Beaches: A New Musical — Complete Guide | Broadway 2026 | Jessica Vosk, Kelli Barrett, Majestic Theatre
Beaches the New Musical
A Love Story About Friendship
Beaches – The MusicalCo-directed by Lonny Price & Matt Cowart • Choreography by Jennifer Rias
Starring Jessica Vosk & Kelli Barrett
Majestic Theatre, Broadway • Previews March 27, 2026 • Opens April 22, 2026
The Friends
Who Carry Us
Through Life
Beaches: A New Musical is a stage musical based on Iris Rainer Dart’s bestselling 1985 novel and the beloved 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. The show features a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas, music by Grammy Award-winning legend Mike Stoller (composer of “Stand By Me,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock” and hundreds of other classics), lyrics by Dart, and was developed in collaboration with David Austin.
The musical follows two extraordinary friends — the vivacious, street-smart singer Cee Cee Bloom (from the Bronx) and the elegant, bookish Bertie White (from San Francisco) — through 30 years of camaraderie, laughter, sorrow and love. From pen pals to roommates to romantic rivals, their oil-and-water friendship perseveres through even the most tragic trials, exemplifying the triumph of the human spirit and the bonds of sisterhood.
After a world premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia (2014), a Chicago production (2015) and a re-tooled version at Theatre Calgary, Canada (2024), the musical makes its Broadway world premiere at the Majestic Theatre — home of the record-breaking The Phantom of the Opera — with previews from 27 March 2026 and an official opening night of 22 April 2026. It stars Jessica Vosk (Cee Cee) and Kelli Barrett (Bertie), reprising the roles they created together in Calgary. The production closes 6 September 2026 before embarking on a national tour.
Background
& Creation
The Source — Novel, Film and Stage
Iris Rainer Dart published her novel Beaches in 1985. The story of the lifelong friendship between Cee Cee Bloom and Bertie White became a New York Times bestseller. In 1988, Garry Marshall directed a film adaptation starring Bette Midler as Cee Cee and Barbara Hershey as Bertie — which became a cultural phenomenon. The film is perhaps best known for Midler’s performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings,” written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley, which went on to win the 1990 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The musical was conceived by Dart as a faithful but theatrically expanded version of her story.
Mike Stoller — A Legend Writes for the Stage
The re-tooled musical features an original score by Mike Stoller — one half of the legendary songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller, who co-wrote some of the most important songs in the history of rock and roll including “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Stand By Me,” “Kansas City,” “On Broadway,” “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown” and dozens more. Now in his 90s, Stoller’s work on the Beaches score represents a remarkable late-career achievement — bringing his ear for melody and emotional directness to a full-length theatrical score. Orchestrations were created by Charlie Rosen, who won a Tony Award for his orchestrations on Moulin Rouge!
World Premiere 2014 — Signature Theatre, Arlington
The world premiere production of Beaches opened at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia on 8 February 2014, running through 29 March 2014. Directed by Eric D. Schaeffer, the original cast featured Alysha Umphress as Cee Cee Bloom, Mara Davi as Bertie White, Matthew Scott as John Perry, Donna Migliaccio as Leona Bloom, Helen Hedman as Rose White, Cliff Samuels as Michael Barron and Gracie Jones as the young Cee Cee. At this stage the show featured music by David Austin rather than Mike Stoller.
The Interruption — Thom Thomas (1933–2015)
After the Chicago production at the Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre (2 July–16 August 2015), book writer Thom Thomas died in December 2015. Thomas’s death halted further development of the show for nearly a decade — leaving one of the most beloved stories in popular culture without a theatrical home. It was not until 2024 that the show was re-tooled with a new score by Mike Stoller, new orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, and a revised book, ready for a new chapter.
Theatre Calgary 2024 — The Rebirth
Nearly a decade after Thom Thomas’s death, the show returned in a completely re-tooled form at Theatre Calgary’s Arts Commons Max Bell Theatre — opening 18 May 2024 and running through 16 June. Co-directed by Lonny Price (Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner, known for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill and his televised Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close) and Matt Cowart, the production starred Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee, Kelli Barrett as Bertie and Brent Thiessen as John Perry. It was this Calgary production that served as the template for the Broadway transfer.
The Story —
Two Friends,
Thirty Years
The Beginning — Under the Boardwalk in Atlantic City
The story begins when Cee Cee Bloom — a loud, brash, irrepressible kid from the Bronx with a God-given voice and dreams of Broadway stardom — meets Bertie White — a quiet, bookish, elegant girl from San Francisco’s high society — on the beach at Atlantic City. They are complete opposites. They become instant friends. From that moment on, their lives are bound together: first as pen pals writing long letters across the country, sharing their dreams, their heartbreaks and their small daily victories.
