Jasmine Amy Rogers Brings Betty Boop to Life in ‘Boop! The Musical' on Broadway
For 'Boop! The Musical' star Jasmine Amy Rogers, Betty Boop was 'always in the background of my life somewhere,' says the dynamic Broadway lead. 'I always knew who she was because she's in our pop culture,' she adds. 'But I definitely didn't know her the way I do now.'
Rogers explored almost a century of Betty Boop lexicon, from the character's catchphrases to signature poses and coquettish red-lipped pout, while working to bring the character to life onstage in 'Boop! The Musical.' The ubiquitous character, who first appeared in 1930, has gone through several cultural resurgences throughout the decades.
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'I just fell in love with her so deeply because I think she is — at least for me, and I think for a lot of people — the embodiment of everything that a woman is capable of,' says Rogers, who originated the role during the show's world debut in Chicago. 'She believes in a strong right and wrong, and her moral compass is unwavering, and I love that about her. It encourages me to be brave in my daily life.'
The musical opens with Betty Boop starring in her own fictionalized gray-toned world, frozen in time. Looking for a break from her unwavering fame, Betty travels (with the help of a gadget invented by supporting character Grampy) to the current day 'real world' of New York City, landing in a technicolor Comic-Con where Betty Boop discovers that she is still popular there too, just as cosplay lore. In New York she quickly befriends a teen girl, stepping into the role of personal coach-slash-cheerleader.
The show, which features a splashy ensemble cast, opens with a large tap dance routine that almost stood in the way of Rogers getting the role — her first dance audition fell flat.
'The hardest thing going into it for me was the dance and the physicality,' says the 25-year-old actress, who ended up getting a second shot at the part. 'I was really intimidated for a while, but once I decided that I really wanted it, I just had to take it into gear. I went to tap classes and I just got myself back into shape to do what was being asked of me,' she adds. 'Betty is a cartoon, but she's also drawn in such a specific way. So the way she moves, the way she walks, the way she stands, it all matters. And that was something that was really, really nerve-wracking to me when I started out.'
Less intimidating, but still nerve-racking, was the character's high-pitched voice, which has since become second-nature for Rogers. 'When I was figuring it out, I was so nervous about it that I didn't wanna practice it even by myself at home because I was almost embarrassed,' she says, adding that she leaned on her childhood aptitude for cartoon impersonations.
'It's always been ingrained in me to kind of be a character. I've spent most of my life being that cartoon character, and trying to cool it down to go through my everyday life so I'm not so out of whack,' she says. 'I think a lot of theater kids come from a place like that.'
Rogers, who grew up in Texas, began dancing and singing at a young age, and fell in love with musical theater after auditioning for a local community theater performance of 'Peter Pan.'
'I ended up getting a role in Tiger Lily's tribe, in the ensemble. But it was really an eye-opening moment for me where I was like, I'm getting to sing, I'm getting to dance, I'm getting to have fun,' says Rogers. 'I'm getting to do all these things that I really, really love, and I'm getting to do it on stage and I'm obsessed. From that moment on, I just was hooked on it. And I've been doing it since.'
After high school, Rogers moved to New York to attend the Manhattan School of Music, and after graduation starred in several regional musical productions and as Gretchen Weiners in a national tour of the 'Mean Girls' musical in 2022.
With the 'Boop!' opening night behind her — and Tonys Awards season still ahead — Rogers is looking forward to finding new aspects of Betty Boop to explore onstage, and continuing to connect with cross-generational audiences in what's already proved to be a life-changing role.
'[Betty] has changed the way that I move through the world,' adds Rogers. 'I'm just a little bit more of a positive person lately, because I'm so full of joy and love.'
