A Wonderful World (musical)
| A Wonderful World | |
|---|---|
| The Louis Armstrong Musical | |
 Broadway promotional poster | |
| Music | Various Artists |
| Lyrics | Various Artists |
| Book | Aurin Squire Story by Christopher Renshaw Andrew Delaplaine |
| Basis | The life of Louis Armstrong |
| Premiere | December 4, 2021: Colony Theatre, Miami |
| Productions | 2021 Miami New Drama 2023 New Orleans, Chicago 2024 Broadway |
A Wonderful World - The Louis Armstrong Musical is a jukebox stage musical with a book by Aurin Squire. The show features a score of music originally performed by Louis Armstrong and others, with orchestrations and arrangements by Branford Marsalis.[1] The show was conceived originally by Christopher Renshaw and Andrew Delaplaine and is directed by Renshaw with choreography by Rickey Tripp.[2]
The musical tells an autobiographical account of the life of jazz musician Louis Armstrong (1901–1971), from the perspective of the four wives he had during his lifetime, Daisy Parker, Lillian Hardin, Alpha Smith, and Lucille Wilson. The title comes from the song What a Wonderful World, originally released in 1967 and written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss.[3]
The show opened on Broadway at Studio 54 on November 11, 2024, following previews beginning a month earlier.[4]
Production history
[edit]Miami New Drama (2020-2021)
[edit]The musical was commissioned by Michel Hausmann, artistic director of Miami New Drama.[5] The project was developed and workshopped beginning in 2019 at Miami New Drama and was originally set to have its world premiere on March 5, 2020, running until April 5th, 2020. This production was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled at the end of 2021, running from December 4, 2021, until January 16, 2022. Dionne Figgins was originally cast as Daisy Parker, while Lillian Hardin was originally played by Lana Gordon. The two roles were re-cast following the pandemic.[6][7]
New Orleans and Chicago (2022-2023)
[edit]After the world premiere production, the musical was taken on the road to further workshop in New Orleans at the Saenger Theatre from October 1–8, 2023 and in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre October 13, 2023 through October 29, 2023.[8] The musical held private readings in New York City in 2022 featuring James Monroe Iglehart as Armstrong, Krystal Joy Brown as Alpha Smith, Patrice Covington as Lucille, Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lillian Hardin, and Aisha Jackson as Daisy Parker.[9][10]
Broadway (2024)
[edit]In February 2024, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway later that fall, opening at Studio 54 on Nov 11, 2024 following previews beginning Oct 16, 2024. Vanessa Williams serves as a producer on the project and Iglehart is set to reprise his starring role as well as co-direct with Christina Sajous, who originally played Daisy in Miami. Branford Marsalis was added as orchestrator.[11][12]
Original cast and characters
[edit]| Character | Miami | Chicago | Broadway |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Louis Armstrong | Juson Williams | James Monroe Iglehart | |
| Daisy Parker | Christina Sajous | Khalifa White | Dionne Figgins |
| Lillian Hardin | Allison Semmes | Jennie Harney-Fleming | |
| Alpha Smith | Nicole Henry | Brennyn Lark | Kim Exum |
| Lucille Wilson | Darlene Hope | Ta'Rea Campbell | Darlesia Cearcy |
| King Joe Oliver | Gavin Gregory | ||
| Joe Glaser / Morris Karnofsky | Stephen G. Anthony | Matt Wolpe | Jimmy Smagula |
| Stepin Fetchit / Lincoln Perry | Jason Holley | DeWitt Fleming Jr. | |
Musical numbers
[edit]Act 1
[edit]- "Basin Street Blues" / "Bourbon Street Parade" - Company
- "Kiss of Fire" - Louis, Daisy
- "It's Tight Like That" - King Joe Oliver, Louis, Daisy, Ensemble
- "Kiss of Fire" (reprise) - Daisy
- "Up a Lazy River" - Banjo Ben
- "Avalon" - Louis and Company
- "Black and Blue" - Louis, Daisy, Lil, Alpha, Lucille
- "It Don't Mean a Thing" - King Joe Oliver, Ensemble
- "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" - King Joe Oliver, Louis
- "Got a Bran' New Suit" - Lil, Louis, King Joe Oliver
- "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" - Lil, Louis
- "Heebie Jeebies" - Louis, Lil, Ensemble
- "Dinah" - Louis
- "Tiger Rag" - Louis, Lil, Ensemble
- "You Rascal You" - Louis, Ensemble
- "Some of These Days" / "After You've Gone" - Lil, Daisy
Act 2
[edit]- "Oh, When The Saints Go Marching In" - Louis, Crooner
- "Big Butter and Egg Man" - Alpha, Louis
- "When You're Smiling" - Louis, Lincoln Perry, Ensemble
- "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" - King Joe Oliver
- "Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth the Salt of My Tears" - Alpha
- "I Double Dare You" - Lucille, Ensemble
- "Cheek to Cheek" - Louis, Lucille
- "That's My Home" - Lucille
- 'Back O'Town Blues" - Louis
- "Star Spangled Banner" - Louis
- "Hello, Dolly" - Louis
- "St. James Infirmary" - Daisy, Lil, Alpha, Lucille
- "What a Wonderful World" - Louis, Daisy, Lil, Alpha, Lucille, Company
References
[edit]- ^ https://deadline.com/2024/08/branford-marsalis-broadway-louis-armstrong-wonderful-world-1236046364/
- ^ "A WONDERFUL WORLD | Official Box Office | Saenger Theatre". www.saengernola.com. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ ""A Wonderful World" Reviewed by Julia W. Rath – AROUND THE TOWN CHICAGO". Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ Cardenas, Emily (March 12, 2024). "'A Wonderful World' heads to a Broadway stage". The Miami Times.
- ^ Cardenas, Emily (December 21, 2021). "'A Wonderful World' cancels performances". The Miami Times.
- ^ "Review: Long-awaited 'A Wonderful World' is wonderful in every way". ArtburstMiami. March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Inside Rehearsals for World Premiere of A Wonderful World | Playbill".
- ^ "Louis Armstrong musical 'A Wonderful World' now playing at Cadillac Palace Theatre". ABC7 Chicago. 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart, Krystal Joy Brown, Aisha Jackson, More Are Part of A Wonderful World Musical Readings | Playbill".
- ^ ""A Wonderful World" has a friend in James Monroe Iglehart's Louis Armstrong". Where Y'at New Orleans. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ "James Monroe Iglehart Will Star in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical on Broadway | Playbill".
- ^ James Monroe Iglehart and Christina Sajous Are Now Co-Directing Broadway's Upcoming A Wonderful World