[ Music ]
>> In memory of Dick Robinson
and sponsored by the Institute
of Museum and Library Services.
[ Music ]
>> Ali Stroker: Welcome to
the National Book Festival.
I'm Ali Stroker,
and I am so excited
to be here today
with my co-author --
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Stacy Davidowitz.
>> Ali Stroker: And
we're here to talk
about our book, The
Chance to Fly .
The Chance to Fly is our --
It's very close to our heart.
It's a book about a young
girl in a wheelchair
who has the opportunity
to audition for a musical
for the first time, and she gets
cast in the musical Wicked .
She uses a wheelchair for
mobility, and this book means
so much to me because
I am an actress,
a Tony award-winning actress,
and I use a wheelchair
for mobility.
And we, while creating
this book,
used a lot of my
personal experiences
to create this storyline.
So, Stacy --
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yeah.
Hi, I'm Stacy.
I feel so lucky to
have collaborated
with Ali on this project.
And together, it was really so
much fun to bring Nat to life
and also just totally geek
out on musical theater for,
you know, a long time.
And yeah, we're really
excited to talk about our book.
>> Ali Stroker: So, the
theme of the festival is
"Open a book, open the world."
And I love this theme because,
for me, the book that I opened
that opened the world for me
was Matilda by Roald Dahl.
And I think the reason was is
because the book allows you
to really use your imagination,
and as a young person,
I loved to be creative
and I loved to go
to other worlds in
my imagination.
It was like an escape.
It was a way to feel free.
And Matilda finds herself in a
world where she feels really,
really stuck and unhappy,
but she uses her powers
and her imagination
to go to other places
and finds herself then
in a better world.
So, that book meant a lot to me,
and it definitely
opened the world.
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
So, I was actually going
to say the same thing,
and the whole time
that you were talking, Ali, I
was like, think of another book.
Think of another book so you
can have a different answer!
But I actually can't because
Matilda is my answer as well.
And, for me, it really opened
the world for me as a reader
because she was so into
books, and I was so into books
and I just felt this
kinship with her.
And I love that she's kind of in
this, like, oppressed situation
and she's just, like,
plowing through.
It kind of makes you feel like
if she can do it, I can do it.
Everyone can do it.
And I love how smart she
is and also how just, like,
sweet and good-hearted
she is as a character.
I felt like I just
rooted for her so much,
and then as I became a,
you know, more of a reader
and a writer and a performer,
I just kind of wanted to hold
onto that level of kindness
and perseverance as, like,
kind of like a, my own
sort of mantra of, like,
moving forward in life.
So, I just -- It very
much opened the world
for me, reading Matilda .
>> Ali Stroker: Collaborating
with Stacy
on this book was
a dream come true.
Like, you imagine what an
ideal collaboration would be,
and this was like
that and beyond.
Stacy and I met through a
mutual friend three years ago,
and Stacy has written
many middle grade novels,
and I had never written a book.
So, she was -- She was able
to take the lead and kind
of show me how it was done.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: I was so
excited to collaborate with Ali.
And I remember when, like --
When we first met, Ali was like,
should we just, like,
write this book together?
And I remember, like,
my jaw dropped.
And I have to say,
like, collaborate --
I feel like I collaborate
a lot with people,
but when I'm working with Ali,
we're very good at, like, "Yes,
and-ing" each other in a way
that's not -- In a way that's,
like, really healthy
because we're just, like,
we really think about it.
And then we're like, yes,
and then this could happen.
I found that, like, when we were
outlining, it was just, like,
very organic and sort of quick.
And I think when
we were writing,
doing the writing process
together, it was like --
We were trying to
sort it out, like,
do we do chapter by chapter?
And then ultimately
we were like -- Okay.
So, Ali, you have
this experience.
Like, I'm not really sure.
So, I'm going to tackle XYZ.
I'm going to pass
this over to you.
Let's edit each other's stuff,
and we were just constantly
going back and forth
to the point where, like,
I'm not really sure what
chapters Ali tackled versus me.
Like, we just kind of --
Everything kind of, like,
flowed together really well,
which I think is really
important when you have a book
where there's only
one main character.
Like sometimes with
collaborations, you're like,
okay, you're taking one
perspective, you know,
one character's point of view.
I'll take the other
point of view,
and they have different voices.
