Jasmine Amy Rogers of “Boop! The Musical” and Audra McDonald of “Gypsy” were big winners of the 2025 Drama Desk Awards.
They both won the Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical,” in a category that is yet again gender-free this year (two winners were selected since there were 12 nominees this year).
Rogers addressed the most challenging aspect of her job when it comes to playing Betty Boop.
“The hardest part is just the energy level that is required to deliver and pay homage to Betty,” Rogers said.
“Betty is so full of life and she is so exuberant. She never stops moving, never stops going or never stops singing,” Rogers noted.
Rogers acknowledged that getting to do that each night is both the most challenging part but also the most rewarding part.
“The fact that I am able to dive into this character and bring life to her in a way that we haven’t been able to in nearly 100 years that she’s been around. This is the first time that we are bringing Betty to life,” Rogers elaborated.
“It’s an honor that I get to do that… that I get to be that girl that gets to do that,” Rogers expressed.
Following, Rogers’ Drama Desk win, Rogers was recognized with a Theatre World Award, which honors actors for their debut Off-Broadway and Broadway performances.
Both Rogers and McDonald are nominated for 2025 Tony Awards for “Best Actress in a Musical.”
To learn more about Jasmine Amy Rogers, follow her on Instagram.
