Zegree/Holmes New Musical FLY MORE THAN YOU FALL Receives Development Workshop

Featuring music by Nat Zegree (The Kings Critique), Lyrics by Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes, Book by Eric Holmes (Smash, The Good Fight) the new musical FLY MORE THAN YOU FALL is receiving a development workshop directed by Jeff Whiting (Bullets Over Broadway).

The musical introduces a young girl, Malia, who deals with the tragic news of her mother's cancer diagnosis in the only way she knows how - through her writing. Malia crafts a tale of a young bird with broken wings who embarks on the journey of a lifetime, continually weaving in and out of Malia's real-life struggles to navigate grief, puberty and growing up in the middle of nowhere.

"This story comes from an extremely personal place," says composer Zegree, "and it is our hope that through music and art, we can create an outlet for people of all ages, but especially those who are younger, who are also navigating their way through the grieving process. Finding the light in a dark place can seem impossible, especially in today's troubled times, and it's our dream to spread just a bit of happiness and hope to people who need it. To really remind people that with optimism and love, you truly can fly more than you fall."

"My breath has been taken away every single day of this workshop," director Whiting says. "The musical itself deals with so many powerful emotions and the way that Eric and Nat have weaved a parallel storyline of this young bird alongside of a family dealing with real pain has provided a unique doorway to explore and delve into the incredible complexities of the grieving process."

FLY MORE THAN YOU FALL is being produced at Syracuse University Department of Drama under guidance of Marie Kemp and Ralph Zito with music direction by Rebecca Karpoff. The cast includes: Devina Sabnis, Hannah Carne, Thom Miller, Madi Beumee, Josh Kring, Michelle Arotsky, Emily Britt, Kristen Brown, Hyesoo Cho, Sage Prosper Cobos, Alex Cortinas, Grace Gentile, Caleb James Grochalski, Kate Jarecki, Noah Lentini, Kayla Mattocks, Michael Sloan, Brooke Solan, Michaela Vivona.

"The experience that the students are receiving in developing this new musical with Jeff and the writers has been beyond my expectations," said Faculty Producer Marie Kemp. "They receive new songs and scenes and get to flex muscles that they don't normally use in an existing piece. This is the kind of work they can seek when they graduate. I am grateful to the team for trusting their "baby" with our students."

The workshop presentations of FLY MORE THAN YOU FALL will take place at The Loft Theatre on April 6,7, 8, 12,13,14 at Syracuse University.