To Play Betty Boop, Jasmine Amy Rogers
When Jasmine Amy Rogers learned she’d been nominated for a Chita Rivera Award for outstanding dancer in a Broadway show, she laughed—part disbelief, part impostor syndrome. “The dancing is always something that I was so fearful of,” she admitted. Her nerves showed during her audition for Boop! The Musical, where she stars as Betty Boop. The tap portion was so rocky that she barely made it through. “It sounded like somebody dropped a handful of silverware in the kitchen,” recalled choreographer Jerry Mitchell. But Rogers returned, improved, and ultimately got the role.
The Chita Rivera nomination was soon followed by a Tony nomination for best leading actress in a musical—an extraordinary feat for a Broadway debut. In The New York Times, chief critic Jesse Green praised her as “immensely likable,” noting she “sings fabulously,” and “nails all the Boop mannerisms.” Sipping a chai latte in Chelsea Market, Rogers, 26, expressed awe at her trajectory. Shopping earlier that day, she’d picked up a collage that reminded her of her dog—one of many small, grounding moments amid her meteoric rise.
Raised in Massachusetts, Rogers was always drawn to performance. As a child, she would don a purple wig and belt out emotional ballads like “Reflection” from Mulan. At age 7, she played a background role in Peter Pan, managing to sing louder than the lead. Her family moved to Houston in 2010, and in 2017 she became a finalist at the prestigious Jimmy Awards. Even then, she wrestled with doubts: “I felt like a fish out of water… like, ‘Do I belong here?’”
After high school, she attended Manhattan School of Music but left after two years, describing the experience as “stagnant.” That break turned into opportunity when Mitchell cast her in Becoming Nancy in Atlanta. Old insecurities resurfaced during that show. “There were moments I pushed myself too hard,” she said. Veteran cast members reminded her she didn’t need to prove anything—she had already earned her place.
Her next major role came on the Mean Girls tour as Gretchen Wieners. Then in 2023, Mitchell brought her into the Chicago production of Boop!. “She’s a money player,” Mitchell said. “She never steps onstage without being absolutely certain of every move.” Between Boop!’s Chicago run and Broadway debut, Rogers landed a role that would stretch her even further: Anita in Jelly’s Last Jam at Pasadena Playhouse.
Anita, originally played by Tonya Pinkins, is considered a milestone role for Black actresses. Director Kent Gash saw Rogers in Boop! and instantly knew she was right. “She may be a little on the young side,” Gash said, “but there’s complexity in that soul.” For Rogers, Anita was a new challenge. “She’s sexy, confident, cool—and I didn’t feel like any of those things,” she said. With help from an intimacy coordinator, she learned not only how to portray Anita but also how to see herself differently.
That transformation shaped her portrayal of Betty Boop. “Betty is sexy, suave, and cool, too,” Rogers said. “I had to reframe the way I looked at myself completely, and it was really hard.” But Jelly’s Last Jam also gave her something more: cultural and artistic affirmation. “It was my first time being in an all-Black cast,” she said. “It was so exciting… very liberating.”
Her performance as Betty became more grounded and personal. “What I love about playing Betty is that I am Black and I’m playing her—and there’s a lot of pride in that,” Rogers said. “But people don’t necessarily come to the show thinking about the fact that I’m Black. And that’s really exciting and refreshing.” Her co-star Ainsley Melham, who plays Dwayne, called her second turn in the role “even deeper,” balancing cartoon sparkle with emotional realism.
Now, Rogers can savor her success. “Kent Gash came to see the show the other day, and it made me so happy,” she said. “It was just so special. I was like, ‘Oh my goodness — I’m an actress.’” Not long ago, she stumbled through a tap routine. Today, she’s not just keeping up—she’s leading the rhythm.
