Three-time Grammy Award winner and Tony and Emmy Award nominee Branford Marsalis will create all-new musical arrangements and orchestrations for the Broadway production of A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. Featuring Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong, A Wonderful World will premiere on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Previews begin October 16, 2024. Tickets are available at louisarmstrongmusical.com.
Marsalis, a virtuoso saxophonist, is praised for his versatility in the jazz and classical music genres, including three Grammy Awards and 18 Grammy nominations. As a composer, Marsalis has written music for both the big and small screen. His works include original scores for Rustin, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. He received an Emmy nomination for composing the music for the History Channel documentary Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre. On Broadway, he composed music for The Mountaintop, Children of a Lesser God, and Fences (2010), for which he received a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award.
Louis Armstrong’s innovative musicianship and incredible charisma as a trumpeter and singer took him from the early days of jazz in his hometown of New Orleans to five decades of international fame. A Wonderful World tells the story of Armstrong’s whirlwind music career and includes beloved songs he recorded and popularized, including “What a Wonderful World” and “When You’re Smiling” and many other favorites.
“Louis Armstrong was a force of nature,” commented Marsalis. “We both grew up in New Orleans, where music is an integral part of life and permeates the soul, just as the spirit of Louis permeates all the songs in A Wonderful World. It is an honor to bring his sound and style to the stage in this production.”
The new, all-star musical team for A Wonderful World also includes music direction, vocal and stage arrangements and additional orchestrations by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters (Broadway: Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk; Memphis (Tony Award); Shuffle Along…; New York, New York), dance music arrangements by Tony Award nominee Zane Mark (Broadway: Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk; The Full Monty; Motown the Musical; The Cher Show) and music direction by Darryl G. Ivey (Broadway: Shuffle Along…; National Tour: The Wiz, Ain’t Too Proud). Grammy and Emmy Award winner David Lai (Broadway: Spamalot, Sweeney Todd, Hadestown) serves as music contractor for the production.
Based on a book by Aurin Squire (“This Is Us,” “The Good Fight”) and featuring songs made famous by Louis Armstrong, A Wonderful World was conceived and directed by Andrew Delaplaine and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Christopher Renshaw (“The King and I,” “Taboo”). A Wonderful World is produced by Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae), Vanessa Williams, Liz Curtis and Remmel T. Dickinson.
As previously announced, Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart will reprise his critically acclaimed role as Louis Armstrong. Last fall, Iglehart starred in the pre-Broadway production of A Wonderful World in New Orleans and Chicago, where he received rave reviews. The Chicago Tribune called him “simply fabulous! – a stunning Louis Armstrong.” The Chicago Sun-Times hailed, “James Monroe Iglehart delivers a phenomenal, dynamic and spirited lead performance as the wonderful Louis Armstrong.”
Starring Armstrong’s four women, each of whom had a unique influence on his life, are Darlesia Cearcy (Broadway: How to Dance in Ohio, Once on This Island) as Lucille Wilson, Dionne Figgins (Broadway: Memphis, Motown the Musical) as Daisy Parker, Kim Exum (Broadway: The Book of Mormon) as Alpha Smith, and Jennie Harney-Fleming (Broadway: The Color Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin.
The 26-person cast also includes Trista Dollison (Broadway: Oklahoma!, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as replacements for the roles of Daisy Parker, Lil Hardin, Alpha Smith and Lucille Wilson; DeWitt Fleming Jr. (TV: “Boardwalk Empire,” Encores!: The Tap Dance Kid) as Lincoln Perry; Jason Thomas Forbach (Broadway: Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables) as Crooner & Others; Gavin Gregory (Broadway: The Color Purple, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as King Joe Oliver; and Jimmy Smagula (Broadway: Spamalot (reboot); TV: “Blue Bloods,” “Black Monday”) as Joe Glaser. Award-winning Broadway actor James T. Lane (Broadway: Chicago, Kiss Me Kate, A Chorus Line) will play Armstrong in select performances.
The ensemble consists of Brandon Louis Armstrong (National Tour: Hamilton), Wesley J. Barnes (National Tour: Girls Club – Beware of Biting!, Jesus Christ Superstar), Willie Clyde Beaton II (Regional: 42nd Street, Beautiful), Ronnie S. Bowman, Jr. (Broadway: The Music Man, The Who’s Tommy), Eean S. Cochran (Public Theater: The Harder They Come), Kate Louissaint (Regional: Beautiful), Matt Magnusson (Off-Broadway: Hound Dog), Jodeci Milhouse (Encores!: Pal Joey), Alysha Morgan (Public Theater: The Harder They Come), Khadijah Rolle (Regional: Sister Act, Memphis the Musical), Tally Sessions (Broadway: Company, School of Rock), Brett Sturgis (Broadway : On Your Feet!, Aida), Renell Taylor (Regional: Newsies, Chicago), Meridien Terrell (National Tour: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) and Dori Waymer (Regional: The Color Purple). RL Campbell (Bring It On) serves as production manager, Jen Ash as stage manager and Alex Luong as assistant stage manager. Casting is by Arc Casting, Duncan Stewart, CSA, Patrick Maravilla, CSA.
The full creative team for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical will be announced shortly.
“A Wonderful World” is presented in association with Roundabout Theatre Company and is included in Roundabout subscription packages.
Miami New Drama (Artistic Director Michel Hausmann; Managing Director Nicholas Richberg) presented the world premiere of A Wonderful World on December 11, 2021 at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, FL.
