Interior shots of the rehearsals for A WONDERFUL WORLD – THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical is now in rehearsals! The production opens Monday, November 11, 2024 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Previews begin October 16, 2024. Tickets are available at louisarmstrongmusical.com.

Take a look into the rehearsal room (see new photos below)!

A Wonderful World is produced by Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae), Vanessa Williams and Liz Curtis, and Remmel T. Dickinson.

Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway: Aladdin, Hamilton) 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 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 L. Armstrong (National Tour: Hamilton), Wesley 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). 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.

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.

“A Wonderful World” is based on a book by Aurin Squire (“This Is Us,” “The Good Fight”) and features songs made famous by Louis Armstrong. The idea for “A Wonderful World” came from Andrew Delaplaine and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Christopher Renshaw (“The King and I,” “Taboo”), who also directed the production.

“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.