Beaches the Musical NYC Review: Broadway’s Emotional Story About Friendship, Love and Finding Yourself
Beaches the Musical NYC delivers emotional performances, powerful songs and a heartfelt Broadway story about friendship and self-discovery. Here’s what to know!
Photo: Internationista
There are some Broadway shows you enjoy for a night — and then there are shows that genuinely stay with you after you leave the theater. Beaches the Musical NYC firmly falls into the second category.
From the moment we arrived at the packed Majestic Theatre, there was already a noticeable energy throughout the crowd. Audience members were excitedly discussing the beloved Beaches movie before the show even began, and once the lights dimmed, the theater became completely locked into the story unfolding on stage.
We attended Beaches the Musical NYC from orchestra seats, which made the emotional experience feel even more immersive. Throughout the performance, you could hear reactions ripple through the audience — laughter during lighter moments, audible sniffles during emotional scenes and thunderous applause after several of the major musical numbers.
And honestly, by the time “Wind Beneath My Wings” began, even we found ourselves tearful.
That’s what makes Beaches the Musical on Broadway feel so impactful. Beneath the music, choreography, and performances is an incredibly relatable story about friendship, fear, identity, grief, dreams, love and learning how to believe in yourself even during life’s hardest moments.
This Beaches the Musical NYC review is not just about the production itself — it’s about the emotional experience of watching a story that reminds audiences how meaningful human connection really is.
Beaches the Musical NYC At a Glance
Theater: Majestic Theatre, New York City
Based On: The 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart and the 1988 Beaches movie starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey
Broadway Preview Performances Began: March 27, 2026
Official Opening Night: April 22, 2026
Starring: Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee Bloom and Kelli Barrett as Bertie White
Famous Song: “Wind Beneath My Wings”
Current Broadway Run: Through September 6, 2026
What Is Beaches the Musical About?
Photo: Internationista
Beaches the Musical is based on Iris Rainer Dart’s bestselling 1985 novel, which later became the iconic 1988 Beaches movie starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.
The Broadway musical follows lifelong best friends Cee Cee Bloom and Bertie White, two women from completely different worlds whose friendship evolves over decades through love, heartbreak, motherhood, success, grief and personal growth.
Cee Cee is bold, ambitious, funny and determined to chase her dreams in entertainment, while Bertie is more reserved, thoughtful and emotionally grounded. Despite their differences, their bond becomes the emotional center of Beaches the Musical NYC.
One of the reasons Beaches the Musical resonates so deeply with audiences is because the themes feel universally relatable. The story explores:
friendship and loyalty
overcoming fear and self-doubt
finding your worth
navigating complicated love
chasing dreams despite obstacles
learning to believe in yourself
appreciating the people who shape your life
Rather than feeling overly theatrical or exaggerated, Beaches the Musical feels emotionally authentic. It balances humor, heartbreak, nostalgia and uplifting moments in a way that mirrors real life.
Who Plays the Characters in Beaches the Musical NYC?
The Beaches the Musical Broadway cast is led by Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee Bloom and Kelli Barrett as Bertie White.
The chemistry between Vosk and Barrett is one of the strongest elements of Beaches the Musical NYC. Their performances make the decades-long friendship feel believable, layered, emotional and deeply human from beginning to end.
Other key cast members in Beaches the Musical include:
Ben Jacoby as Michael Barron
Brent Thiessen as John Perry
Samantha Schwartz as Little Cee Cee
Zeya Grace as Little Bertie
The younger performers were genuinely some of the biggest scene-stealers of the entire production. Samantha Schwartz and Zeya Grace brought warmth, humor, charm and sincerity to the stage, and the audience clearly adored them throughout the show.
In fact, some of the loudest applause of the night came after the child actors’ musical moments and emotional scenes. Their performances never felt forced or overly polished in a way that took away from the realism. Instead, they helped ground the emotional heart of Beaches the Musical in something authentic and relatable.
What Songs Are in Beaches the Musical?
Music is the emotional heartbeat of Beaches the Musical NYC, and the Broadway production features several original songs alongside the iconic “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Some of the standout songs in Beaches the Musical include:
“Wind Beneath My Wings”
“My Best”
“The Words I Should Have Said”
“You Believe in Me”
“I’m All I Need”
“A Day at the Beach”
“Wish I Could Be Like You”
What makes the music in Beaches the Musical so effective is how emotionally connected the audience becomes to the performances. During our performance, you could literally hear people sniffling throughout the theater during several emotional scenes — especially during “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
By that point in the show, the emotional connection between the audience and the characters felt incredibly strong. Even we found ourselves visibly emotional during the performance, which says a lot considering how difficult it can be for a Broadway musical to genuinely earn emotional reactions rather than simply aiming for them.