But with our main character
Nat, like, everything needed
to be streamlined to feel
like totally it was
coming through one person.
So, I think that our
collaboration was very
important, and it was helpful
that we worked so well together
so that we can, like, make Nat
feel like one whole person.
>> Ali Stroker: There
was a lot of trust.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yeah.
>> Ali Stroker: And I think
that is the reason why
we enjoyed it so much.
Because when you trust
your collaborator
and you trust someone
creatively,
you then are not
afraid to take risks.
And this book, in certain
places, felt like a big risk
to me because it
shared personal,
difficult parts of my life.
And as a person, I feel, like,
obviously protective of things
that made me, well, eventually,
the person I am today.
But, you know, at the time,
were really scary and painful.
And so, I trusted Stacy so
much with helping articulate
and creating this world
where our character
Nat Beacon could exist
and share her truths, which
a lot of which was mine.
>> Ali Stroker: That --
I've got to throw credit.
That's all Stacy.
Stacy was like, I have to do
this, and I was like, go, girl.
Go, go, go.
Do it, do it, do it.
So, Stacy came up with
all of the chapter titles,
and as I read them, I was
like, this is so funny.
This is so genius.
Because it really does tap into,
like, the theater knowledge
that we both have, and
it feels so good to,
like, see that celebrated.
And my other favorite part
of, you know, working together
and creating some of these
chapters and moments was
that first, before
we wrote them,
we shared our experiences
growing up in theater.
And to, like, tell
someone what that was like,
those moments growing up
in theater are literally
like the foundation
of who I am today.
So, to share that with Stacy
and then take pieces of that
and put it into the
chapters and the characters
and the storyline, it was so
special and healing to me.
Because, you know, as a middle
school girl with a disability,
like, there were a lot
of uncomfortable moments.
To share those moments as
well with someone, with Stacy,
with somebody who I trusted so
much and then to be able to put
that in the world, I mean, that
was just, like, so exciting.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: It
was such an honor to, like,
share those experiences
and hear Ali's story.
And just to geek out and like,
like -- I think sometimes, like,
obviously writing is hard.
And sometimes you're
just like, okay,
I have to get this chapter out.
Like -- I find, like, I
found the most fun parts
of this were just, like -- Like,
oh, let me spend a few hours,
like, Googling all
the, my favorite, like,
musical theater songs
and references.
Oh, right, this.
And you get, like, you kind
of go into a rabbit hole,
and you're like, oh, right.
This musical!
Oh, let me just listen
to the album real quick.
Like, so you find
yourself being like, wait.
Now I'm just -- I'm
not doing work.
Like, we have a Spotify
playlist that includes, like,
ten hours of musical
theater songs that are, like,
referenced in the book.
And I had, like, very
important things to do that day
and was like, no,
this is a priority.
Like -- [laughing]
[ Both Speaking and Laughing ]
>> Ali Stroker: So good.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: But yeah.
We're, like -- And geeking out
about all that stuff was just
so much fun because especially
-- Yeah, especially, like,
during COVID when you're not
in that world face-to-face to,
like, sink back into
your favorite memories
and experiences is just
really, like, healing.
>> Ali Stroker: I hope that
any reader who gets to read
through The Chance to Fly , I
hope that they come away feeling
like the thing you
are most afraid of,
when you face those fears and
when you surround yourself
with people who support you,
it's like your world
completely opens up.
And the possibilities
are endless
when you are able
to be creative.
And, you know, when doors close,
that means that another
one is going to open.
And that happens a lot
for Nat in our book.
We watch where she
struggles and then the door
that you least expect
then opens.
So, I hope it's a
reminder to readers
that you're going
to face challenges.
That's a part of life.
But to stay persistent,
to follow your dreams,
and surround yourself
with good people.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yeah.
I think, I think that -- I think
that it's really important to,
like, let yourself,
express yourself
in an uncensored way and,
like, almost, like --
Like, I don't want to be
too crude about it but,
like, vomit out your story.
Don't censor yourself or worry
about what others
think at first.
And then, like, and then --
And then be open to that kind
of feedback as you're writing
-- But I think that, like,
if you have the desire to get
your story out there, and you --
And you like to write,
and you want to go
that route, like, do it.
Like, just -- And
take your time.
