Beaches was a 1988 film that starred Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. It was a truly inspirational story for its time and showcased the emotional song, “Wind Beneath My Wings,“ performed by the Divine Miss M, herself. It’s enlightening to see the story of Beaches come back for a new generation with a new Broadway musical that is just as moving and inspiring as the film itself.
Beaches: A New Musical is not just a scene-for-scene remake of the film. It’s a unique adaptation that borrows the storyline and characters and uses them in new and exciting ways. There are two knockout performances at the center of Beaches: A New Musical, and they are by Kelli Barrett and the wonderful Jessica Vosk.
Vosk plays the grown Cee Cee Bloom, the role made famous by Midler in the movie. With her red hair and larger-than-life personality, Cee Cee is one of the most memorable female characters of the year on Broadway. She’s sweet, but has a sharp edge, too, as evidenced when she is played as a child by the terrific and spunky Samantha Schwartz.
Barrett plays the more reserved Bertie White. If the name for this character is different here than it was in the film, it’s because Beaches was also a book, and the show is also integrating elements of that novel into the new musical as well.
Zeya Grace plays the young, reserved Bertie who befriends Cee Cee. Although Cee Cee has a lot of personality and can be really zany at times, she and Bertie connect, and the new show establishes the bond these two characters form by having them hang out on the beach together.
When they part ways, the besties communicate with letters and, as teens, the characters are played by Bailey Ryon and Emma Ogea.
Some of the best moments in the new musical have all three actresses who play each character coming on stage and dancing together. Audiences are treated to a montage that shows how the two girls manage to age gracefully together and how their personalities at their younger ages help shape them as truly unique characters as adults.
There are also a couple of central male characters in Beaches: A New Musical, and they are an integral part of how the show’s plot develops. More about them later, let’s get back to the ladies.
Cee Cee starts a showbiz career by taking on small parts, and the first role that Bertie sees her doing puts Cee Cee in a dog costume in a humorous scene. Cee Cee has big dreams, but those ambitions aren’t always realized the way she imagined they would be. Bertie dreams of going to college and is a little less ambitious than Cee Cee, but, nevertheless, equally hard-working and determined.
Bertie works at Cee Cee’s theater and manages to create an audience for Cee Cee’s work. Cee Cee, for all her talents and sharp words, is seemingly still a virgin, and she yearns for the affections of a guy (played by Brent Thiessen) she works professionally with, who doesn’t seem to fully reciprocate Cee Cee’s romantic feelings.
The main men featured here are played by Thiessen and Ben Jacoby. Thiessen is remarkably formidable in terms of his on-stage presence in the new musical, playing the man Cee Cee adores but can never seem to obtain. Jacoby holds his own beside him in a less showy role within the musical that still has importance to the development of the character of Bertie.
There is real magic happening in Beaches: A New Musical. The way the two female characters interact on stage is so natural, and it makes the story feel even more entertaining than it has ever felt before. Also making an impression is Zurin Villanueva, primarily playing a goofy side character in a funny series of scenes.
“Real Woman,“ “You Believe in Me,” and “Wish I Could Be Like You” are all showstopping numbers, but the true highlight of the show comes when Vosk performs “Wind Beneath My Wings.“
Anyone who is familiar with Beaches knows Bertie gets sick and becomes terminally ill. Vosk moves the audience with a powerful rendition of the Midler tune that touches the heart and speaks volumes about the main friendship the new musical focuses on.
Beaches: A New Musical has gotten some mixed reviews, but it’s absolutely enjoyable from beginning to end if you are a fan of the movie. Don’t let any negativity lead you to miss out on seeing this show if you’re a fan of the 1980’s movie. Vosk lights up the stage with pizzazz while Barrett adds sophistication and depth to her likable character.
There is real magic happening in Beaches: A New Musical. The way the two female characters interact on stage is so natural, and it makes the story feel even more entertaining than it has ever felt before.
Although the beach sets used on the stage are not remarkable at all in terms of the way they help create the storyline, this has always been a character-driven story, and, as such, it is done perfectly on the Broadway stage for fans of this material.
At the heart of Beaches: A New Musical is a story of perseverance and the ups and downs of life. Friendship is the one constant that is maintained for Cee Cee and Bertie in this show, and the musical always earnestly portrays their highs and lows in love and in everyday situations. This is a show to share with a true friend.
Beaches: A New Musical is now playing on Broadway through the end of August 2026.
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Thomas Duffy
Thomas Duffy is a Critics Choice member who has written film reviews for most of his life, starting at age 11 when he crafted his first full length movie critique on the film, "Roxanne," a Cyrano story featuring Steve Martin. As a result of that review and other movie obsessive writing, Thomas was awarded a creative writing award in sixth grade. Thomas is the proud author of nine books, including two highly acclaimed novels, "To Never Know" and "Social Work." Thomas can be found on X (formerly known as Twitter) or at a New York City movie theater watching the latest hit or independent movie. You can also run into him at Tribeca or at the New York Film Festival.