From Oz to Broadway: Ainsley Melham Shines in BOOP! Musical

In the latest episode of Broadway Time at Carmine’s, we sit down with Ainsley Melham, the Australian-born star currently lighting up the Broadhurst Theatre as Dwayne in BOOP! The Musical. Over pasta at Carmine’s in Times Square, we dive into Melham’s inspiring path from a small country town in Bathurst, Australia, to his breakout Broadway debut and current role in one of this season’s most joyful new shows.

Melham first made waves stateside when Disney brought him to New York to reprise his performance as Aladdin after leading the Australian tour. “It wasn’t until I took my first bow that it really hit me—we’re actually doing it. On Broadway,” he shares.

Now originating the role of Dwayne in BOOP!, Melham embraces the rare opportunity to help build a character from scratch. “Dwayne doesn’t exist in the original Betty Boop canon,” he explains. “So I poured in all my influences like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Sinatra, Dean Martin. You can see and hear them in the way Dwayne moves and sounds.”

He also reflects on working closely with Tony-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell, one standout moment. Legend Jerry Mitchell asked Melham to go home and create some original choreography for his big number, a process Melham described as both thrilling and terrifying. “But that speaks to Jerry’s generosity and collaborative spirit,” he says.

Melham also celebrates the recent release of BOOP!’s standout ballad “She Knocks Me Out,” now available to stream on Spotify. The track, composed by David Foster with lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, was added during the Chicago run and has quickly become a fan favorite. “It’s Dwayne’s moment of emotional honesty, and I’m thrilled audiences can now listen to it anytime.”

Watch the full episode now on Broadway Time at Carmine’s on YouTube and the Broadway Podcast Network