And I would say everyone's
process is completely different.
So like, you know,
someone might be able
to quickly get out,
you know, a draft.
Some people might take
years, and that, like --
The biggest reminder I
always tell myself is to,
like, be kind to myself.
Like, don't put that
pressure on.
If you feel like you have
writer's block, you know,
figure out the best way
for yourself to stay kind
of healthy mentally
and then keep going.
So, yeah. If you
want to do it, do it.
And I think that if you want to
be part of someone else's story,
like in this case, a
collaboration is so essential.
And that's kind of what one
of the themes of our book is.
Like, right?
Like, if you want to
do something, like,
find the people who, you
know, are experts in it,
who have those experiences,
and support each other.
So, like, if you want to
tell a different story,
someone else's story that might
not be totally your own, like,
collaborate and see
what that brings.
And, you know, find people
who have -- And Ali, you know,
Ali talks -- we talk
about this a lot.
Like, you know, find people who,
like, have certain strengths
that aren't your own and
then, like, work together
so that you build each other's
strengths up, and that kind
of creates, like,
this creative kind
of magical place or product.
Or at least process, right?
Sometimes it's just the process.
>> Ali Stroker: I think that
a lot of teenagers and --
I will speak for myself --
people living with
disabilities have a very kind
of complicated relationship
with independence and help.
Because what I have learned
in my life using a wheelchair
out in the world is in
order to be independent,
I have to receive help.
And so it's all packaged
together.
But as a teenager, I always
sort of thought that if I wanted
to be independent then I
couldn't receive any help
and I didn't want any support.
But that actually held me back.
So, for anyone who is living
with any kind of challenge,
you know, I think it's
so important to know how
to advocate for yourself and
to know what kind of help
and accommodations you need,
because those are the things
that will set you free and
make you feel independent.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yeah.
And I think that part of --
You know, that was one
of the biggest themes
that was really shaped in the
editing process because it is
so complicated, that it's
also complicated to, like,
write with, like, nuance.
And so I think when we were --
You know, our editor gave us two
choices after we presented her
with the first draft and was
like, do you want us to --
Do you want Nat to
feel like she learns
that independence is important,
or do you want her to come
into the book strong,
knowing that she wants to feel
and be independent, and she's
trying to prove to everyone
around her that she can do this?
And, like, we chose the latter.
And our editor was, you know,
really, like, encouraging us
to choose the latter because
that's what makes our main
character so strong, determined,
confident and persistent.
And that's what makes
her really special.
And, like, you know, knowing
that she has, like, this in her
and kind of knowing what
she needs and wants but sort
of navigating how to get it,
how to ask for it for herself.
Like, what Ali was saying with,
like, advocating for herself.
Like, you have to really put
a lot of trust in people and,
like, she's first moving
to a whole new town and has
to find the people that
she's going to trust.
So, like, I think
that, you know,
playing with that theme was
just, like, really important
to Nat and also just, like,
the idea of that, like,
when you find people in your
life who believe in you,
who support you and love you,
it cracks you right open.
And with that comes that
feeling of I can do anything.
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
In this scene,
our main character Nat
Beacon has been told --
Once she gets into the
production of Wicked ,
she has been told by the
director that it might be better
for her to kind of be on
the side and sing the parts
but not participate
in the dance.
And this is really, like,
frustrating and painful for her,
for Nat because she's
just like, I'm an athlete.
Like, I wheelchair race.
I can do this.
Like, why am I being told
that I can't before
even being given a shot
or having a conversation
about it?
So her, like, new best friend,
who is the dance captain,
comes over to her home,
and they do this --
They work on this
choreography together
by translating the
choreography from the show
so that she can do
it in her wheelchair.
That's the context.
He's just coming over her house.
I'm going to be playing
Hudson, the friend.
He's 13. He's a dancer.
And Ali will be playing Nat.
I'll also be, like, the mom.
>> Ali Stroker: And I just
want to throw credit to Stacy
that this chapter or this part
of the book is, like, in prose
but Stacy made this
into dialogue
because she's also a playwright.
So this is, like, a
scene from the book.
[ Skit Begins ]
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Okay, okay.
Enough. Enough talking.
Let's dance through life!
>> Ali Stroker: Yes!
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Okay.
So let me show you the first
few eight counts we learned
and then, you know, we
can start to translate.
