The Broadway production of Beaches, billed as Beaches, A New Musical, will present its final performance on May 24 at the Majestic Theatre after completing 28 previews and 38 regular performances. The show began previewing on March 27 and officially opened on April 22. Producers and creative leaders cite strong emotional work from the company even as ticket sales and critical response failed to sustain the production. The musical also closed without any Tony nominations, a factor that contributed to its commercial difficulties.
The stage adaptation originates from Iris Rainer Dart’s 1985 novel, with a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas and music by Mike Stoller. It follows the decades-long friendship between Cee Cee Bloom and Roberta “Bertie” White, with Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett in the lead roles. The ensemble features a broad supporting cast and multiple actors who portray the protagonists at different ages. Direction was shared by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart, while a producing team led by Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso and others mounted the production for Broadway.
Reception and box-office realities
The musical struggled to find a wide audience, and reviewers offered a mix of praise and critique that influenced word-of-mouth. Critics noted the challenge of divorcing the stage version from the beloved 1988 film incarnation and its star-driven legacy; many reviews referenced the absence of the movie’s iconic performer when comparing emotional impact. Commentators pointed to the score and lyrics as uneven, saying that original songs did not reach the same cultural prominence as the film’s pop-heavy soundtrack. The lack of Tony nominations further limited the production’s ability to attract the broader attention often necessary for a new musical to flourish on Broadway.
Cast and performances
Observers praised individual contributions even as they questioned whether the leads could evoke the outsized personalities audiences associate with the source material. Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett received recognition for vocal and emotional work, while younger counterparts and ensemble members drew favorable notice in several scenes. Some reviews highlighted specific standouts among the younger actors and noted that ensemble chemistry produced memorable moments. Still, critics argued that the production did not consistently convert those moments into the sustained theatrical intensity required to anchor a long-running musical in a competitive market.
Score, staging and design
Creative elements such as the score by Mike Stoller, scenic framing, and multimedia projections drew mixed reactions. Reviewers described the songs as familiar but not always distinctive, and the placement of the celebrated ballad “Wind Beneath My Wings” in the show was singled out as emotionally undercutting rather than elevating the finale. Designers used multiple actors for each lead across ages and leaned on projection work and a framing device that returns repeatedly to night-time attempts to reach Carmel; some critics found those interruptions distracting. Costumes and wig continuity were deliberate choices to clarify character through time, though opinions varied on their effectiveness.
Closure, legacy and next steps
Producers expressed pride in the company and emphasized the connection audiences experienced, even as financial pressures and critical ambivalence prompted the early closing. In statements they praised the cast’s “heart, humanity, humor and emotional truth” and said the impact of the production will endure for many theatergoers. While the Broadway run will end on May 24, producers confirmed plans to mount a national tour scheduled to begin in 2027, signaling an intention to bring the story to other cities and audiences across the United States.
The case of Beaches underscores the difficulties new musicals face on Broadway: steep running costs, divided critical response, and the uphill task of distinguishing an original score from a preexisting pop-cultural soundtrack. Despite its short tenure at the Majestic Theatre, the production’s touring plans offer the creative team an opportunity to reassess staging, music placement, and pacing for different houses, and to find renewed audience engagement beyond the New York market.
