When it comes to writers with legendary backgrounds, look no further than Iris Rainer Dart and Mike Stoller.
In addition to Beaches, the novel which she and Stoller have turned into a Broadway musical, Dart was the first (and only) female writer for Cher’s television variety show (in addition to The Sonny and Cher Show), and penned eight books. Stoller, with his writing partner Jerry Lieber, is the coauthor of songs like “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Stand by Me.”
Dart and Stoller first collaborated in 2011, on a short-lived a Broadway musical called The People in the Picture (at the start of our call, Dart proudly exclaimed that we—TheaterMania—were the only outlet to give it a positive review). Beaches came about a long while later, after earlier attempts at musicalizing Dart’s best-loved property, were abandoned. And all it took was a phone call to her ever-reliable pal...READ MORE