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Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Celebs Who Are Actually Nice In Real Life
BuzzFeed Community members recently told us about their most memorable and heartfelt celebrity encounters, and the stories are so sweet, I need you to read them right now!! "I saw John Krasinski (who, no lie, has always been my dream boat celeb) at the Tate. This guy is so, so tall!! I embarrassingly chased him down to the Münch special exhibit ticket line and stood behind him awkwardly until he was about to be next. I tapped him on the shoulder and, even more embarrassingly, said, 'John?' LIKE I KNEW THE GUY! He turned around and acted unfazed, asked why we were there, and asked us where we were doing our art history grad school in London — as if he actually wanted to have a convo! He said, 'Oh, well, this is the place to be!' I asked him the same question, and he said, 'My wife is from here.' And I had the kahunas to say, 'Oh, Emily, of course!' LIKE I KNEW HER TOO! We took several pictures because he said, 'Do you like how you look?' Ha! I think I had that pic as my profile pic for years." "Paul McCartney. I met him at a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago while working as a reporter. Afterward, he talked to us one by one. During our conversation, he pulled out a large piece of paper and drew a picture, dedicating it to my sister. How nice could this guy be? They say he's the Beatle with the most PR qualities, and they are probably right." "My husband met Rihanna years ago and said she was super nice. He was working as a ground handler at an airport and was setting up something on the ramp for her private plane. She came out, approached him, asked him about his job, and they chatted for a few minutes. Not sure if she was killing time until the gate opened, or if she went out of her way to talk to him for the heck of it, but he had nothing but nice things to say about her." "I met George Takei at my state's Comic-Con. My students read his graphic novel, They Called Us Enemy, in class. At the end of the unit, I had them write a letter to him. I chose a few of them and took them with me to Comicon. I had a cover letter with them to explain what we did. George signed my copy of his book, thanked me for being a teacher and teaching his book, and said that he and Brad would read the letters in the hotel that night. They both talked to me for a few minutes and were so kind. When I returned to school from break, there was a handwritten thank-you note from George in my mailbox! He and Brad are both class acts." "Jennifer Aniston is a sweetheart. She seemed very genuine and kind. I met her in a restaurant bathroom, of all places. We talked for so long, her friend had to come and find her." "I met Lorne Michaels when I worked at a 5-star restaurant. Everyone who worked with me knew I'd been a fan of SNL since I came out of the womb, so when I picked up the phone to make the reservation and spoke with his assistant, I told them I was Lorne's biggest fan. When he arrived with his wife and son (who went to a local boarding school), they were so kind, and he said, 'Oh, I heard you're my biggest fan, and that's amazing because I don't have fans — the cast always has fans!' I almost died. I gave them my favorite table, which they were thrilled with, and when he got up to leave, he left me an envelope with a pretty sweet bonus tip inside. I wasn't usually tipped for doing my work, so it wasn't necessary, but it was so thoughtful and appreciated. You'd never know he was famous or rich at all." "I've met Harry Styles several times; he is so nice and considerate. He actually put off going out with his team just to sit and talk to my 15-year-old daughter and me. I'm sure he was exhausted, but he seemed to enjoy relaxing and chatting with us. My daughter will most likely live on that memory for years to come!" "I met Matthew Gray Gubler after he did a talk years ago at my college! Only the first 100 people who got tickets were supposed to be able to do a meet and greet. He said 'rules were made to be broken' and that he would stay and meet with everyone until they kicked him out. Not only was he incredibly sweet to me (literally introduced humble and posed for a goofy pic), but he seemed so genuinely kind to everyone there. Just amazing energy all around." "Carol Burnett. I was returning from Indonesia and had a layover in San Francisco, where I saw Carol Burnett. I would not have bothered her, except I had her biography in my purse. When I approached her, she was so excited that I was reading her book. We talked until our planes called to board them. She even signed the book. What a lovely lady." "Not long before Stan Lee died, I met him at his final East Coast appearance. My son had made a Spider-Man comic book for him. He was thrilled! He read it aloud, laughed joyfully at the ending (Doc Oc forgot to put batteries in his machine), and made me promise to encourage my son and his gift. I did, and he hugged me. He was so kind! I cried when he died. I think of him often and like to think he's with his beloved wife now." "Will Ferrell is awesome. He almost doesn't seem to recognize that he's one of the most famous movie stars in the world. He makes incredible eye contact with