Beaches is a stage musical with a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas, with music by Mike Stoller and lyrics by Dart. The show is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Dart.
The show tells the story of two women, Cee Cee Bloom and Bertie White, lifelong friends that begin as pen pals and navigate life together through its trials and tribulations. The title comes from the beach in Atlantic City where the two girls first meet as children, later spending time together at a beach cottage on the west coast as adults.
The show includes the Grammy Award winning song Wind Beneath My Wings, written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley, made famous by Bette Midler in the 1988 Disney film version of the story.
The musical is set to make its Broadway premiere at the Majestic Theatre with previews beginning March 27, 2026.
The show had its world premiere at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia beginning February 8, 2014 and running through March 29, directed by Eric D. Schaeffer with music by David Austin.
The show next moved to Chicago again directed by Schaeffer, where it was performed at the Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre from July 2 until August 16, 2015. Book writer Thom Thomas died in December 2015, halting further progress on the show.
Nearly a decade later, in 2024, the show was re-tooled with new music by Mike Stoller and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, and a revised book by Dart. The show opened at Theatre Calgary on May 18 running until June 16, 2024, co-directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart.
In 2025, it was announced this production of the show would transfer to Broadway for a limited run, opening on April 22, 2026, and closing on September 6, before embarking on a national tour.
2024 Canadian Production