Kelli Barrett (Fosse/Verdon, Dr. Zhivago) and Jessica Vosk (Wicked) will head the cast of Theatre Calgary's production of Beaches the Musical this spring.
Barrett will play Bertie opposite the Cee Cee of Vosk in the musical's international premiere, which will play the Arts Commons Max Bell Theatre May 18–June 16 with an official opening May 24. Additional casting will be announced.
Based on Iris Rainer Dart's best-selling novel, Beaches features music by Grammy winner Mike Stoller, lyrics by Dart, and a book by Dart and Thom Thomas, developed in collaboration with David Austin. Tony nominee Lonny Price (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill) and Matt Cowart will co-direct the limited engagement with choreography by Jennifer Rias.
The production will also have music supervision by Joseph Thalken, music direction by Katie Coleman, and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting's Peter Van Dam.
Beaches, which was made into a blockbuster film starring
Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, follows two friends through 30 years
of camaraderie,
laughter, sorrow, and love.
Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Stafford Arima said in a statement, “I first witnessed the sheer brilliance of Jessica Vosk when I saw her in Wicked on Broadway. Her Elphaba was pure perfection, and her performance redefined the role for me. In 2007, I directed Kelli Barrett in a new musical called Ace at The Old Globe in San Diego. For the past 17 years, I have watched in awe how Kelli has carved out a successful journey within this industry building space both onstage and onscreen. I cannot wait to see how these two powerhouse performers will ignite these unforgettable characters in Beaches the Musical."
Previous developmental productions of Beaches were presented at the Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago. Alysha Umphress and Mara Davi starred in Washington, while the Chicago cast was headed by Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor. Bashor and Vosk led private industry readings in October 2023.
Beaches is produced by Theatre Calgary, with Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso, Douglas McJannet for Arden Entertainment, Alison Spiriti for Right Angle Entertainment and Broadway & Beyond Theatricals (Tracey McFarland, Ryan Bogner, Victoria Lang).
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