strangers and will sit and talk to anyone. You can just tell when a person is full of themselves and when they are not, and he is not." "A friend and I visited my boyfriend while he was doing security at a jazz festival in Malibu. He told us Adam Sandler and his family had been there all day, and tons of people took pictures with him. We ran back to the car to grab the digital camera, looked up, and saw Adam, his pregnant wife Jackie, and their toddler leaving. We went up to them. Adam was clearly done for the day, but his wife said, 'Honey, let me hold [toddler's name] and you can take a picture.' We handed him the camera and he took a selfie with us. Still have that picture on my fridge. Love the Sandman!" "Stellan Skarsgard. I met Stellan on a flight from Washington, D.C., to Stockholm, Sweden. He was such a kind, lovely man, and even after a long, tiring flight, he walked with me down to the luggage claim and collected and carried his own bags. We talked about his kids and what movies and projects his sons were currently doing. He was just amazing and completely normal. I've always admired his work, and now I'm even more impressed with him as a person. I watch anything he's cast in, as well as his sons; they definitely inherited his talent." "Clint Eastwood. He was friends with the dad of one of my friends, and we were at my friend's dad's cabin in northern California to party. We were surprised when his dad showed up, and we had to hide the party evidence (his dad was a DA). We did not expect his dad to be there…but Clint was with him, and he played frisbee in a meadow with us. We sort of pretended we did not recognize him. I think he had fun being normal for a bit. Nice person." "I can only speak from my perspective, but Tom Hardy was cool to work with. I know select people, including Charlize Theron, have criticized him. But context is also important. It's easier to see how somebody could be grumpier working in the deserts of South Africa for weeks on Mad Max, which had to be an incredibly challenging shoot, than in urban Atlanta while shooting the first Venom. But whenever he walked by me and my crew, he would light up, call us 'buddy,' give us bro hugs, and sometimes stop and chat. He did this pretty much from the first time we met him, and he never stopped." "In the spring of 1981, I was 15 years old, a sophomore in high school, and working a part-time job at a small grocery store in a tiny Texas town. One of our regular customers came in and mentioned that Farrah Fawcett was outside waiting in a car. Turns out she and others were taking a break from filming the movie Murder in Texas at a ranch just up the road. As a 15-year-old boy and a huge fan of hers, I asked my boss if I could go meet her and get her autograph. I quickly asked my coworkers if they wanted to go, too. All declined. So I went alone, found the car with her sitting in the backseat, and approached her. She rolled her window down and said hello. She was gorgeous." "Ron Howard. I went to a golf prep school in South Carolina, where his son, Reed, also attended in a younger grade. He and his wife attended a tournament we were playing in Absecon, NJ. The van we rented that drove us to the airport was full, and I nervously asked him if he would drive me back with his son. It was only a 10-minute drive to the airport, but the three of them were super down to earth, and it became apparent that they were salt of the earth, humble people — also evidenced by the modest station wagon he was driving. Awesome experience and a very nice family!" "I got to meet Tom Kenny at a convention in November. He is just as darling in person as you would expect! I did a photo op with him, and I could hear him chatting with people as they went up to take their pictures. I got up and took my picture, but was so nervous I had nothing to say. I had dressed as Sara Bellum from Power Puff Girls since he voiced the mayor in the show, and as I was walking away, he called out, 'I love a scarlet lady!' I immediately let out a big giggle and skittered away. Such a gem!" "Joey Fatone. I met him at a convention, and he was so genuine and took the time to talk with everyone; it was more than just a photo op. He gave everyone a hug or a handshake and made you feel like you were talking to a friend, not a member of a superstar boy band." "I met Martin Sheen after a speaking engagement he had. He was so friendly that he even serenaded me with the song 'Cecilia' after he learned my name." "Dan Aykroyd was beyond nice! When I was in college, a friend of mine was interning at SNL and managed to sneak my friends and me after-party tickets. At the time, the cast included people like Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and many others. We went to the after-party at a little restaurant/bar in Little Italy in downtown Manhattan. My friends and I were on a back patio sitting down, and out walks Dan Aykroyd and his brother. We were sitting there with our jaws on the floor. He immediately introduced himself and started asking us questions — who we were, what college we were attending, what we were studying — and even gave us great life advice. He sat and talked to all of us for about 30 minutes before we went back into the restaurant area, then held the door for us. Super down-to-earth! Not sure if he will ever read this, but if so, thank you, Dan, for being so nice to a star-struck college kid!" "I met Joe Pesci in a bar in NYC in 2003. He was with several security guards who were trying to keep people away from him, but a friend and I waved at him, and he came over and talked to us. We chatted for several minutes. He was extremely kind and funny!" "I used to be a lift-op at Aspen Buttermilk ski area. