Five questions with Keala Settle of 'Fly More Than You Fall'

Keala Settle inspired a legion of fans with her portrayal of Lettie Lutz in The Greatest Showman. Now she is starring in a musical about grief and growth.

After a scene-stealing performance in The Greatest Showman — in particular, her rendition of the song "This is Me" — Keala Settle is now starring in a new musical that follows the journey of Malia after her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The show is currently playing at Southwark Playhouse.

What do you hope audiences take away from Fly More Than You Fall?
This story is an opportunity for each of us to discover the glimmers and tender mercies that grief and loss leave behind. It is within these that our lost love can be newly found, bigger and brighter than ever before.

You once described yourself as more of an R&B singer than musical theatre performer – what’s the distinction for you?
Speaking only for myself and the life I have led, R&B, soul, even gospel music – all of these have played a massive part in my upbringing, my understanding of music and how I was introduced to so much of this ever-changing world. They’re culturally who I am in so many ways. I also know that for many others, musical theatre does the same for them. It’s so personal for everyone; why we are who we are and why we do what we do.

You had to perform a four-minute laughing fit at the start of “Joy of the Lord” during the run of Hands on a Hardbody – how did you prepare, and did you ever falter on the night?
That broke me out in a sweat every single one of those 28 performances! My character had a Sony CD Walkman that she/I had with me for all of Act 1. It had a CD in it that played one thing: one quarter G note. So, I pressed play right before I started laughing. By the time the laughter had died down, I could still hear it. I’d find the pitch, then start singing in the new silence while taking my headphones off, all the while keeping one gloved hand on that bloody truck! I can’t believe I did that.

“This is Me” in The Greatest Showman was Academy Award nominated and won the Golden Globe – does the song occupy a special place in your heart?
I’m glad that it has been a beacon of hope and personal strength for so many people worldwide. I’m truly grateful for the privilege I’ve had, and continue to have, being the vessel for its timeless message.

Which of your many theatre roles have you found the most challenging?
They have all been challenging in their own ways, but this one [Fly More Than You Fall] has been the most challenging. There’s a lot of healing, a lot of grace and a lot of love going round in our rehearsal space for this little show. Just imagine what it can do for an audience!

Book Fly More Than You Fall tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Keala Settle. (Photo by Craig Fuller)