EXIT INTERVIEW | Anastacia McCleskey Says Goodbye To Carol in BOOP! THE MUSICAL

Just days after BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical concluded its Broadway run, we spoke with Anastacia McCleskey about bringing her fierce and funny Carol to life—and then bidding her farewell. In this heartfelt exit interview, she reflects on the thrill of being cast against type, the joys of backstage silliness, and the deeper lessons learned from a character who commands every room she enters. 

How are you feeling right now in this moment, with the experience of Boop! having just come to an end?
I'm very grateful. You go into a show with one set of thoughts and ideas about how the experience will be, and you leave with a greater appreciation for how it actually turned out—the people you met, the role you got to play, the experience of it all. But, I'm also excited to rest for a little bit [laughs].

Going way back to the beginning, how did you feel when you found out you booked the role?
Honestly, I was shocked. I remember seeing the breakdown, and they were looking for someone in their mid-40s to early 50s. I read a little young, so I didn’t think I’d be cast. I actually forgot about the audition. Then a month later I got a callback and booked the job that same week. At that time, the trajectory was only Chicago—Broadway was being talked about, but it wasn’t a sure thing yet. So yes, I was shocked, but also very excited to see what the show would become.

Did you have any sort of relationship to Betty Boop before you got involved with the show?
Not really. I knew of Betty Boop and a bit about some of the real-life women she was based on. I was more familiar with the history and the time period—jazz, vaudeville, things like that. But I didn’t know much about the actual Betty Boop cartoons or everything she embodied.

What did playing Carol teach you—either as a person or a performer?
She taught me to always stand your ground, no matter what; to stay true to who you are, even if your dreams and goals have been on the back burner. It taught me about the importance of community—whether that’s origin family or chosen family. We can’t build a better society without investing in our communities. And she taught me to not give up on your hopes and dreams. Even if you put them away for a while, you can still pull them back out and ask: “How can I nurture this today?”

I’m sure you have countless fond memories, but do you have one that stands out—funny or meaningful—that you’ll remember forever?
So many! One of the most special memories is working with so many people making their Broadway debut. That brings a fresh perspective—not just to the industry, but to the artistry. Angelica Harold, who played Trisha, was the youngest in our cast and taught us so much. Her light is divine. Same for Jasmine [Amy Rogers]. They were both grounded in who they are—not just incredibly talented, but extraordinary leaders. Also, that opening number, “Versatility,” was one of my favorite things ever. And I didn’t go on stage until about 20 minutes into the show, so I would watch it from the wings every night. It was fascinating every single time. They killed it.

What will you miss most about this production and company?
I will miss showing up to work every day, and experiencing the fun and the shenanigans that go on backstage. Every show I do, I forget all the stuff that goes down in the wings, and that's the stuff that you remember. It’s such an intimate bonding experience when you are tasked to present something to an audience every night. I'll miss the joy of it. It's a very joyful show. It's a very joyful team. 

You have to share a little more about what kind of backstage shenanigans went down.
Oh gosh—silly dances, people trying to scare each other, people hiding in my dressing room crevices. At one point I brought my actual phone onstage to record the audience. You’ve got to keep it light and fun. That’s what it’s about. You are meant to have fun. 

What advice would you give to future actors who play Carol?
Stay true to who you are. I always say, 50% of a character is you, and 50% is what you create, especially with original characters like this. Stay present. I always felt like Carol shifted the atmosphere when she entered a scene—she came to make a statement. I also encourage actors to look at how their characters connect from project to project. For me, going from playing Mary Church Terrell in Suffs [last season] to this, I felt like those earlier roles paved the way for characters like Carol to exist. Honor the thread.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with the show?
I am going to miss it. I know a lot of casts become like family, but this show bonded us in a different way because of the moment we’re living in. I like to call my jobs “experiences,” and I’m really going to miss going to that experience every day.