Audiences Going to the Musical “Beaches” Know What to Expect: Female Friendship, Sass, and the Hit Song “Wind Beneath My Wings”

The Broadway musical adaptation of the beloved 1988 film “Beaches” has opened to largely negative critical reception, with reviewers describing it as a soulless and uninspired remake that fails to capture the emotional resonance of the original.

According to a review published in Variety and highlighted in Google News on April 23, 2026, the production currently running at the Majestic Theatre lacks the heart and authenticity that made the film a cultural touchstone. The review characterizes the musical as washing ashore without leaving a meaningful impact, suggesting it fails to justify its existence as a stage adaptation.

The musical stars Broadway veterans Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett in the roles originally portrayed by Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. Vosk takes on the character of Cee Cee, the outgoing, Broadway-bound friend, while Barrett plays Bertie, the polished and intelligent counterpart. Their performances bring to life the story of two women who form an instant bond as children meeting under the boardwalk in Atlantic City and maintain a lifelong friendship through decades of love, loss, success, and failure.

Central to both the film and its musical adaptation is the iconic song “Wind Beneath My Wings,” which Bette Midler famously performed in the original movie and which went on to win a Grammy Award. The stage production retains this signature number, along with other songs associated with Midler’s character, as a key emotional anchor in the narrative.

The story of “Beaches” originated as a 1985 novel before being adapted into the 1988 film. Its transition to stage has been in development for approximately twelve years, most recently seeing a production in Calgary in 2024 prior to its Broadway debut. The musical follows the same arc as the source material, chronicling the protagonists’ journey from childhood pen pals to New York City roommates navigating early careers, young love, jealousy, and the complexities of their contrasting personalities.

Despite the pedigree of the source material and the involvement of experienced theater performers, the Variety review indicates that the Broadway incarnation struggles to transcend its origins, offering a theatrical experience that feels derivative rather than revelatory. The critique positions the show as missing an opportunity to deepen or reinterpret the beloved story for the live stage format.