Beaches

Beaches on Broadway Background

This Broadway musical was written by the Pittsburgh, PA born American author and playwright, Iris Rainer-Dart, who originally wrote the 1985 novel that this musical is based on. Dart’s novel also named ‘Beaches’, was made into a movie in 1988 and starred the Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe award winning actress, Bette Midler who Dart said “brought the lively character to life”. Dart has been well known in the Broadway industry for many decades as a prominent playwright. She is well known as being a hands-on artist and this musical production is no exception. As well as being known for her famous novel, her other claim to fame was her work on infamous The Sonny and Cher Show where she was the screenwriter for the entirety of the hit variety television show from 1971-1974. This musical played in London’s West End in late 2019 and the show was directed by Lonny Price, who has also directed shows like, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Sunset Boulevard.

What’s Beaches Like?

From grade school pen-pals to opponents in the field of love, Beaches follows one set of lifelong best friends over the course of 30 years. The musical takes place in Atlantic City, NJ in 1951 and tells and reflects on the dipping and peaking bond between the lively Cee Cee Bloom and the traditional and good-looking Bertie White. Audiences watch from an omniscient view throughout the extraordinary friendship the main characters have through the years. Cee Cee and Bertie laugh, fight and cry together and the audience can relate to the story and their own complicated relationship ebbs and flows. The show is a Broadway musical that features original music and lyrics, as well as spirited and refreshing dialogue which accompanies the story and songs.

Is Beaches Good for Kids?

This show deals with complicated life relationships and the content goes over the heads of most children under 13 years old.