BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical

BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical at Muriel Kauffman Theatre - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Walking out of her own cartoon takes nerve, and Betty Boop is ready to try real life for a change. BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical brings the animation legend to the Muriel Kauffman Theatre, where her journey from familiar black-and-white frames into the vivid chaos of New York City becomes a story about discovering who you are when nobody's watching.

Betty wants what fame rarely allows: an ordinary day. No autographs, no performance, just the chance to wander and breathe. That simple wish drives her into a world splashed with color, where music and the possibility of love wait around every corner. David Foster's music and Susan Birkenhead's lyrics give voice to a character known mostly for her animated charm, revealing desires and dreams that go deeper than the iconic image.

The musical lets Betty step off the pedestal. She's still the personality audiences recognize, but now she's navigating a city that doesn't move in loops or freeze frames. Director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell shapes her escape into something playful and surprisingly tender, honoring the legend while giving her room to grow beyond it.

Romance and self-discovery collide in a New York that's as much a character as Betty herself. Bob Martin's book balances the cartoon roots with genuine feeling, making this more than nostalgia—it's a chance to meet someone familiar in an entirely new light.

Get tickets for BOOP! in Kansas City and watch a legend take her first real day off.