Video: Cast of BEACHES THE MUSICAL on their Personal Connection to the Story

Watch as the actresses playing Cee Cee Bloom and Bertie White through the ages in Beaches the Musical at Theatre Calgary talk about their personal connections to the story, and their experience bringing this International Premiere to the stage.

The interviews feature Jessica Vosk, Kelli Barrett, Katie Mcmillan, Jillian Hubler-Mcmanus, Addison Wagman, and Cecilia Currie. 

"I'm a lot like Bertie, I'm very opinionated I speak my mind um very strong willed it's always a bit of a stretch for me personally to play these kinds of roles, but I have played them so much that I feel like I understand them..." said Barrett.

"I think something really special about their friendship as kids is the things that you would normally find judgment with in someone are the things that they find to be the best about each other..." said Vosk.

The cast of Beaches the Musical includes Kelli Barrett (Bertie) and Jessica Vosk (Cee Cee). Rounding out the cast are (in alphabetical order) Cecilia Currie (Little Bertie), Emily Dallas (Rose, Ensemble, Bertie Cover), Jillian Hubler-McManus (Teen Cee Cee, Ensemble), Sierra Holder (Janice, Ensemble), Nathan Gibb Johnson (Michael Barron, Ensem- ble), Jamie Konchak (Leona, Ensemble), Hailey Loyns (Cover), Kayla MacKenzie (Cover), Katie McMillan (Teen Bertie, Ensemble, Bertie Cover), Brent Thiessen (John Perry, Ensemble), Addison Wagman (Little Cee Cee), Alba Evora Weiler (Nina), and Eric Wigston (Cover).

The creative team for Beaches the Musical includes scenic design by James Noone (Theatre Calgary: The Louder We Get; Broadway: Sunset Boulevard, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, A Bronx Tale), costume design by Tracy Christensen (Broadway: Sunset Boulevard, Harold Prince: The Director’s Life), lighting design by Ken Billington (Broadway: New York, New York, Waitress, Chicago), sound design by Kai Harada (Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along, Allegiance, Kimberly Akimbo), pro- jection design by David Bengali (Broadway: Water for Elephants, The Thanksgiving Play; UK: Bhangra Nation), and wig/make-up design by J. Jared Janas (Backstage Artistry).

Based on the NY Times best-seller by Iris Rainer Dart, Beaches features music by Grammy Award- winning and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Mike Stoller, lyrics by Dart, book by Dart & Thom Thomas, developed in collaboration with David Austin. Joseph Thalken serves as music supervisor with Katie Coleman as music director, Mark Limacher as associate music director, and Charlie Rosen as Orchestrator. The show is directed by Emmy-winning and Tony Award Nominee Lonny Price (Broadway’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Theatre Calgary’s The Louder We Get) and co-directed by Matt Cowart (Theatre Calgary’s The Louder We Get) with choreography by Jennifer Rias, and associate choreography by Travis Waldschmidt. Casting is by Dayton/Walters Casting, CDC, CSA, and Tara Rubin Casting, Peter Van Dam, CSA. The stage management team includes Angela Beaulieu (SM), Liz King (ASM), Carissa Sams (ASM), and Raynah Bourne (AppSM).

A new musical based on the best-selling novel, which was made into the blockbuster film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, Beaches follows two extraordinary friends through 30 years of camara- derie, laughter, sorrow, and love. Vivacious, outlandish Cee Cee and beautiful, privileged Bertie meet as children and become fast friends. From pen-pals to roommates to romantic rivals, Cee Cee and Bertie’s oil-and-water friendship perseveres through even the most tragic trials. With a touching vulner- ability, Beaches exemplifies the triumph of the human spirit and the bonds of sisterhood.

Produced by Theatre Calgary, with Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso, Douglas McJannet for Arden Entertainment, Alison Spiriti for Right Angle Entertainment and Broadway & Beyond (Tracey McFarland, Ryan Bogner, Victoria Lang).

To post a comment, you must register and login.