>> Ali Stroker: Nice word!
>> Stacy Davidowitz: I listen.
All right.
So it goes, "Dancing
through life!"
[Humming] Five, six,
seven, eight.
[Humming] Okay, that's it.
>> Ali Stroker: Uhh.
Okay. That's it?
I swear I'm more out of
breath just watching you.
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
I'm out of breath!
Okay. Let's break it down.
The first move is a half turn.
We all face upstage with
our backs to the audience,
and then we turn front.
>> Ali Stroker: Okay, great.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Okay.
So we're going to turn on the
count of three, land on four.
All right.
So it's going to go
one, two, three, four.
>> Ali Stroker: Okay.
Um, so I definitely
need more time to turn.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Right.
Okay. Um. Maybe have your
hand on the wheel earlier.
Like, can you start
turning on two?
>> Ali Stroker: Sure.
Yeah, I'll try.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Cool.
One, two, three, four.
Yes! Your chair equals awesome!
>> Ali Stroker: Do
you want to try?
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Try what?
Your chair?
>> Ali Stroker: Yeah.
Is that stupid?
I just -- I have an extra
wheelchair in the garage.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Um,
that would be so cool.
>> Ali Stroker: Okay!
Great! Hold on.
Mom! Can you bring in Eliza?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Uh, sure, hon!
Please tell me you
named your wheelchair
after Eliza Schuyler
Hamilton, my dream role.
>> Ali Stroker: My dream role!
Stacy Davidowitz:
Our dream role!
Oh my God, I'm obsessed.
Okay. So the chair
you're sitting in now,
does she also have a name?
>> Ali Stroker: Of course.
This is Peaches, named
after her pink color
and also the funky new orphan
in Annie Warbucks ,
the Annie sequel.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Okay.
So one chair is an orphan, and
the other founded an orphanage.
>> Ali Stroker: I never thought
of it that way, but yeah!
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
And here's Eliza!
By the way, you two talk so fast
I can hardly understand a word
you're saying.
>> Ali Stroker: I
didn't realize.
Did you?
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yes.
Okay. All right.
I'm getting on.
I'm nervous.
Oh, it's like -- I don't know.
I'm going to suck.
You maneuver it like
it's a part of your body.
>> Ali Stroker: You have, like,
the most perfect
control when you dance.
It'll be no different
in the chair.
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
I don't know.
Okay. Okay.
I'm in. Now what?
Do I push the actual tire
or the metal pushing part?
>> Ali Stroker: Well, sometimes
I push a little bit of both.
Okay, a pro tip.
Use the metal push
rim but when you need
to get much more
momentum, you push --
You put your hand over both the
rubber tire and the push rim.
Closer. But you can't
use your legs.
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
It's so hard!
I feel like I need to record you
and then watch it
back in slow motion.
>> Ali Stroker: You
could totally record.
Oh! Do you know the Rollettes?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Is that a girl band?
>> Ali Stroker: They're
a dance group.
They're all beautiful
girls in wheelchairs,
who are in their twenties, and
they do big numbers and they,
like, make music videos.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Seriously?
You're telling me this now?
>> Ali Stroker: Sorry!
Okay, I'm pulling up one of
their first ever competitions.
Okay, okay.
Do you see how the lead
dancer does a wheelie?
And a dip?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Yeah, I see it!
>> Ali Stroker: The way she
moves, the way they all do,
it's, like, with
complete confidence.
They own their bodies.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Plus
they're really strong and hot.
>> Ali Stroker: I wish
I could be that amazing.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: You can be.
Are you kidding?
When you dance for
Calvin, his head is going
to pirouette off of his neck.
>> Ali Stroker: Morbid.
I love it.
Okay, let's do partner work.
Grab the fuzzy pillow.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: But
we've got each other, right?
>> Ali Stroker: Yeah, but only
one of us will be in the chair.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Touche.
All right.
Grab the pillow for yourself.
>> Ali Stroker: God, I wish
I could dance with Malik.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Me too.
>> Ali Stroker: Wait.
Oh my God, seriously?
>> Stacy Davidowitz: I
mean, I'm kind of joking.
But wait, you're serious?
>> Ali Stroker: Yeah.
I mean, yeah.
He's really cute.
