A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong . . .
The production team of Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Rodgers, Andrew Delaplaine, Liz Curtis, and Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae), welcome multiple Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams to the lead producing team.
A Wonderful World tells the story of Armstrong’s rise to stardom and blazing musical career from the perspective of his four wives, who each had a unique impact on his life.
Top Row: James Monroe Iglehart (Louis Armstrong),
Ta’Rea Campbell (Lucille Wilson), Jennie Harney-Fleming (Lil Hardin)
Bottom Row: Brennyn Lark (Alpha Smith), Khalifa White (Daisy Parker)
Joining previously announced Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway: Aladdin, Hamilton) who stars as Armstrong, will be Ta’Rea Campbell (Philip tour of Hamilton, Broadway: The Lion King, The Book of Mormon) as Lucille Wilson, Jennie Harney-Fleming (Broadway: The Color Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin, Brennyn Lark (Broadway: Six, Les Misérables) as Alpha Smith and Khalifa White (Broadway: Caroline, or Change, Little Shop of Horrors) as Daisy Parker.
Mirroring Armstrong’s own musical path from New Orleans to Chicago, A Wonderful World will premiere first at the Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal Street) in New Orleans, LA from October 1-8, 2023 before moving to the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, IL (151 W Randolph St) where it will play from October 11-29, 2023, prior to Broadway.
The cast also features DeWitt Fleming, Jr. (TV: “Boardwalk Empire,” NY City Center Encores!: The Tap Dance Kid) as Lincoln Perry, Gavin Gregory (Broadway: The Color Purple, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as King Joe Oliver, Matthew Greenwood (TV: “1923”) as Johnny Collins, Lindsey Corey (Miami New Drama: A Wonderful World) as Ensemble/Rachel the Reporter, and Matt Wolpe (Broadway: Finding Neverland) as Joe Glaser, with Ronnie Bowman (Broadway: The Music Man), Eean Cochran (Public Theater: The Harder They Come), Jamal Christopher Douglas (Broadway: Paradise Square), Alexandra Frohlinger (Broadway: Soul Doctor), Afra Hines (Broadway: Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, Funny Girl), Alan Kelly (National Tour: Pippin, West End: We Will Rock You), Ashley McManus (National Tour: A Bronx Tale), Aurelia Michael (Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Alysha Morgan (Public Theater: The Harder They Come), Jarran Muse (Broadway: Motown the Musical), Aaron Michael Ray (Broadway: Come From Away), Khadijah Rolle (Regional: Sister Act the Musical), Dave Schoonover (Broadway: Bad Cinderella, National Tour: Love Never Dies), Brett Sturgis (Broadway: On Your Feet!, Aida), Renell Taylor (Regional: Newsies, Chicago, Dames at Sea), and Dori Waymer (Regional: The Color Purple). www.louisarmstrongmusical.com
