical moment" in the theater for audience members.

"It's just very cleverly depicting the two different worlds together," says Egler.

With music by Grammy Award-winner David Foster and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.

"It's got hip hop influences in it, tap influences in it, jazz influences in it," says Mitchell. "This is about finding whatever that is that makes you feel more full, more alive and more full of color."

Egler says the show really celebrates Betty Boop "staying true to herself," calling her "a real modern heroine."

Ensemble Arts Philly presents "BOOP! The Musical" November 17 - 29, 2026 at the Academy of Music.

Ensemble Arts Philly - "BOOP! The Musical" / BOOP! The Musical - Ensemble Arts Philly

Link to tickets at the Academy of Music / BOOP! The Musical - Ensemble Arts Philly

Academy of Music240 S. Broad StreetPhiladelphia, PA

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”