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell would frequent our lift with their little kids, one of whom was Kate Hudson, who was probably 6 years old. They were the nicest folks and would always chat with us (unlike most other celebrities). Kurt is such a laid-back and down-home dude. Kudos." "One that might be surprising is Colin Hanks. It would be easy to assume he's some privileged nepo baby who has no comprehension of reality. But he is actually quite down-to-earth. We worked on a show called The Good Guys back in 2010, and we would speak to each other daily as if we were friends, telling jokes and talking about our days. He has a great sense of humor and seems pretty humble, considering his upbringing as the son of the biggest movie star of a generation. A few years later, I got to work on Bridges of Spies with his dad, and while I didn't have as many meaningful conversations with him, he also seemed very personable and approachable. It explained a lot about why Colin was the way he was." "One really awesome guy is Keith David. I worked with him on a TV show when my first daughter, Lottie, was born. He latched onto it and was delighted to talk to me about my first days of fatherhood. He even let me show him pictures of her on my phone. He remembered her name and would come in and very excitedly ask, 'How's my little Lottie?' He would genuinely listen to what I had to say, smiling and actively participating in the conversation. He would also affirm that I was experiencing some of my life's most challenging yet fulfilling moments. He also read a crew member's script, and one day, people brought posters from Platoon and The Thing, and he was happy to sign them." And: "I worked in the film industry for over 20 years. I've met a lot of celebrities through the years. More of them know how to behave with decorum than don't (at least in small interactions), and I've met many very famous and tactful celebrities. The absolute nicest, though, was Lacey Chabert. I worked on a small movie with her in Dallas, and she was always professional, even-tempered, friendly, and down-to-earth. She went to the wrap party stag and sat at a table beside my wife and me. We started a conversation and talked for a very long time about nothing at all until she had to be pulled away to do something. It was such a personable conversation that it felt like we were sitting with an old friend." Who's the nicest celebrity you've ever had the pleasure of meeting? What was your interaction like? Tell us in the comments or share anonymously using this form. Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Anna Wintour leaving Vogue as editor-in-chief: Her most memorable career moments
Anna Wintour doesn't break news, she makes it. After nearly four decades at the helm of Vogue magazine, the editor-in-chief revealed her biggest news yet on Thursday, June 26: She will step down from her top editor role at the outlet by the year's end. Known for her stern management style and iconic A-frame bob, she has revolutionized fashion and modernized Vogue with a keen eye for emerging designers and a disdain for existing trends. Her name has become synonymous with the luxury fashion outlet – more visible than any other fashion editor in history – by producing risky covers and controversial spreads featuring Beyoncé, LeBron James, Simone Biles, former first lady Michelle Obama and A-list ex-couple Ye and Kim Kardashian. Anna Wintour stepping down as Vogue editor-in-chief in major fashion industry shift Wintour will stay on as chief content officer at Condé Nast, the magazine's parent company, and as Vogue's global editorial director. WWD and Business of Fashion also confirmed the news. As the style icon, 75, steps down this year, here is a look at the iconic moments that cemented her in fashion history. How long has Anna Wintour been at Vogue? Since her start at Vogue in 1988, Wintour has become synonymous with the high fashion scene, sitting stoically in the front row of New York Fashion Week shows, helming the Met Gala and presiding over the glossy pages of a magazine largely considered the "fashion bible." Young Anna Wintour's 1988 first cover of American Vogue Wintour's first cover as editor-in-chief is arguably one of her most edgy and experimental. For the cover shoot, Israeli model Michaela Bercu paired stonewashed Guess jean and a haute couture Christian Lacroix jacket adorned with a beaded cross. Wintour later said the look was "all very 'Like a Prayer'" in the vein of pop star Madonna's 1980s and early '90s religions-inspired era. People had mixed reactions to the shoot, Wintour later wrote in a 2012 essay: "Afterwards, in the way that these things can happen, people applied all sorts of interpretations: It was about mixing high and low, Michaela was pregnant, it was a religious statement. But none of these things was true." A