New York — Roommates, Romance and Rivalry
As young women, Cee Cee and Bertie become roommates in New York City, navigating their early careers and young love. The same man — John Perry — becomes a love interest for both of them, creating friction between friends who love each other but want the same thing. Cee Cee’s showbiz ambitions and her mother Leona Bloom’s overbearing stage-mothering provide comic ballast. Bertie’s intelligence and restraint, instilled by her stuffy mother Rose White, make her the show’s emotional anchor. Cee Cee eventually marries John; Bertie marries lawyer Michael Barron. Their lives diverge — but never truly separate.
The Later Years — Loss and the Lasting Bond
The show spans three decades — from childhood in the 1950s through young adulthood and into the 1980s — charting Cee Cee’s rise to fame and Bertie’s life as a wife, mother and lawyer. When tragedy strikes Bertie — she is diagnosed with a terminal illness — it is Cee Cee who comes to be at her side, taking care of Bertie’s young daughter Nina. The friendship that seemed built on opposites reveals itself to have been the most important relationship of both women’s lives. The show’s emotional climax, accompanied by “Wind Beneath My Wings,” is one of the great tearjerker moments in contemporary musical theatre.
The Characters
A street-smart singer and actress from the Bronx — vivacious, outlandish, emotionally raw and fiercely talented. She wears her heart on her sleeve, has no filter and never knows when to turn it off. Cee Cee’s showmanship, her ambition and her deep love for Bertie are the show’s beating heart. Jessica Vosk (Wicked, Hell’s Kitchen, Fiddler on the Roof) brings her extraordinary voice and outsized personality to the role she created in Calgary 2024.
A waifish, book-smart girl from San Francisco who becomes a lawyer — Cee Cee’s elegance foil and emotional counterweight. Where Cee Cee burns, Bertie glows. Her quiet intelligence, warmth and ultimate vulnerability make her the character audiences grieve for most. Kelli Barrett (Parade, Wicked, Fosse/Verdon, Dr. Zhivago) reprises the role she created alongside Vosk in Calgary.
A love interest for both Cee Cee and Bertie who becomes Cee Cee’s eventual husband. His position between the two friends creates the central romantic rivalry. Brent Thiessen (Thoroughly Modern Millie) reprises the role from Theatre Calgary in his Broadway debut.
Cee Cee’s brassy, overbearing stage mother — equal parts hilarious and infuriating. The quintessential pushy showbiz mom, Leona is a rich comic creation whose love for her daughter, however smotheringly expressed, is completely genuine.
Bertie’s stuffy, high-society San Francisco mother — the embodiment of the WASP values and emotional reserve that Bertie both inherits and struggles against. A contrast to everything Cee Cee’s world represents.
A lawyer and Bertie’s eventual husband. Ben Jacoby (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) plays the role. His relationship with Bertie provides the show’s secondary domestic storyline.
Bertie and Michael’s daughter, who becomes part of the story’s emotional resolution as Cee Cee steps in to care for her when Bertie’s illness takes hold.
Bertie’s caretaker in the show’s final chapter — a supporting role that anchors the domestic reality of Bertie’s illness against the show’s grander theatrical sweep.
Full Casting History
2014–2026
| Character | Signature Theatre 2014 | Drury Lane Chicago 2015 | Theatre Calgary 2024 | Broadway 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cee Cee Bloom | Alysha Umphress | Shoshana Bean | Jessica Vosk | Jessica Vosk |
| Bertie White | Mara Davi | Whitney Bashor | Kelli Barrett | Kelli Barrett |
| John Perry | Matthew Scott | Travis Taylor | Brent Thiessen | Brent Thiessen (Broadway debut) |
| Michael Barron | Cliff Samuels | Jim DeSelm | Nathan Gibb Johnson | Ben Jacoby |
| Leona Bloom | Donna Migliaccio | Nancy Voigts | Jamie Konchak | Sarah Bockel |
| Cee Cee (teen) | Gracie Jones | Samantha Pauly | Jillian Hubler-McManus | Bailey Ryon |
| Bertie (teen) | Maya Brettell | Olivia Renteria | Katie McMillan | Emma Ogea |
| Rose White | Helen Hedman | Kelly Anne Clark | Emily Dallas | Lael Van Keuren |
Full Broadway Ensemble (2026)
The Broadway ensemble company includes: Sarah Bockel, Harper Burns, Eric Coles, Taylor Sage Evans, Mia Gerachis, Zeya Grace, Joelle Gully, Ben Jacoby, Stephanie Martignetti, Emma Ogea, Olive Ross-Kline, Bailey Ryon, Paul Adam Schaefer, Samantha Schwartz, Brent Thiessen, Lael Van Keuren and Zurin Villanueva. Casting by The TRC Company / Peter Van Dam, CSA.