And he's so nice.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: And
talented and philosophical
and a lot of other
very good adjectives.
>> Ali Stroker: Is he gay?
>> Stacy Davidowitz: I wish.
>> Ali Stroker: Is
there something going
on between him and Savannah?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
She's always liked him.
>> Ali Stroker: And
he's always liked her?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Everyone has been waiting
for him to, like, get the hint.
>> Ali Stroker: How do you
know he hasn't already gotten
the hint?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Because boys are dumb
with stuff like that.
>> Ali Stroker: So do you
think he'll like her back
when he realizes she likes him?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
I don't know.
Probably. If he were smart
though, he'd like you back.
Hudson, your dad is
here to pick you up!
No! I'll text him
five more minutes.
He'll understand, right?
>> Ali Stroker: Right.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Okay, so
maybe we can make this a thing?
>> Ali Stroker: Are you sure?
I know it's a lot to have
to help the cast all
day and then help me.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Stop.
It was so fun.
>> Ali Stroker: Also
thanks for sharing
so much stuff with me today.
I mean, if it helps, I
got called a lot of names
in elementary school,
too, and middle school.
People don't always see me.
They see my chair.
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Their loss, honestly.
Oh! You should make
everyone get an Eliza.
It should be like a
worldwide requirement.
>> Ali Stroker: Well,
unfortunately,
most people act scared
of my chair.
But even in Wicked , your
Munchkin character Boq,
he has a crush on Glinda,
but Glinda makes him ask
out Nessarose as a
form of charity just
because she's in a wheelchair.
It's so crazy!
Is it so crazy for Boq
to actually love Nessa
but not crazy for Fiyero to
love Glinda or even Elphaba?
Like, what?
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
You're right.
You're totally right.
>> Ali Stroker: One day, I
would love to play a lead.
Not give advice to an actor
playing a role in a wheelchair.
Not play a lead character
in a wheelchair.
But, like, play a legit,
normal leading lady.
Maybe even one with love stuff.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yeah.
You should be.
You'd be amazing.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Wait.
I want that for you, too.
Honestly -- Okay, so
that needs to happen.
And obviously it's not
the same for me, but okay,
I'm just going to say it.
I like being dance captain,
but I don't want to be stuck
on the sidelines helping
Malik for forever.
For once, I want to
be the lead, too.
>> Ali Stroker: You should be.
You'd be amazing.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Thanks.
I mean, I get it.
I'm not the hottest manly person
or whatever, but I can act.
I can play a leading guy
role or a leading girl role.
A leading role, period!
Willing suspension
of disbelief, people!
>> Ali Stroker: Wait, remind me.
What does that mean exactly?
>> Stacy Davidowitz: I think
it can mean a lot of things.
What I mean, though, is that
when people come to see theater,
they know it's not real.
So, like, if an actor
is playing a character
that doesn't fit the
character's body or voice
or type perfectly, it's fine.
Like, the audience accepts it.
>> Ali Stroker: Oh my God!
Hamilton !
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
What about it?
>> Ali Stroker: The
whole show is
like a giant willing
suspension of disbelief
because they cast people of
color as the Founding Fathers!
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Oh
my God, you're right!
>> Ali Stroker: I feel like
theater is the one place
where we can try on different
roles and show the world
that there's more to us
than what people might see.
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Especially
when an actor is talented.
Like, I think talent
outweighs any distraction.
>> Ali Stroker: True.
That's totally -- Hudson!
Willing suspension of disbelief.
That's our quote for the
secret wall backstage!
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Yes!
Yes! [Beeping sound] Shoot,
I never texted my dad.
Thanks, Nat!
Okay, okay, I'll
see you tomorrow!
>> Ali Stroker: Bye!
>> Stacy Davidowitz: Bye!
[ Skit Ends ]
>> Stacy Davidowitz:
Thank you for coming
to the National Book Festival!
I am so glad to be here
and thank you so much
for listening and reading.
>> Ali Stroker: Thank
you so much
for attending the
National Book Festival.
We are so honored
to be here and talk
about our book, The
Chance to Fly .
And for all of you dreamers
out there, I hope that you know
that anything is possible
no matter what challenge
or limitation you live with.
Dream big and we, Stacy and I,
will be cheering for you always.
Have a wonderful day!
[ Music ]