Perfect for fans of Wicked and anyone who has ever dared to dream big, The Chance to Fly is a testament to the magic of believing in yourself and the importance of representation in the arts.
The Chance to Fly by Tony Award-winning actress Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz is an inspiring middle grade novel about Nat Beacon, a theater-loving girl who uses a wheelchair. Nat's passion for musicals knows no bounds, and she dreams of performing on stage despite never having seen an actor with a disability in a leading role.
When Nat's family moves from California to New Jersey, she discovers auditions for a kids' production of her all-time favorite musical,
Wicked.
Thrilled by the opportunity, Nat lands a spot in the ensemble. As she navigates new friendships and the challenges of rehearsals, Nat draws strength from the empowering themes of
Wicked, particularly the song "Defying Gravity."
But as opening night approaches, unexpected obstacles arise. Nat must confront her fears and insecurities, channeling the spirit of Elphaba to truly "defy gravity" both on and off the stage.
This heartfelt story celebrates resilience, inclusion, and the transformative power of theater.
Also available: Cut Loose!
Davidowitz, Stacy: - Stacy Davidowitz is an acclaimed author and playwright. Her star-reviewed novel The Chance to Fly, coauthored by Tony Award-winning actress Ali Stroker, was named a best children's book of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Parents, and Bank Street College of Education. It was also selected by the National Education Association as a featured title for Read Across America. Davidowitz is best known for her four-book Camp Rolling Hills series, inspired by her coauthored Camp Rolling Hills the Musical, which continues to have productions across the country. She is also the author of the Hanazuki chapter book series based on Hasbro's YouTube series. She has written award-winning plays that have been produced regionally and internationally, and are published by Broadway Play Publishing, Stage Rights, and YouthPLAYS. When she is not writing, she teaches creative writing, female empowerment, and musical theater in schools, camps, foster care facilities, and juvenile detention centers. She is a proud graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, where she earned degrees in drama, psychology, and acting. Fun fact: growing up, Davidowitz was in seven productions of Annie. She lives in upper Manhattan with her husband and twin boys. Learn more about Davidowitz online, where in addition to all things books, you can watch clips of her performing as a kid.
Stroker, Ali: - Ali Stroker is a Tony Award winner for her role as Ado Annie in the 2019 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West's acclaimed 2015 revival of Spring Awakening. Since then, she's performed on stages across New York as well as in movies, such as Christmas Ever After, and countless shows, including Echoes, Only Murders in the Building, Ozark, Ten Days in the Valley, The Glee Project, Glee, And Just Like That, Big Nate, and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts, disabled or not, is captured in her motto: "Turning your limitations into your opportunities." Stroker is the proud author of the acclaimed novel The Chance to Fly as well as the picture book Ali and the Sea Stars.
