Stacy Davidowitz
Stacy, here.
Author and Playwright. Welcome!
AUTHOR.
Stacy is the author of the four-book middle grade series Camp Rolling Hills, published by Abrams Books. The titles include Camp Rolling Hills, Crossing Over, Breakout! and Freefall. Stacy is also the author of the Hanazuki chapter book series, three original stories based in the world of Hasbro's Hanazuki: Full of Treasures on YouTube.
Most recently, Stacy co-authored a middle grade novel with Tony Award- winning actress, Ali Stroker, titled The Chance to Fly, about a Broadway superfan who uses a wheelchair and the summer she defies expectations - and gravity - in her town's production of Wicked. It's been an Amazon Bestseller, #1 New Release, and Editor's Pick; and was named one of Amazon's Best Books of 2021. The National Education Association selected it as a featured title for Read Across America. It was also a Chicago Public Library's Best Kids Fiction Book of 2021, a PARENTS' Best Children's Books 2021 Winner, and a Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year. It has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Tamron Hall Show, PARENTS Magazine, The Associated Press, New York Live, Broadway World, Broadway.com, Broadway Profiles with Tamsen Fadal, Kirkus Reviews Magazine, Story Monsters Ink Magazine, The Week Jr. Magazine, and Lollipop Theater Network.
PLAYWRIGHT.
Stacy has had plays developed regionally and internationally. Her full-length plays include THE RUBBER ROOM (Old Vic, London; Naked Angels), PINK! (NYIT Nominee; Lark Finalist; Wesleyan), SACRED WATER (Rag and Bone; Fundamental Theater Project), and MIRACLE VILLAGE (Shakespeare’s Sister Semifinalist; Leah Ryan FEWW Finalist).
Her co-written musicals include HANK & GRETCHEN (produced in schools regionally), CAMP ROLLING HILLS (NYMF; Center Stage; Hoboken Children's Theater; produced in schools and camps regionally), and ONE DAY (Big Block Entertainment). Her short plays have been produced at/through The Flea, Sam French OOB Festival, Williamstown, NYMadness, Amios, Naked Radio, NYMF, etc.
Published by Broadway Play Publishing, Indie Theater Now, Steele Spring Stage Rights, and YouthPLAYS.
SCREENWRITER.
Stacy's indie feature IN THE RUBBER ROOM was optioned by All The Way Around Productions in NYC. She is currently being commissioned by Initiative 26 to adapt IN THE RUBBER ROOM to a television series. Stacy is also working on a musical television series with Michael Sottile titled INAPPROPRIATE.
EDUCATION: Tufts University, B.S.; Columbia University, MFA in Acting.
BOOKS
“Unique, inspirational, and full of heart. Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz will make readers laugh, cry, and teach them the true meaning of defying gravity.”
— CHRIS COLFER, New York Times bestselling author and Golden Globe winning actor
“An example of what is possible. I only wish that The Chance to Fly was written when I was a teenager.”
— JUDITH HEUMANN, International Disability Rights Activist
“This book reminds everyone that it is a beautiful thing to be different and to be passionate.”
— SOPHIA GENNUSA, Tony Honored Actress for her title role in Matilda
“A story both fine and also uplifting—in both senses of the word, moral and physical!”
— GREGORY MAGUIRE, New York Times bestselling author of WICKED
“The perfect read for any dream chaser . . . You’ll realize how unlimited your possibilities are.”
— KRISTIN CHENOWETH, Tony and Emmy Award winning actress and singer
“Bolstered by realistic dialogue and Nat's engaging internal narrative, this endearing novel will entrance a new generation of theater lovers and charm older ones with its allusions to beloved shows.”
— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, **STARRED REVIEW**
“The authors know their stuff—Tony-Award winner Stroker was the first wheelchair user to be cast in a Broadway play, and Davidowitz is a playwright—and it shows. Fun, honest, and uplifting: applause!”
— KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Young disabled performers will be excited to see representation, and all readers will be rooting for Nat.”
— SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
plays + Musicals
NEWS + EVENTS
May 7, 2022
Sangha Education Center: Words Rising
Join me at the beautiful Sangha Education Center in Jericho, Long Island on Saturday, May 7th, 1-3pm for an interactive event I'll be facilitating: Words Rising LIVE - A Creative, Role-Play, Story-Telling Journey. In addition to their Project Stewardship young adult participants, the creative writing and acting workshop is open to general public! See website for DETAILS and to REGISTER.
April 20, 2022
Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year
THE CHANCE TO FLY is a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year!
April 18, 2022
BOOK RIOT:10 Fantastically Sweet Middle School Romance Books
THE CHANCE TO FLY made Book Riot's list! Nat + Malik forever!
December 8, 2021
readingmiddlegrade.com named CHANCE a fave tween book
THE CHANCE TO FLY is one of readingmiddlegrade.com's 14 Best Middle Grade Books of 2021!
