BEACHES
– the musical
Music by DAVID AUSTINLyrics by IRIS RAINER DARTBook by Thom Thomas & IRIS RAINER DART
Wha'da'ya get when you cross a loudmouthed, fabulously talented redhead with a buttoned-up, well-bred, wealthy beauty? In any other world, you’d get a jar full’a unmixed oil’n’water. But, these little girls ain’t no ordinary polar opposites. These little girls are CeeCee “Don’t-Call-Me-Cecelia-Or-I’ll-Punch-Ya’-In-The-Face” Bloom, and Roberta “You-Can-Call-Me-Bertie-For-Short” White. These girls are, in a word, extraordinary.
After a chance meeting on the Atlantic City boardwalk in 1951, CeeCee and Bertie's friendship ignites through the pen pal letters they write one another. As the girls plummet heart-first through the complex universe of their own unique adolescence, it soon becomes clear that they are the only dependable, "to-be-counted-on" thing in one another’s lives.
Ten years later, when Bertie boldly runs away from home (and the impending doom of a looming arranged marriage), she joins CeeCee’s brash, bold, and sometimes bare-naked world of summer stock theatre. Their friendship only further blazes to life over the course of that one young summer. The two women then catapult past oceans of years, tears, laughs, heartaches, disappointments, fights, healing, sex hang-ups, drug problems, rock-n-roll boyfriends; for richer or poorer, better or worse, all before facing their final test, in health... and in sickness.
The best-selling novel. The wildly popular film that’s been translated into over forty languages. The title that's listed in the Smithsonian’s Top Three Tearjerker's, Beaches is now a breakout musical. With a thrilling and eclectic score spanning four decades in style, from vaudeville to pop, country to disco, toe-tapping show tune to heart-wrenching power ballad, Beaches – the musical - is that most unique of love stories, the love story of two extraordinary lifelong friends.
REVIEWS
“Austin’s score is easy on the ears, witty, emotionally resonant, and a darn good match for this mainstream material. Austin’s score holds up strikingly well.”
“I truly loved the music. There are a plethora of fine numbers starting with “What a Star”. There are plenty of clever duets like “Normal People”, a superb ballad “God Gave You Me”, an exciting disco number “I’m All I Need”, and “My Perfect Wedding” which the audience loved.”
“The new music by Austin with lyrics by Dart are all one could ask for. The score is mood-setting with each song reminiscent of a certain time, adding emotional value to the spoken words of the script.”
“...remarkably polished music by Austin, ...whose songs are among the best Signature has presented...”
“The songs are quite wonderful, ...real crowd-pleasers.”
“David Austin’s songs are incredibly tuneful, with careful attention paid to vocal harmonies.”
“David Austin’s music has a wonderful sophistication.”
“...dynamite original score won’t leave your mind anytime soon.”
“Adding to the noteworthiness... thanks to a fine score by composer David Austin.”
“David Austin’s frisky uptempo numbers, especially a witty send-up of disco, “(I’m) All I Need,” and a song for the show’s stars, “Normal People,” that recalls the merry backstage brio of movie musicals like “Singin’ in the Rain.”
“Bette Midler, eat your heart out. David Austin‘s soaring score... adds a host of wonderful music to the tale of lifelong friendship.”
MORE PRESS:
Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones)*
New York Times
Entertainment Weekly
Chicago Sun Times
Broadwayworld.com
Washingtonian
DC Metro Theater Arts
*Chris Jones - top twelve most influential theater critics in America - American Theatre Wing.