Author Iris Rainer Dart is bringing her emotionally resonant story, Beaches, to the Broadway stage, asserting that the narrative continues to prove the depth achievable in women’s friendships. The musical traces the intertwined lives of two vastly different women: the spirited Cee Cee Bloom and the more reserved Bertie White, over several decades.

The Enduring Power of Female Bonds

Dart noted that the story's impact was evident even during her daughter's nursery school days in the late 1980s. Her daughter once asked why other mothers frequently approached Dart to confess, “I cried?” Dart explained that this reaction stemmed from her writing Beaches, a story focused on deep female companionship.

“Women’s friends are the ones who get them through this life,” Dart stated. She emphasized the unique role these friendships play, noting that while husbands are important, they do not fulfill the role of a girlfriend who answers a 4 a.m. call.

A Story Transcending Mediums

Beaches has achieved success across multiple platforms, beginning as a novel. It later became a film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, a television movie featuring Idina Menzel and Nia Long, an audiobook, and now a Broadway production.

Dart, 82, co-wrote the musical's story with Thom Thomas. She also provided lyrics for music composed by Mike Stoller, one half of the celebrated songwriting duo Leiber & Stoller. The Broadway production stars Kelli Barrett as Bertie and Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee.

Development and Rehearsal Insights

After more than a decade in development, the musical is set to open on April 22. Dart has been closely involved in rehearsals, observing the emotional impact firsthand. She shared a moment where she watched her husband pull out his handkerchief during a run-through, thinking, “OK, we’re good. We got him, we got him.”

Director Lonny Price praised Dart’s collaborative spirit, noting she is “an endless font for these characters.” Price mentioned that Dart consistently finds new, useful ways—both humorous and dramatic—to express the characters for the libretto, remaining open to fresh ideas.

Dart’s Personal Connection to the Work

Musical theater was Dart's initial passion, preceding her work writing for television shows like “The Sonny & Cher Show” and her career as a novelist. Her inspiration for Beaches stems from a close friendship with her cousin, Sandy, who lived in Miami Beach.

The two families would meet at various beaches, providing the structure for the fictional narrative. Sandy followed a conventional path, marrying early and moving to Cleveland, while Dart pursued an acting career and later writing. Dart felt they balanced each other perfectly, stating, “We balanced each other out. What one lacked, the other made up for.”

Dart recalled an instance where she urgently called Sandy, pregnant at the time, to confirm if she had ever had chickenpox, as her son was infected. Sandy immediately knew the answer, referencing a small, private detail: “She said, ‘You have a pockmark on your left thigh.’ I said: ‘My husband doesn’t know that about me.’ And she says, ‘Honey, we’ve been married longer.’”

Themes and Evolution of the Musical

The musical traces the friendship that began in Atlantic City in 1951, enduring challenges like a love triangle, marital issues, single parenthood, and illness. This mirrors the beloved film directed by Gary Marshall.

In the musical, Bertie sings the song “My Best,” with lyrics reflecting this closeness: “When I am with her, it's as if we share one heart/And if I ever lost her I would fall apart.” Director Matt Cowart observed that the closeness in female friendships is a beautiful dynamic that deserves celebration, noting a different level of intimacy compared to his male friendships.

The journey to the stage was not immediate. Early attempts to pitch the novel were met with resistance from publishers who deemed it “not commercial.” However, after Dart’s 1980 bestseller, The Boys in the Mail Room, interest in Beaches resurfaced.

When the Hollywood studio adapted the book into a movie, they sought changes, including alterations to the illness Bertie contracts. Dart ultimately decided against writing the screenplay, following her husband Stephen Dart’s advice to avoid compromising her vision.

The transition to stage felt natural because Dart had already incorporated songs into the novel, including works by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and George Gershwin. The famous song from the film, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” is included in the musical. Dart confirmed its inclusion, noting, “Everybody loves that song. They identify it with the piece. So, it’s crazy not to use it.”

Dart feels that maturity has provided her with a better perspective on the characters. She has also infused more of her current self into the work, such as in the song “Real Woman,” which contains the line: “You'll tell them if you're smart/It's all about the way you feel, woman/Whether a tough or genteel woman/What makes a real woman is her heart.” Dart stated she included this song to make a bold statement against anti-trans and anti-gay sentiment, something she might not have attempted years ago.