Production History
World premiere with previews from 8 February, official opening 18 February, running through 29 March 2014. Directed by Eric D. Schaeffer. Original music by David Austin. Stars Alysha Umphress (Cee Cee) and Mara Davi (Bertie). The Free Lance-Star advised audiences to “be swept away” by the production.
Second production, again directed by Eric D. Schaeffer. Stars Shoshana Bean (Cee Cee) and Whitney Bashor (Bertie). Book writer Thom Thomas dies December 2015, halting further development of the show for nearly a decade. The Drury Lane run was the last production to feature David Austin’s music.
Completely re-tooled production with new music by Mike Stoller and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, and a revised book by Dart. Co-directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart. Stars Jessica Vosk (Cee Cee) and Kelli Barrett (Bertie) — their first time playing these roles together. The Calgary production proves the concept of the new version and clears the path to Broadway.
Previews begin at the Majestic Theatre — Broadway’s most storied venue, home of The Phantom of the Opera’s record-breaking 35-year run. Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett reprise their Calgary roles. The 18-piece orchestra features orchestrations by Tony Award winner Charlie Rosen. Songs previewed ahead of opening include “Real Women,” “Wish I Could Be Like You,” “Best Friend” and of course “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Official opening night of the Broadway world premiere. Limited engagement through 6 September 2026. Following the Broadway run, the production embarks on a multi-city North American tour. Eligible for Tony Award consideration during the 2026 season.
Creative Team
Broadway 2026
Directors, Choreographer & Music
Co-directors: Lonny Price & Matt Cowart • Choreography: Jennifer Rias (A Doll’s House, Dear Evan Hansen) • Music Supervisor: Joseph Thalken • Orchestrations: Charlie Rosen (Tony Award winner — Moulin Rouge!)
Design Team
Scenic Design: James Noone (Drama Desk Award winner — Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill) • Costume Design: Tracy Christensen (Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close) • Lighting Design: Ken Billington (Tony Award winner — Chicago, Waitress) • Sound Design: Kai Harada (Tony Award winner — Merrily We Roll Along) • Projection Design: David Bengali (Tony Award nominee — Water for Elephants) • Wig, Hair & Makeup: J. Jared Janas (Buena Vista Social Club)
Producers & Production
Producers: Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso • Douglas McJannet for Arden Entertainment • Alison Spiriti & Justin Sudds for Right Angle Entertainment • Ryan Bogner & Tracey McFarland for Broadway & Beyond Theatricals • Casting: The TRC Company / Peter Van Dam, CSA • General Manager: Alchemy Production Group (Come From Away) • Production Stage Manager: Thomas Recktenwald (Cabaret, The Music Man)
The Songs —
Mike Stoller
& Iris Rainer Dart
The score features original songs by Grammy Award-winning legend Mike Stoller (music) and Iris Rainer Dart (lyrics), plus the iconic “Wind Beneath My Wings” (written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley), made famous by Bette Midler in the 1988 film. The full song list has not been officially released ahead of opening, but the following songs have been confirmed through previewed footage and promotional releases.
The Source —
Novel & Film
Iris Rainer Dart’s 1985 Novel
Iris Rainer Dart published Beaches in 1985. The novel follows the friendship between Cee Cee Bloom and Bertie White from their childhood meeting in Atlantic City through adulthood, marriage, careers and ultimately Bertie’s fatal illness. It became a New York Times bestseller and was widely praised for its warm, funny and emotionally honest portrait of female friendship. Dart also wrote the musical’s book and lyrics — working across all three versions of her story (novel, film and stage) — a remarkable creative continuity across four decades.
The 1988 Film — Bette Midler & Barbara Hershey
Directed by Garry Marshall and released in 1988 by Touchstone Pictures, the film starred Bette Midler as Cee Cee Bloom and Barbara Hershey as Bertie White. The film became a huge commercial success and cultural touchstone — a defining “cry-your-eyes-out” film of the late 1980s. Midler’s performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings” — the Bette Midler character singing over the film’s emotional climax — became one of the most famous moments in cinema history. The song won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1990 Grammy Awards. The film established the Cee Cee/Bertie friendship as one of the iconic female friendships in popular culture.
Awards &
Recognition
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Grammy Award ★ | Record of the Year | “Wind Beneath My Wings” — Bette Midler (film) | Won ★ |
| 1990 | Grammy Award ★ | Song of the Year | “Wind Beneath My Wings” — Jeff Silbar & Larry Henley | Won ★ |
| 2026 | Tony Award | Best Musical & multiple categories | Broadway production (eligible) | Eligible 2026 |
