Broadway's Boop! Sets Final Bow

As of July 13, we cannot see BOOP! The Musical on Broadway. The David Foster-Susan Birkenhead musical, which opened April 5 at the Broadhurst Theatre, has set a final bow, which will cap off a run of 25 previews and 112 regular performances.

The disappointing closing notice makes the show the latest casualty of this year's Tony Awards. The musical was nominated for its choreography (by Jerry Mitchell) and for Jasmine Amy Rogers' leading performance in the title role, but ended the night empty-handed. Real Women Have Curves, SMASH, and Dead Outlaw have all succumbed to similar fates.

The musical, which brings the classic animated character to the stage, is directed and choreographed by Mitchell, and features a book by Bob Martin, music by Foster, and lyrics by Birkenhead. Leading the cast is Rogers, as Betty Boop, who travels from her cartoon black-and-white world into modern-day New York City to learn a little bit more about herself and bring inspiration to jaded New Yorkers.

The cast also includes Faith Prince as Valentina, Ainsley Melham as Dwayne, Erich Bergen as Raymond Demarest, Stephen DeRosa as Grampy, Anastacia McCleskey as Carol Evans, Angelica Hale as Trisha, puppeteer Phillip Huber as Pudgy the Dog, and Aubie Merrylees as Oscar Delacorte.

Joining them are Lawrence Alexander, Colin Bradbury, Tristen Buettel, Joshua Michael Burrage, Victoria Byrd, Dan Castiglione, Rebecca Corrigan, RJ Higton, Nina Lafarga, Morgan McGhee, Ryah Nixon, Christian Probst, Ricky Schroeder, Gabriella Sorrentino, Derek Jordan Taylor, and Lizzy Tucker. Swings Courtney Arango, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, Amy Van Norstrand, Damani Van Rensalier, and David Wright Jr. round out the company. Casting is by Tara Rubin and Kevin Metzger-Timson.

The creative team also includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer Gregg Barnes, lighting designer Philip S. Rosenberg, sound designer Gareth Owen, projection designer Finn Ross, hair and wig designer Sabana Majeed, makeup designer Michael Clifton, illusion designer Skylar Fox, marionette designer The Huber Marionettes, music supervisor and arranger Daryl Waters, music director Rick Fox, orchestrator Doug Besterman, and dance music arranger Zane Mark. Broadway vets Rachelle Rak and Jon Rua serve as associate choreographers, with DB Bonds as associate director.