Picture: Warren Saire
The Greatest Showman breakout star Keala Settle will lead the cast of the upcoming UK premiere production of new musical Fly More Than You Fall at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.
Featuring a book and lyrics by multi-award-winning writer Eric Holmes and music and lyrics by singer/songwriter Nat Zegree, the musical focuses on a young girl coming to terms with her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis.
Known worldwide for her showstopping performance in the blockbuster movie The Greatest Showman, Settle made her Broadway debut in 2011 in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the original 2013 production of Hands on a Hardbody and went on to play Madame Thénardier in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables. She originated the role of Becky in Waitress on Broadway and starred in successful US touring productions of Hairspray (as Tracy Turnblad) and South Pacific (as Bloody Mary) and the hit 2013 concert staging of Violet.
Settle made her West End debut as Angélique in & Juliet and co-starred with Jennifer Saunders in Sister Act. She will be seen as Miss Coddle in the film adaptation of Wicked later this year.
Commenting on her latest role, Settle said: “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.”
Describing the musical, creators Holmes and Zegree who both lost a parent to cancer 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.”
Running from 18 October to 23 November, the production will be directed by Christian Durham. The creative team also includes associate director Georgia Rankcom, movement director Heather Douglas, orchestrator and arranger Daniel Edmonds, general manager James Steel Productions, and casting director Pearson Casting.
The lead producer is Tony and Olivier Award-winner, Marc David Levine (Hadestown, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, On Your Feet).
Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Holmes was a writer on the critically acclaimed US TV series The Good Fight for four seasons. His musical Wild About You, with a score by Chilina Kennedy, played two sold-out concerts at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane earlier this year. His musical Born Country, written with his wife, Erin Holmes, was workshopped in New York in 2024.
Zegree has been playing piano since he was three years old. A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, he performs one-man shows and concerts across the country. His original album ‘Fly More Than You Fall’ is available on iTunes, He has written three original musicals with writing partner, Holmes.
Zegree has played Jerry Lee for over 300 performances in Million Dollar Quartet, receiving a BroadwayWorld award. He played Mozart in a live music production of Amadeus and his voice has been heard as a virtual singer for the Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen.
Angela Thomas
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