The applause throughout the night was massive after nearly every major musical number, but some of the loudest audience reactions came after the younger performers’ scenes. The packed theater erupted into applause repeatedly, creating an energy that made the experience feel even more immersive.
Because we were seated in the orchestra section, we could fully feel the emotional atmosphere inside the Majestic Theatre. Audience reactions rippled through the room during major scenes, and the standing ovation at the end felt completely earned.
The music in Beaches the Musical works because it never feels disconnected from the story. Every song deepens the themes of friendship, love, fear, identity, grief, resilience and self-worth in a way that feels honest and emotionally grounded.
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Where Is Beaches the Musical Playing in NYC?
Beaches the Musical is currently playing at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.
The Broadway production began preview performances on March 27, 2026 and officially opened on April 22, 2026. The current Broadway run is scheduled through September 6, 2026.
The atmosphere inside the theater added so much to the overall experience. The audience during our performance was fully engaged from start to finish, reacting audibly during emotional scenes, laughing during lighter moments and erupting into applause after several musical numbers.
That kind of collective audience connection is something streaming simply cannot replicate.
How Long Is Beaches the Musical on Broadway?
The current limited Broadway engagement for Beaches the Musical NYC runs from March 27, 2026 through September 6, 2026 at the Majestic Theatre.
Because Broadway schedules can change based on ticket sales and production decisions, audiences interested in seeing Beaches the Musical on Broadway should check official ticketing sources for the latest availability and scheduling updates.
Based on the packed theater and emotional audience response we experienced firsthand, it would not be surprising to see Beaches the Musical continue building strong momentum among Broadway audiences.
Who Should See Beaches the Musical?
Beaches the Musical NYC is ideal for:
fans of emotional Broadway musicals
audiences who loved the Beaches movie
theatergoers looking for heartfelt storytelling
fans of friendship-centered stories
viewers who enjoy female-led Broadway productions
anyone who loves powerful musical performances and emotional ballads
If you enjoy Broadway shows like The Notebook, Wicked, Waitress, or Steel Magnolias, Beaches the Musical delivers a similarly emotional experience centered around friendship, identity, resilience, and personal growth.
What makes Beaches the Musical especially impactful is how relatable the story feels. Beneath the Broadway spectacle is a deeply human story about:
overcoming fear and doubt
struggling to believe in yourself
navigating complicated relationships
chasing dreams despite obstacles
finding your worth
appreciating lifelong friendships
It’s the kind of Broadway musical that reminds audiences how meaningful human connection really is.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beaches the Musical NYC
Is Beaches the Musical based on the movie?
Yes. Beaches the Musical is based on Iris Rainer Dart’s 1985 novel and the beloved 1988 Beaches movie starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.
Where is Beaches the Musical playing in NYC?
Beaches the Musical is currently playing at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.
Who stars in Beaches the Musical on Broadway?
Jessica Vosk stars as Cee Cee Bloom alongside Kelli Barrett as Bertie White.
What is the famous song in Beaches the Musical?
One of the most iconic songs featured in Beaches the Musical is “Wind Beneath My Wings,” which becomes one of the production’s most emotional moments on Broadway.
How long is Beaches the Musical running on Broadway?
The current Broadway engagement is scheduled through September 6, 2026.
Is Beaches the Musical Worth Seeing?
Absolutely.
What stayed with us most after leaving Beaches the Musical NYC was how emotionally relatable the story felt. This isn’t just a Broadway musical about dramatic life moments — it’s about emotions people genuinely experience every day:
fear of failure
struggling to believe in yourself
navigating friendship changes
learning your worth
dealing with love and loss
trying to hold onto your dreams
Beaches the Musical succeeds because it feels deeply human.
The performances are emotionally committed, the music is powerful, and the friendship at the center of the story gives the entire production real emotional weight.
Even days later, we still found ourselves thinking about certain scenes, songs and conversations between the characters — which is usually the sign of a Broadway show that truly connected with its audience.
In an era where many productions prioritize spectacle over substance, Beaches the Musical NYC manages to deliver both.