December 1, 2021
CHANCE is a Best of the Year book for Chicago Public Library
THE CHANCE TO FLY made Chicago Public Library's list of 2021's best fiction books for kids 4th through 8th grade!
November 4, 2021
PARENTS' Best Children's Books 2021 Winner
THE CHANCE TO FLY is a PARENTS’ Best Children’s Books 2021 winner on its list of Best Children’s Books 2021! #ParentsBestBooks
PARENTS, the leading source for busy millennial moms, tapped editors, librarians, teachers and literacy experts to nominate more than 250 titles published this year. A diverse group of over 100 kids and their parents helped determine 30 winners that deliver excitement, adventure, and kindness. The PARENTS’ Best Children’s Books 2021 are featured in the December issue of PARENTS, available now and on PARENTS.com/BestBooks.
October 6, 2021
Margins Bookstores Joy Award Finalist
The Chance to Fly was named a Margins Bookstores Joy Award Finalist! #MarginsBookstores is a celebration of bookstores owned and managed by and for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, and Neurodiverse communities. Nominated and selected by the #MarginsBookstores collective, the Joy Award recognizes outstanding literary works that represent the multitudes in our communities.
September 26, 2021
MAPSO Book Festival
I have been invited to participate in the Maplewood South Orange Book Festival in NJ again. Can't wait to sign and sell books in person! :)
September 4 - 6, 2021
National Book Festival, Washington D.C.
July 7, 2021 at 5:30 PM EST
Merrick Library - Merrick, Long Island
THE CHANCE TO FLY, a workshop visit in the Merrick Library garden. Calling all tweens and teens! Come chat with me about the book, theater, and all things Merrick. **This one is close to my heart. I grew up in Merrick and attended Lakeside Elementary School, MAMS, and Calhoun. So much of the book is inspired by my experience with Calhoun's On Tour Company under the direction of the amazing Sal Salerno. :)
June 15, 2021
Broadway Profiles with Tamsen Fadal
The newest episode of Broadway Profiles features an interview with my co-author Ali Stroker, who made history with her 2019 Tony win for her performance in Oklahoma! Stroker joined Emmy-winning anchor Tamsen Fadal in front of Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre, where the Tony-winning revival previously played, for a chat about her career, our new book The Chance to Fly and more. Read and watch here!
June 9, 2021
NEA selected CHANCE TO FLY for Read Across America
The National Education Association (NEA) selected THE CHANCE TO FLY as a featured title for their ’21-’22 Read Across America (RAA) program! They select one middle grade book per month. Interview with the incredible Marley Dias (who started the 1000 Black Girl Books campaign) here! And check out Chance resources on NEA website here!
June 9, 2021
Amazon named CHANCE TO FLY one of Best Books of 2021 So Far
THE CHANCE TO FLY was named an Amazon Best Book of the Year! It's a distinction chosen by Amazon's team of editors, and is not just part of an algorithm - which makes it even cooler. :)
June 7, 2021
The Week Junior Magazine
THE CHANCE TO FLY was featured in The Week Junior Magazine - specifically under "4 Amazing Books About Theater Life." Ali and I shared with them our favorite childhood books!
May 26, 2021 at 5:10 PM EST
ABC 7 New York / Disney
More press for THE CHANCE TO FLY aired on ABC7 New York! My amazing co-author Ali Stroker was interviewed and if you watch until the end, you can see a clip of me awkwardly and enthusiastically dancing on stage at the flagship CAMP store in downtown Manhattan! Watch here.
May 16, 2021 at 11 AM EST
CAMP Stores Book Event, NYC
I was so excited to talk to my co-writer, Ali Stroker, about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY, live at CAMP's fifth avenue store! The event was filmed and streamed online. Also, have you all been to their store?! It's AMAZING.
May 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Magazine - May 1 Issue
THE CHANCE TO FLY was featured in Kirkus Reviews in their May 1, 2021 print issue on Diversity! My incredible co-author, Ali Stroker, was interviewed...check it out!
April 23, 2021
Broadway World TV: Stroker + Davidowitz Open Up About Chance to Fly
Ali Stroker and I opened up to Richie Ridge in a televised interview for Broadway World following our storytime with Lollipop Theater Network. Read and watch here!
April 23, 2021 at 6:30 PM EST
Word Up Community Bookstore + Uptown Stories, NYC - Virtual Event
THE CHANCE TO FLY, a talkback with Stacy Davidowitz and Ali Stroker. Ali and I discussed and took questions about disability representation in the arts, our childhood theater experiences, and why our middle-grade novel THE CHANCE TO FLY is so important for readers now. **This one was close to my heart. I've been teaching through Uptown Stories in Washington Heights, NYC for four years and my students perform their creative writing at Word Up each semester.
April 22, 2021 at 10 AM EST
The Tamron Hall Show
Ali Stroker went LIVE on Disney/ABC's The Tamron Hall Show to talk about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY! Watch here! Plus, she sang Defying Gravity - watch her sing here!