post shared by FASHION ARCHIVE (@versacediary) A look at Anna Wintour's kids and if they followed in her fashion footsteps But Wintour had a simpler explanation: "I had just looked at that picture and sensed the winds of change. And you can't ask for more from a cover image than that." 1995: Anna Wintour chairs her first Met Gala The Met Gala started in 1948 as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, but under Wintour's more than three decades of leadership, it transformed into one of the world's most prestigious fashion events. Justin Bieber apologizes for telling wife Hailey she'd 'never be on the cover' of Vogue Wintour began co-chairing the fundraiser in 1995, wearing a floor-length, halter neck ivory gown that year to the "Haute Couture" themed event. She later went on to change the date of the gala from December to the first Monday in May each year, and, according to Vogue, tailored the guest list to include only the biggest stars in fashion, entertainment, sports and politics. 2003: Anna Wintour reportedly inspires 'Devil Wears Prada' When Lauren Weisberger's bestselling book, "The Devil Wears Prada" hit shelves in 2003, and then movie screens in 2006, it introduced Wintour to an entirely new audience and turned her into an icon. The story is based on Weisberger's experience as an assistant to Wintour at Vogue. Fans have long compared Wintor to Miranda Priestly, the icy, no-boundaries boss, played by Meryl Streep in the movie adaptation. Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé in these 10 bingeable memoirs But the magazine giant didn't speak about those rumors until more than two decades later, when, at a musical adaption of the book in London, Wintour told the BBC it was "for the audience and for the people I work with to decide if there are any similarities between me and Miranda Priestly." 2014: Anna Wintour gives Kim Kardashian gift of a lifetime with Vogue cover In present day, Kim Kardashian is a fashion icon in her own right. But in 2014, just over a decade ago, Wintour garnered backlash by granting the then-"Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star a Vogue cover with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Ye and Kardashian appeared in a bridal embrace on the April cover that year, with Kardashian's 15-carat diamond engagement ring in full view. Inside were family photos of the pair and their eldest daughter, North West, taken by famed photographer and Wintour favorite Annie Leibovitz. Under the embrace were the hashtagged words: #WORLDSMOSTTALKEDABOUTCOUPLE. A post shared by TeamKanyeDaily (@teamkanyedaily) Met Gala, Anna Wintour honored Black men in fashion. The truth is far more complicated. Wintour's choice garnered backlash and simultaneously cemented Kardashian as a burgeoning star in the fashion world. Later, far more luxury brands began to work with Kardashian and her now-annual appearances at the A-list heavy Met Gala are among the most anticipated each year. 2017: Anna Wintour becomes a dame The editor-in-chief and fashion icon was given a new title in 2017 by Queen Elizabeth II – a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the female equivalent of a knighthood. Who is Anna Wintour? What to know about longtime Vogue chief Wintour received the honor at Buckingham Palace, wearing a pink belted Chanel coat and her classic sunglasses, for her service to journalism and fashion. Wintour was born in London and briefly led British Vogue. Vogue editor earns top honor: Anna Wintour receives Presidential Medal of Freedom 2025: Anna Wintour Medal of Freedom honor In January, Wintour joined designer Ralph Lauren, chef José Andrés, Irish singer and U2 frontman Bono, "Back to the Future" star Michael J. Fox, Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and TV personality Bill Nye to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Joe Biden. Contributing: Anna Kaufman
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Who is Anna Wintour? What to know about longtime Vogue chief
In a shocking turn of events, Anna Wintour has announced she will step down as the head of American Vogue after nearly four decades at the helm. Wintour, known for her stern management style and iconic A-frame bob, revealed her decision to the magazine's staff during an editorial meeting this week. Other fashion publications, including WWD and Business of Fashion also confirmed the news. Vogue is actively searching for a new head of editorial content as part of a different organizational structure adopted four years ago. Wintour, who began her career at Vogue in 1988, is not leaving the publication completely, staying on as Condé Nast's chief content officer and Vogue's global editorial director. Here's what to know about Anna Wintour, former Vogue editor-in-chief. Who is Anna Wintour? Wintour, 75, has served as the editor-in-chief for American Vogue, the world's premier fashion magazine since 1988. Wintour has become synonymous with the high fashion scene, sitting stoically in the front row of New York Fashion Week shows, helming the Met Gala and presiding over the glossy pages of a magazine largely considered the "fashion bible." Wintour has two children, Charles and Bee Shaffer, whom she shares with ex-husband David Shaffer. This is a developing story.
