A national tour of Beaches The Musical will launch in fall 2026.
Based on Iris Rainer Dart's best-selling novel, Beaches
features music by Grammy winner Mike Stoller, lyrics by Dart, and a book
by Dart and Thom Thomas, developed in collaboration with David Austin.
Tony nominee Lonny Price (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill) and Matt Cowart will co-direct the Broadway-aimed production with choreography by Jennifer Rias, music supervision by Joseph Thalken, music direction by Katie Coleman, and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen.
Casting, the complete production team, and tour dates will be announced at a later time.
Beaches, which was made into a 1988 blockbuster film starring
Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, follows two friends—vivacious, outlandish Cee Cee and beautiful, privileged Bertie—through 30 years
of camaraderie,
laughter, sorrow, and love. The song "Wind Beneath My Wings," which was featured in the film and is also included in the musical, became a hit for Midler.
Producer Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso said in a statement, “It is a great honor to bring Beaches the Musical to theatres around the country on our pre-Broadway tour. We can’t wait to share this love story about friendship with U.S. presenters, Broadway, the West End, and audiences around the globe.”
The upcoming tour follows the musical's May 2024 production at Theatre Calgary, which starred Jessica Vosk (Hell's Kitchen) as Cee Cee and Kelli Barrett (Parade) as Bertie.
The Calgary premiere also included scenic design by James Noone, costume design by Tracy Christensen, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Kai Harada, projection design by David Bengali, and wig/make-up design by J. Jared Janas. Casting is by The TRC Company's Peter Van Dam.
Previous developmental productions of Beaches were presented at the Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago. Alysha Umphress and Mara Davi starred in Washington, while the Chicago cast was headed by Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor. Bashor and Vosk led private industry readings in October 2023.
A 2017 Lifetime remake of the film co-starred Tony winner Idina Menzel (Redwood, Wicked) and NAACP Image Award winner Nia Long (The Best Man Holiday).
Beaches tour is produced by Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso, Douglas McJannet for Arden Entertainment, Alison Spiriti for Right Angle Entertainment and Tracey McFarland & Ryan Bogner for Broadway & Beyond Theatricals, Next Table Entertainment & Media with Crossroads Live joining the team.
Visit BeachestheMusical.com.
