| 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 ofLouis Armstrong |
| Premiere | December 4, 2021:Colony Theatre,Miami |
| Productions | 2021Miami New Drama 2023 New Orleans, Chicago 2024Broadway |
A Wonderful World - The Louis Armstrong Musical is ajukebox stagemusical with a book byAurin Squire. The show features a score of music originally performed byLouis Armstrong and others, with orchestrations and arrangements byBranford Marsalis.[1] The show was conceived originally byChristopher Renshaw andAndrew 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 byBob Thiele andGeorge David Weiss.[3]
The show opened onBroadway atStudio 54 on November 11, 2024, following previews beginning a month earlier.[4] The show closed on February 23, 2025. The production ran for 151 performances, including 31 previews.[5]
The musical was commissioned byMichel Hausmann, artistic director ofMiami New Drama.[6] 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 theCOVID-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, whileLillian Hardin was originally played byLana Gordon. The two roles were re-cast following the pandemic.[7][8]
After the world premiere production, the musical was taken on the road to further workshop in New Orleans at theSaenger Theatre from October 1–8, 2023 and in Chicago at theCadillac Palace Theatre October 13, 2023 through October 29, 2023.[9] The musical held private readings in New York City in 2022 featuringJames Monroe Iglehart as Armstrong,Krystal Joy Brown as Alpha Smith,Patrice Covington as Lucille Wilson, Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lillian Hardin, and Aisha Jackson as Daisy Parker.[10][11]
In February 2024, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway later that fall, opening atStudio 54 on November 11, 2024 following previews beginning October 16, 2024.Vanessa Williams serves as a producer on the project and Iglehart reprised his starring role as well as co-directed with Christina Sajous, who originally played Daisy in Miami.Branford Marsalis was added as orchestrator.[12][13] The show closed on February 23, 2025.[14]
| Character | Miami | Chicago | Broadway |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Louis Armstrong | Juson Williams | James Monroe Iglehart | James Monroe Iglehart |
| James T. Lane | |||
| 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. | |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | James Monroe Iglehart | Nominated |
