Directed by Emmy nominee Allison Anders, the cast also includes Gabriella Pizzolo (Fun Home) and Grace Capeless as the young CC and Hillary, respectively, along with Jodi Capeless, Sanai Victoria, and Antonio Cupo. A trailer for the TV film can be viewed above.
In this contemporary remake, Beaches, according to production notes, “follows the serendipitous meeting of two young girls on the Venice Boardwalk, who, though worlds apart in lifestyle, embark on unexpected and lifelong friendship. CC (Menzel) is an aspiring singer trying to make it in Los Angeles until she is discovered by a director who gives her her first big shot. Hillary (Long) is the daughter of a prominent civil rights lawyer who struggles to find her own destiny. Their friendship—even with its ups and downs—sustains them for decades.”
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Beaches takes on the classic songs “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “The Glory of Love” and includes several other songs recorded specifically for the movie.
The teleplay was penned by Nikole Beckwith and Bart Baker based upon the novel by Iris Rainer Dart. A stage musical adaptation has long been rumored for Broadway; it played Chicago's Drury Lane in 2015.
Menzel won her Tony for her performance in Wicked.
