“A Wonderful World” will be led by a team of directors. Joining the previously announced director Christopher Renshaw at the helm will be co-directors James Monroe Iglehart, the musical’s star, and Christina Sajous. The Louis Armstrong bio-musical will begin previews on Oct. 16 and open on Nov. 11 at Broadway’s Studio 54.
Iglehart, a Tony Award winner for his featured turn in 2014’s “Aladdin,” will play famed jazz musician Armstrong, reprising his performance from the musical’s pre-Broadway runs in Chicago and New Orleans. Sajous served as associate director for those engagements, and most recently performed the role of the Acid Queen in the Main Stem revival of “The Who’s Tommy.” “A Wonderful World” will mark the first time either of the two has directed on Broadway.
Renshaw will be billed as director; Iglehart and Sajous will share billing as co-directors. (Below, the trio explains how their collaboration came about and how it will work in practice.)
Co-conceived by Renshaw and Andrew Delaplaine and featuring a book by Aurin Squire, the musical chronicles Armstrong’s life through the perspective of his four wives. The score includes songs made famous by Armstrong.
Additionally, further members of the musical’s creative team have been revealed. Rickey Tripp will serve as choreographer and musical stager, while DeWitt Fleming Jr. will provide tap choreography. They are joined by associate choreographer Aurelia Michael and assistant choreographer Nasha Harris Santiago.
Heading up the musical’s design team will be scenic and video designers Adam Koch and Steven Royal, Tony-nominated costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designer Cory Pattak, Tony-winning sound designer Kai Harada, wig and designer Matthew Armentrout, makeup designer Kali Taylor and prop designer Lilian Sun.
Also newly announced are musical director Darryl G. Ivey, fight director Lee Soroko, dialect coach Jerome Butler and dramaturg Faye Price. RL Campbell will serve as production stage manager and Michelle Tamagawa will be the musical’s company manager. Tony winner and honoree Irene Gandy will serve as consulting producer.
A team of three directors is certainly uncommon on Broadway. How will it work?