April 19, 2021
NBC's New York Live
Ali Stroker went on NBC's New York Live to talk about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY! Watch here!
April 19, 2021
Publishers Weekly - **STARRED REVIEW**
Tony Award-winning Broadway star Stroker and veteran author Davidowitz combine their talents in this resonant middle grade debut. Bolstered by realistic dialogue and Nat's engaging internal narrative, this endearing novel will entrance a new generation of theater lovers and charm older ones with its allusions to beloved shows. Read full review here!
April 17, 2021 at 2 PM EST
Parents Magazine - IG Live + April Book Club Pick
Ali Stroker went on Instagram Live to chat with theatre writer Raven Snook about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY. CHANCE TO FLY is Parents Magazine's April Raising the Future Book Club pick!
April 16, 2021 at 3 PM EST
Lollipop Theater Network Virtual Storytime Event
Lollipop Theater Network is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to bringing current movies and entertainment to children confined to hospitals nationwide due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Ali Stroker and I led “Story Time with Lollipop Theater Network,” a moderated, virtual visit for pediatric patients around the country. The kiddos were AWESOME. They acted with us, and one kiddo even performed his favorite song from Six the Musical!
April 15, 2021 at 9:30 AM EST
The TODAY Show
Ali Stroker went on The TODAY Show to talk about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY! Watch here!
April 14, 2021 at 7 PM EST
University Bookstore Virtual Event - Seattle, WA
Ali Stroker and I had the best time doing a virtual event with University Bookstore, a fantastic indie bookstore in Seattle! Watch here!
April 14, 2021
The Associated Press
Ali Stroker was interviewed by The Associated Press about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY! Also picked up by MSN, Detroit Free Press, The Bradford Era/Bradform, PA and more! Watch here! Plus, you can read the text story here! It was also picked up by Washington Post, WRAL, Chicago Daily Herald, The Daily Progress, Minneapolis Star Tribune, etc.
April 13, 2021 at 6 PM EST
Bookends in Ridgewood Virtual Event, NJ
Ali Stroker and I had a fab time doing a virtual event with Bookends, a fantastic indie bookstore in Ali's hometown of Ridgewood, New Jersey. We discussed our collaboration, did a short reading, followed by a Q + A. :)
April 13, 2021
Pub Day for THE CHANCE TO FLY
Musical lovers, rejoice! Tony-award-winning actress Ali Stroker and I have written an inspiring middle-grade novel about a theater-loving girl who uses a wheelchair for mobility and her quest to defy expectations . . . and gravity. Buy here!
April 8, 2021 at 5:45 PM EST
MPIBA SpringCon Virtual Event
MPIBA (Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association) is made up of independent booksellers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. SpringCon is an educational show for indie booksellers, and Ali Stroker and I had such a great time discussing our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY at their author event, Right Book, Right Hands: Books for Every Young Reader.
March 2021
Story Monsters Ink - Feature in March 2021 Issue
Check out the interview Ali Stroker and I gave for Story Monsters Ink Magazine, featured in the March 2021 issue alongside Meena Harris, Mayim Bialik, David Levithan, and more! It's the literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents. Our interview can be read here!
January 23, 2021 at 10:30 AM EST
ALA Midwinter Virtual - Coffee Talks with Ali + Stacy
Ali Stroker and I had an awesome time chatting up our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY, at the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference. Our thirty minute "Coffee Talk" can be viewed here.
January 7, 2021
Broadway.com: THE CHANCE TO FLY
Ali Stroker, who made history with her Tony Award win for her performance in Oklahoma!, is releasing a novel. The Chance to Fly is co-written with Stacy Davidowitz and tells the story of 13-year-old Nat Beacon, a theater-loving girl who uses a wheelchair for mobility, who goes on a quest to defy expectations—and gravity—in her town's production of Wicked. Read here!
January 7, 2021
Broadway World: THE CHANCE TO FLY will hit shelves this spring!
Tony Winner Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz's THE CHANCE TO FLY Book Will Hit Shelves This Spring
"Writing Nat's story brought me back to my childhood, when auditioning made my stomach flip and opening nights gave me the butterfly-iest butterflies," said Davidowitz. "Something I held onto as a kid-and something Ali and I want our readers to take away from The Chance to Fly now is that no matter who you are and what challenges you face, creativity is key. You can break boundaries. You can burst through boxes. YOU can find solutions."
Read here!
December 31, 2020 at 1 PM EST
Cover Reveal on GMA3 (Good Morning America 3)
Ali Stroker went on GMA3 (Good Morning America 3) to talk about our book, THE CHANCE TO FLY, zooming to shelves on April 13th! Watch here!
CONTACT
For author visits to schools, camps, and libraries, please contact Stacy directly. She does virtual visits as well. :)
Stacy excitedly welcomes a hello from readers!
Theatrical Literary Rep (plays + screenplays):
Ally Shuster at Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Literary Representation (books):
Hannah Mann at Writers House
