Trending Now - Broadway's 'beaches' Fails to Capture Film's Heart and Soul
WHO:
Playbill - The musical is led by Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee and Kelli Barrett as Bertie, with Ben Jacoby as Michael Barron, Brent Thiessen as John Perry, Samantha Schwartz as Little Cee Cee, and Zeya Grace as Little Bertie.
Playbill - The casting includes Sarah Bockel, Harper Burns, Emma Ogea, Bailey Ryon, Lael Van Keuren, and Zurin Villanueva.
Deadline - The musical "Beaches" is based on the 1988 film featuring Bette Midler.
Variety - The musical adaptation involves a decades-long female friendship.
WHAT:
Playbill - "Beaches" officially opened its premiere Broadway performance at the Majestic Theatre on April 22nd, 2026, after beginning previews on March 27th, 2026.
Playbill - The musical adaptation features a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas, music by Mike Stoller, and lyrics by Dart.
Mashable - The musical adaptation of "Beaches" has been described as a "disastrous Broadway adaptation."
Deadline - The musical "Beaches" has been criticized for failing to capture the charm of the original film.
Variety - The musical is described as a "soulless and uninspired remake" of the beloved film.
Variety - The musical features the mega-hit song "Wind Beneath My Wings."
WHERE:
Variety - The most recent production of the musical took place in Calgary in 2024.
WHEN:
Playbill - The musical was first staged in 2014 at Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia.
Variety - The development of the musical "Beaches" began approximately twelve years ago.
WHY:
Deadline - The long road to the stage for "Beaches" has not benefited the production.
HOW:
Playbill - The production features choreography by Jennifer Rias, music supervision and arrangements by Joseph Thalken, orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, scenic design by James Noone, costume design by Tracy Christensen, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Kai Harada, video design by David Bengali, and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas.
NY Post - The characters in "Beaches" are described as "about as alive as the sandy shells boring Bertie so loves to collect."
Variety - The musical adaptation includes elements of schmaltz and sass, characteristic of the original film's narrative.
(UPDATED April 23, 2026 09:22 UTC)
"Beaches" officially opened its premiere Broadway performance at the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday, after beginning previews March 27th. The musical, which features a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas, includes music by Mike Stoller and lyrics by Dart, and is led by Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee and Kelli Barrett as Bertie, among others. The production boasts an impressive team, with choreography by Jennifer Rias, music supervision by Joseph Thalken, and scenic design by James Noone, to name just a few.
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(UPDATED April 23, 2026 07:24 UTC)
The musical adaptation of "Beaches" has been labeled a "disastrous Broadway adaptation," according to Mashable. The New York Post adds that the characters in the show are "about as alive as the sandy shells boring Bertie so loves to collect." Critics are clearly not holding back in their assessments of this production.
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(UPDATED April 23, 2026 05:45 UTC)
The musical "Beaches," based on the 1988 film featuring Bette Midler, has faced criticism for not capturing the charm of the original and is described as a "soulless and uninspired remake." Despite its long development over the past twelve years, the production, which most recently took place in Calgary in 2024, has not resonated well with audiences. However, it does include the mega-hit song "Wind Beneath My Wings" and attempts to incorporate elements of schmaltz and sass that fans might recognize from the beloved film.