Report: Andrew Lippa Is New Composer on Betty Boop Musical | Playbill

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News Report: Andrew Lippa Is New Composer on Betty Boop Musical Andrew Lippa has taken over composing duties on a new musical based on the classic cartoon character Betty Boop.

In an interview with the California newspaper Alameda Times-Star, Lippa said he is collaborating with David Lindsay-Abaire on the Robin Goodman produced project. Previously, Jason Robert Brown was attached as composer.

Goodman was not available at press time to confirm the change.

Lindsay-Abaire's plays include Fuddy Meers and Kimberly Akimbo.

Lippa recently saw the world premiere of his and Brian Crawley's musical A Little Princess which opens at TheatreWorks, Aug. 28. He is also the author of The Wild Party, seen Off-Broadway a few seasons back.

Goodman previously said the script treats Boop as a character (a la Little Orphan Annie in Annie) and builds a story around her, drawing in part on the plots of the Betty features. Goodman and fellow producer Andrew Farber had previously hoped to put together a workshop in summer 2004. Betty Boop was one of the most enduring animated creations of the past century. The work of Max Fleisher and Fleisher Studios, she starred in a long series of cartoon shorts during the 1930s. Her name, spit-curl hair style and character were drawn from popular singer Helen Kane, the so-called "Boop Oop a Doop" girl.

A liberated but seemingly innocent flapper, Betty's eyes and head were as big and her cupid's bow mouth and black dress were small. Forever fending off the advances of lustful males and often found in an unlooked-for state of undress, her persona was perhaps the most sexual ever bestowed upon an animated character. Since a revival of her cartoons in the 1960s, Betty has lived on as an icon and made cameo appearances in films like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

Sources say the creative team have Kristin Chenoweth in mind for the title role.

 
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