Whatever became of BEACHES The Musical?

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/12/19 at 7:42pm

I caught a production at the Drury Lane Oakbrook (outside Chicago) during the summer of 2015.
Some time later, one of the creators passed away, and the project was stalled.
Then several months ago it was reported here on BWW that a London production would be opening this year.
Still on, anyone? Just curious.

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/12/19 at 8:07pm

No wind beneath its wings...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 1:40am

It came down with Viral Cardio Myopothy and was put down.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 2:10am

Seriously, I think BEACHES would be hard to adapt for the stage. It's very episodic (it's like a fictional version of the "Then I wrote" movies about composers and playwrights), a style that is more conducive to film, where the camera itself is the unifying element.

Stage plays are unified by elements like plot and character. ("Unity", per Aristotle, is that feeling that everything that happens on stage is both necessary to advance the plot, and probable, meaning it follows logically from what came before.)

We enjoy unity in a play/musical because it is reassuring as opposed to real life, which is so often random.

This isn't to say BEACHES can't be adapted, but IMHO it will take a more radical transformation than merely singing "Under the Boardwalk" and "Otto Titsling".

All that being said, I admit that despite being a dyed-in-the-wool Bette Midler fan, I found the film mostly tedious when she wasn't singing. And to me, "The Wind Beneath My Wings" has always sounded condescending, if not an actual song about farting. Yet millions of moviegoers (mostly women, I assume) loved the movie.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 7:09am

Opens in London first
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway-Bound-BEACHES-Musical-Will-Play-London-in-2019-20180326


https://beachesthemusical.co.uk/

 



 

Updated On: 7/13/19 at 07:09 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 8:32am

This isn't to say BEACHES can't be adapted, but IMHO it will take a more radical transformation than merely singing "Under the Boardwalk" and "Otto Titsling".

Sweets, it WAS adapted:



 

[pc1145N]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 10:05am

Yes, it was adapted and neither Otto Titsling nor Under the Boardwalk were in the show. It was not a good show at all.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 2:01am

BrodyFosse123 said: "This isn't to say BEACHES can't be adapted, but IMHO it will take a more radical transformation than merely singing "Under the Boardwalk" and "Otto Titsling".

Sweets, it WAS adapted:



"

Well, now I know. Isn't the internet wonderful? It will be interesting to see what they did with it.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 10:48am

Take a look-see.  Yes, the fabulous Shoshana Bean played CeCe:

 

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 1:12pm

That “opens in London” article was dated March 2018.

Still happening?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/15/19 at 4:28pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Take a look-see. Yes, the fabulous Shoshana Bean played CeCe...."

Of course she did, since--based on that sampling--the stage musical BEACHES was conceived as WICKED without the flying monkeys.

Updated On: 7/15/19 at 04:28 PM

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/15/19 at 7:56pm

lightguy06222 said: "That “opens in London” article was dated March 2018.

Still happening?"

I noticed that, too.

Checked Lonny Price's Wikipedia;  he's committed to a new Roundabout musical this Fall, and Beaches isn't mentioned anywhere.

That's all I know.

[ggersten]

Posted: 7/15/19 at 8:22pm

Over on Theatreboard a poster claims there was a workshop in London last week.  True? I have no idea.

But there is a lovely website with no information: Beaches UK

Updated On: 7/15/19 at 08:22 PM

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/15/19 at 8:35pm

ggersten said: "Over onTheatreboarda poster claims there was a workshop in London last week. True? I have no idea.

But there is a lovely website with no information:Beaches UK"

After one regional production and one commercial production, could it be back to a ... workshop...?

[VivianDarkbloom2]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:38am

GavestonPS said: All that being said, I admit that despite being a dyed-in-the-wool Bette Midler fan, I found the film mostly tedious when she wasn't singing. And to me, "The Wind Beneath My Wings" has always sounded condescending, if not an actual song about farting. 

Farting...(snickers) this is a side of you we don’t often get to see, Gaveston. I like it! Yes, it’s a condescending song. Never more so than when Corky on “Life goes on” was forced to sit and adoringly watch La LuPone belt out this tedious tribute to the human spirit (or the human intestinal tract) in his ‘honor’. Corky was probably looking for the fastest route of escape.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 9:58am

All that being said, I admit that despite being a dyed-in-the-wool Bette Midler fan, I found the film mostly tedious when she wasn't singing. And to me, "The Wind Beneath My Wings" has always sounded condescending, if not an actual song about farting. 

Agreed.  I've never been a fan of this treacly tear-jerker and I truly hate Wind Beneath My Wings.  I mean, the first line alone just pisses me off.  The creepy co-dependent You Raise Me Up is almost as bad, but Wind Beneath My Wings is like ipecac for the soul.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 10:04am

Mr Matt, you crack me up!!

I believe Signature Theater in Arlington, VA also produced Beaches a few years ago.