A newly released music video offers a sneak peek at Broadway's upcoming Beaches musical, set to begin March 27 ahead of an April 22 opening night at Broadway's Majestic Theatre with Lonny Price and Matt Cowart co-directing. See stars Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett sing "Wish I Could Be Like You" from the Mike Stoller-Iris Rainer Dart score in the video below.
General ticket sales for the Broadway bow begin January 22 via Telecharge.
As previously announced, the musical based on Dart's novel (also the source material of the 1988 film of the same name) will debut on Broadway before embarking on a national tour. The Broadway run will continue through September 6.
Leading the musical will be Vosk (Hell's Kitchen, Wicked) as Cee Cee and Barrett (Parade) as Bertie, both reprising the roles they created in this production's world premiere at Canada's Theatre Calgary last year. Also back from that run will be co-directors Price (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill) and Cowart. Further casting, by The TRC Company's Peter Van Dam, is to be announced.
Released in 1985, Dart's novel tracks a lifelong friendship between the mild-mannered Bertie and larger-than-life Cee Cee. The book became a famous tear jerker of a feature film in 1988, with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey co-starring. Idina Menzel and Nia Long also starred in a 2017 made-for-television remake for Lifetime. The Beaches musical has been in development for more than a decade. It was first staged in 2014 at Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia, starring Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress; that production was directed by Eric Schaeffer and featured a different composer (David Austin).
The upcoming Broadway version features a book by Dart and Thom Thomas, music by Stoller, and lyrics by Dart. The Broadway staging will also feature choreography by Jennifer Rias (A Doll's House), music supervision by Joseph Thalken, orchestrations by Charlie Rosen (Moulin Rouge!), scenic design by James Noone (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill), costume design by Tracy Christensen (Sunset Boulevard), lighting design by Ken Billington (Chicago), sound design by Kai Harada (Merrily We Roll Along), projection design by David Bengali (Water for Elephants), and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas (Buena Vista Social Club). Thomas Recktenwald will serve as production stage manager, and Alchemy Production Group will general manage.
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 are producing. The tour will be produced by Crossroads Live.
