A musical adaptation of Beaches is coming to Broadway this spring.
The show, Beaches, A New Musical, will open at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway starting March 27, ahead of an April 22 opening. Jessica Vosk (Hell’s Kitchen, Wicked) and Kelli Barrett (FX TV’s Fosse/Verdon, Parade) will star as best friends Cee Cee and Bertie.
The musical is set for a limited run through Sept. 6, before heading on a national tour. The show comes to Broadway after about a 10-year development period with an international premiere in 2024 at Theatre Calgary in Alberta, Canada, starring Vosk and Barrett.
Lonny Price (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close) and Matt Cowart (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill – Assoc Dir) co-direct the musical. The musical features a score by Grammy Award-winner Mike Stoller, lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart, and a book by Iris Rainer Dart & Thom Thomas. The musical was developed in collaboration with David Austin.
The show comes to Broadway as the season has a slim number of new musicals, which could all be vying for the Tony for best musical. The offerings thus far include The Queen of Versailles, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across Manhattan, Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys. Titanique! also recently announced a Broadway run, but it remains to be seen whether the Off-Broadway hit will be classified a new musical or revival.
Beaches is based on the New York Times bestseller that became the 1998 film, starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, written by Iris Rainer Dart. The story follows the evolution of the friendship between Cee Cee and Bertie, who meet as children and go from pen pals to roommates to romantic rivals.
The musical will be choreographed by Jennifer Rias (A Doll’s House, Dear Evan Hansen – Assoc.), with orchestrations by Charlie Rosen (Moulin Rouge). The Broadway scenic design is by James Noone (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill).
Beaches, A New Musical is produced by Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso, Douglas McJannet for Arden Entertainment, Alison Spiriti & Justin Sudds for Right Angle Entertainment, and Ryan Bogner & Tracey McFarland for Broadway & Beyond Theatricals.
Read the full article here
