What Happened to Beaches (novel)?

Iris Rainer Dart's novel "Beaches," first published on June 1, 1985, quickly became a New York Times bestseller in 1986, resonating with readers through its poignant exploration of female friendship. The story, told through a combination of narration and letters, follows the lives of the ambitious Broadway performer Cee Cee Bloom and the more reserved lawyer Bertie White, charting their bond over three decades from their initial meeting as children in Atlantic City. Dart drew inspiration from her own experiences as a child actress and her love for Broadway when creating the character of Cee Cee.

The novel's commercial success paved the way for its first major adaptation: the 1988 film "Beaches," starring Bette Midler as C.C. Bloom and Barbara Hershey as Hillary Whitney (a renamed Bertie White). While the film made some changes, such as altering Bertie's illness from cancer to heart disease, it largely retained the novel's core themes of enduring friendship and loss, further cementing the story's place in popular culture. The film's success significantly heightened Dart's popularity, as she herself admitted it "put me on the map" (Source: Jewish Women International Magazine, as cited in Pennsylvania Center for the Book, 2026). A sequel novel, "I'll Be There," was published in 1991, sometimes appearing as "Beaches 2: I'll Be There," continuing Cee Cee's story as she cares for Bertie's daughter.

In 2017, the story was revisited with a contemporary television remake by Lifetime, featuring Idina Menzel as C.C. Bloom and Nia Long as Hillary Whitney. This adaptation introduced the story to a new generation of viewers. The enduring appeal of "Beaches" also led to multiple attempts at a stage musical adaptation. Early try-outs occurred in 2014-2015 in Arlington, Virginia, and Chicago. The musical then had its international premiere at Theatre Calgary in Alberta, Canada, in 2024.

The most recent development for "Beaches" is its Broadway debut. "Beaches, A New Musical" began previews at the Majestic Theatre in New York on March 27, 2026, with its official opening night on April 22, 2026. The production starred Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee Bloom and Kelli Barrett as Bertie White, with a book and lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller. Despite initial plans for a limited run through September 6, 2026, the Broadway production of "Beaches" abruptly closed on May 24, 2026. However, a multi-city national tour of the musical is still slated to launch in 2026, indicating the story's continued life on stage beyond its Broadway run. The novel itself remains in print and is frequently highlighted as a classic tale of friendship.