Broadway’s Beaches has become the first casualty of this year’s Tony Award nominations. The show, which has struggled to find an audience and was no doubt counting on Tony nominations to change that, came up empty handed when nominations were announced May 5. And now Beaches has announced that it will play its final performance May 24 at the Majestic Theatre. The production had been announced to run through September 6.
The show began previews March 27 and officially opened April 22. As of the final performance, the musical will have played for 38 performances and 28 previews. Lonny Price and Matt Cowart directed.
A national tour, produced by Crossroads Live, is planned for 2027, with dates and cities to be announced.
“Bringing a new musical to Broadway is always an enormous undertaking, and we are deeply proud of this company who created a production filled with heart, humanity, humor, and emotional truth,” says producer Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso in a statement. “Night after night, audiences have laughed, cried, called their friends on the way out of the theatre, and connected deeply with this story of friendship and love. That impact is real, and it will stay with people long after the final curtain. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who helped bring Beaches to life at the Majestic Theatre, and look forward to sharing this special show with audiences across America on our national tour.”
Adapted from Iris Rainer Dart’s novel and its 1988 film adaptation, the musical is being led by Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee and Kelli Barrett as Bertie, with Ben Jacoby as Michael Barron, Brent Thiessen as John Perry, Samantha Schwartz as Little Cee Cee, and Zeya Grace as Little Bertie. Vosk, Barrett, Jacoby, and Thiessen are all reprising their performances from the musical’s world premiere run at Theatre Calgary.
The company also includes Sarah Bockel, Harper Burns, Emma Ogea, Bailey Ryon, Lael Van Keuren, and Zurin Villanueva. Casting is by The TRC Company’s Peter Van Dam. Covers Eric Coles, Taylor Sage Evans, Mia Gerachis, Joelle Gully, Stephanie Martignetti, Olive Ross-Kline, and Paul Adam Schaefer round out the company.
READ: Beaches Is On Broadway—And We’ll Cry if We Want To
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 stage adaptation, developed in collaboration with Austin, features a book by Dart and Thom Thomas, music by Mike Stoller, and lyrics by Dart. The production features choreography by Jennifer Rias (A Doll’s House), music supervision and arrangements 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), video design by David Bengali (Water for Elephants), and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas (Buena Vista Social Club). Mary MacLeod serves as production stage manager, and Alchemy Production Group is general manager. The creative team also includes associate director Neil Robinson and associate choreographer Travis Waldschmidt.
WATCH: Get a Sneak Peek at Beaches Broadway Musical With 3 Songs From Jessica Vosk, Kelli Barrett
Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso, Ryan Bogner & Tracey McFarland for Broadway & Beyond Theatricals are producing, Alison Spiriti & Justin Sudds for Right Angle Entertainment, and Douglas McJannet for Arden Entertainment lead the producing team.
