A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical has released opening night photos. The production opened on Broadway at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Tickets are on sale at the link HERE.
Stars, including Wendell Pierce, Phylicia Rashad, Christopher Jackson, Lillias White, Melba Moore, Okieriete Onaodowan, Lorraine Toussaint, Jelani Alladin, Sidney DuPont, and more, came to support the company of A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical on their opening night with a celebration after the show at Ziegfield Ballroom.
A Wonderful World stars Tony Award-winner James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway: Aladdin, Hamilton) as Louis Armstrong. Playing the roles of Armstrong’s four wives are Darlesia Cearcy (Broadway: How to Dance in Ohio, The Book of Mormon) as Lucille Wilson, Kim Exum (Broadway: The Book of Mormon) as Alpha Smith, Dionne Figgins (Broadway: Memphis, Motown: The Musical) as Daisy Parker, and Jennie Harney-Fleming (Broadway: The Color Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin.
The 26-member cast includes Trista Dollison (Broadway: Oklahoma!, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Standby 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 Fate Marable/Lincoln Perry; Jason Forbach (Broadway: Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) as Crooner & Others; Gavin Gregory (Broadway: The Color Purple, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as King Joe Oliver; and Jimmy Smagula (Broadway: Spamalot (revival); TV: "Blue Bloods," "Black Monday") as Joe Glaser. Award-winning Broadway actor James T. Lane (Broadway: Chicago, Kiss Me Kate, A Chorus Line) will portray Armstrong on Wednesday evenings and Thursday matinees.
The ensemble features Brandon Louis Armstrong (National Tour: Hamilton), Wesley J. Barnes (National Tour: Mean Girls, 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).
A Wonderful World features a book by Aurin Squire (Theatre: Obama-ology, 7 Deadly Sins; TV: “This Is Us,” “The Good Fight”), and was co-conceived by Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw. Renshaw also serves as Director of the production with James Monroe Iglehart and Christina Sajous as co-directors. Choreography and Musical Staging is by Rickey Tripp. Tap Choreography is by DeWitt Fleming Jr.
Orchestrations and Arrangements are by three-time Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis (Broadway: Fences, Children of a Lesser God), Music Supervision, Vocal and Incidental Arrangements, and Additional Orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters (Broadway: Memphis, Shuffle Along…), Dance Arrangements are by Tony Award nominee Zane Mark (Broadway: Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, Motown the Musical, The Cher Show), and Music Direction by Darryl G. Ivey (Broadway: Shuffle Along…). Grammy and Emmy Award winner David Lai (Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Hadestown, Spamalot) is Music Contractor for the production.
Scenic and Video Design is by Adam Koch and Steven Royal, who make their Broadway debuts with A Wonderful World. Costume Design is by four-time Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James (Broadway: Jelly’s Last Jam, Jitney, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Paradise Square). Lighting Design is by Cory Pattak (Broadway: The Great Gatsby, Spamalot). Sound Design is by Tony Award winner Kai Harada (Broadway: The Band’s Visit, Merrily We Roll Along). Wig and Hair Design is by Matthew Armentrout (Broadway: Paradise Square, Mother Play). Makeup Design is by Kali Taylor. Prop design is by Lilian Sun.
Fight Director is Lee Soroko. Dialect Coach is Jerome Butler. Dramaturg is Faye Price. Casting is by ARC, Duncan Stewart, CSA, Patrick Maravilla, CSA.
Advertising and Marketing is by The Pekoe Group. Digital Marketing and Audience Development is by Biz Chica Media. Tour Booking is by The Booking Group (Meredith Blair, Kara Gebhart). General Management is by Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White, Gregory Rae, Jim Brady). Production Stage Manager is RL Campbell. Company Manager is Michelle Tamagawa. Production Manager is Sightline Productions. Consulting Producer is Irene Gandy.
The producers of A Wonderful World are Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae), Vanessa Williams, Elizabeth Curtis, John Gore Organization, Ryan Donnell Smith & Allen Cheney, Remmel T. Dickinson, Wei-Hwa Huang and Lee/Knowles/Coney.
A Wonderful World is being presented in association with Roundabout Theatre Company and is included in Roundabout’s subscription packages.
Miami New Drama (Artistic Director Michel Hausmann; Managing Director Nicholas Richberg) presented the World Premiere production of A Wonderful World on December 11, 2021, at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, FL.
Image credit: Bruce Glikas
