David Foster, a 16-time Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter, is breaking new ground as he steps into the world of Broadway with ‘Boop! The Musical.’
Though he is known for his remarkable contributions to the music industry, Foster labeled himself a ‘Broadway virgin’ prior to working on the production.
‘I was a Broadway virgin before I started working on that show,’ Foster shared during a Zoom interview from his home in Los Angeles.
He also reflected on how the opportunity came to him when the creative team behind ‘Boop!’ approached him, saying, ‘Nobody else at the time was asking me to do a musical — until they came along and asked me.’
Foster composed the score for the Tony-nominated production, and as he immersed himself in the project, he drew inspiration from the legendary Dolly Parton.
‘As I dug in deeper, the comparison that started to help me with the music was Dolly Parton,’ he stated.
Foster has known Parton for decades, and he noted that every word she speaks offers wisdom, much like the character of Betty Boop.
‘Betty (Boop) is the same way. So, I sort of patterned her after Dolly — whether that helped or not, I don’t know, but it gave me a great visual.’
The musical had a limited run in Chicago before making its Broadway debut in April 2025.
Foster shared, ‘The passionate theatergoers of the Windy City then gave my team and me an early boost,’ appreciating the enthusiastic feedback they received from audiences.
With Chicago’s reputation as a theater town and director Jerry Mitchell’s previous successes in the city, it became an ideal location for ‘Boop! The Musical.’
‘Chicago is a place where our director, Jerry Mitchell, has had a lot of success — with “Kinky Boots” and other shows like that,’ added Foster.
It seems fitting that as the musical evolves, Foster’s return to Chicago aligns with his upcoming 12-city tour alongside fellow musician Chris Botti, a celebrated Grammy-winning trumpeter.
‘I’m a massive fan of his,’ Foster said, expressing admiration for Botti’s musicality and the collaborative spirit behind his latest album, which was produced by Foster.
‘Chris makes all kinds of music work. He looks for excellence in every genre — and that’s rare for a genius jazz musician.’
Joining Foster on his Chicago tour will be his wife, Katharine McPhee, showcasing her vocal talents on some iconic songs that Foster has shaped, including ‘I Have Nothing’ and ‘Over the Rainbow.’
However, McPhee humorously noted her limitations when it comes to singing Celine Dion songs, stating, ‘I cannot do them.’
She added with a smile, ‘I wish I could — it’s not that I haven’t tried ‘The Power of Love.’ I can sing pretty much everything … except the last note.’
The rise of artificial intelligence in the music industry has sparked discussions about music creation.
While AI capabilities have advanced, Foster maintains that real artistry cannot be replicated.
‘AI doesn’t worry me,’ Foster explained, acknowledging the ease of producing orchestral sounds but emphasizing, ‘it’s still two-dimensional. You can’t recreate the 100-year-old wood from a violin.’
Foster considers AI a helpful tool rather than a replacement, appreciating its potential for innovation.
On her part, McPhee shared a personal experience with AI when she needed help writing a speech.
‘I started using ChatGPT with something that I had already started to write, and it gave me some ideas,’ she recalled.
However, she found that her own thoughts resulted in a more authentic product, leading her to conclude, ‘Ultimately, what it taught me was that what came out of my brain was more authentic and better.’
Both Foster and McPhee agree that the excitement of creating is what drives their work, reinforcing their commitment to genuine artistry in a rapidly changing musical landscape.
image source from：chicago
