Tony nominated Broadway star Keala Settle is to lead the cast in the UK premiere of the new US musical Fly More Than You Fall at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 18th October- 23rd November.
Based on lived experiences the uplifting and inspiring show navigates grief with some incredible songs that are bound to get stuck in your head! This isn’t just a musical, it’s a journey that will break your heart and mend it all in one night.
Keala achieved global fame as the bearded lady Lettie Lutz in the film The Greatest Showman. Her moving rendition of the anthem ‘This is Me’ was a standout song in the movie, going on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a video on YouTube has now been watched 82m times. She will also appear as Miss Coddle in the film adaptation of Wicked later this year.
On Broadway she made her debut in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, played Madame Thenardier in Les Misérables and originated the role of Becky in Waitress, she played Tracy Turnblad in the US national tour of Hairspray, Bloody Mary in the Lincoln Center production of South Pacific, made her West End debut as Angélique in & Juliet and co-starred with Jennifer Saunders in Sister Act. She was recently
unmasked as “Air Fryer” taking fifth place in The Masked Singer UK.
Keala said today: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this beautifully uplifting story. It’s such a testament to the strength and compassion of the human spirit and the freedom that resides within us all.”
When Malia’s mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, her life is thrown into turmoil. As she navigates Following her Mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis Malia’s life is thrown into turmoil. Yet as she navigates the next stage of her own life, Malia finds solace and strength in her writing and in her stories, Malia creates an imaginative world where a brave bird named Willow mirrors her own journey of resilience and growth.
Through the support of her friends, the guidance of her family, and her own inner resolve (along with a banging soundtrack), Malia learns to face her fears and embrace hope, discovering that even in the darkest times, we can find the courage to soar.
In a society that doesn’t talk about grief we may all feel alone at times – Fly More Than You Fall gives us all a chance to lift each other and heal together with Malia.
Fly More Than You Fall, with Book & Lyrics by Eric Holmes (TV’s The Good Fight, Smash), Music & Lyrics by Nat Zegree, will be directed by Christian Durham.
More cast to be announced
Creative team:
Director Christian Durham
Associate Director Georgie Rankcom
Movement Director Heather Douglas
Orchestrations & Arrangements Daniel Edmonds
General Manager James Steel Productions
Casting Director Pearson Casting CDG
Lead Producer Marc David Levine
Eric Holmes and Nat Zegree both lost a parent to cancer at an early age and the writers have poured their personal grief and pain into this emotionally charged, uplifting musical. Holmes said: “We created the show because we needed the show. Nat and I had been wanting to write about our experiences of losing our parents at a very young age. Anyone who’s lost someone knows that with grief, there’s no time limit. It’s not three months and you’re out. You’re grieving the loss of a parent or any loved one for the rest of your life.”
Fly More Than You Fall is being lead produced by Tony & Olivier Award winner Marc David Levine (Hadestown, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical).
