In a landmark achievement for Calgary's arts scene, the musical Beaches, which was workshopped at Theatre Calgary, is officially Broadway-bound. This marks the first time a production developed in Calgary will make the prestigious leap to the New York stage.
From Calgary Workshop to Broadway Stage
The journey to Broadway began with an intensive workshop at Theatre Calgary in May 2024. The positive reception and successful development there paved the way for the New York production. The Broadway version is scheduled to begin previews on March 27, 2025, with an official opening night set for April 22, 2025, at the historic Majestic Theatre—the former long-time home of The Phantom of the Opera.
The production will be a limited engagement, concluding its Broadway run on September 6, 2025, before embarking on a North American tour. The show's stars, Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett, who originated the roles of Cee Cee and Bertie in Calgary, will reprise their performances for Broadway.
The Creative Force Behind the Musical
Beaches is adapted from Iris Rainer Dart's novel and the beloved 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. For the musical, Dart herself penned the lyrics. The music comes from legendary composer Mike Stoller, known for writing numerous hits for Elvis Presley.
The directorial team that guided the Calgary workshop, Lonny Price and Matt Cowart, will remain at the helm for the Broadway transfer. This continuity ensures the creative vision honed in Calgary will be presented on the world's most famous theatre district.
A Realized Vision for Calgary as a Theatre Hub
This Broadway transfer fulfills a key goal set by Stafford Arima, Theatre Calgary's Artistic Director. Upon his appointment in 2017, Arima expressed a desire to establish Calgary as a testing ground for new musicals with Broadway potential, much like Toronto was in the 1990s.
"When I moved to Calgary in 2017, it was important for me to find a special project that had the potential to move from Theatre Calgary to Broadway. Beaches is that project," Arima stated. He reflected on Toronto's past role in developing shows like Ragtime and expressed his thrill at seeing Calgary step into a similar spotlight.
Producer Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso credited Theatre Calgary's capabilities for the workshop's success. "The fact that Theatre Calgary has the infrastructure, onstage and off, and could accommodate the size, scale, and scope of the vision we had for the show, made bringing it to Theatre Calgary the best possible decision," she said.
This successful transition from a Calgary workshop to a Broadway stage represents a significant cultural and economic win for the city, solidifying its growing reputation as a serious player in the development of major theatrical productions.
