“A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical” will end its Broadway run on Feb. 23. The bio-musical began previews on Oct. 16, 2024 and officially opened on Nov. 11 at Studio 54. By closing, the production will have played 31 previews and 120 regular performances.
“It is with mixed emotions that we announce the closing of ‘A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical,’” the show’s producers shared in a statement. “This has been a labor of love for our entire cast and creative team, and we are so proud to have brought Louis Armstrong’s extraordinary life and legacy to Broadway. We are grateful to the many people who made this show possible, and our thanks as well to the fantastic audiences who came to experience the glory of Louis Armstrong’s music. For those who haven’t yet seen ‘A Wonderful World,’ come to Studio 54 in these final weeks, and laissez les bon temps rouler!”
Co-conceived by Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw, with direction by Renshaw and co-direction by James Monroe Iglehart and Christina Sajous, “A Wonderful World” has a book by Aurin Squire which tells the story of Armstrong’s life and career through the lens of his wives.
The musical’s cast is led by Iglehart as Armstrong — with James T. Lane as the alternate for the role — with Darlesia Cearcy as Lucille Wilson, Kim Exum as Alpha Smith, Dionne Figgins as Daisy Parker and Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lil Hardin.
Rounding out the cast are Trista Dollison, DeWitt Fleming Jr., Jason Forbach, Gavin Gregory, Jimmy Smagula, Brandon Louis Armstrong, Wesley J. Barnes, Willie Clyde Beaton II, Ronnie S. Bowman, Jr., Eean S. Cochran, Kate Louissaint, Matt Magnusson, Jodeci Milhouse, Alysha Morgan, Khadijah Rolle, Tally Sessions, Brett Sturgis, Renell Taylor, Meridien Terrell and Dori Waymer.
“A Wonderful World” features music direction by Darryl G. Ivey, choreography and musical staging by Rickey Tripp, tap choreography by DeWitt Fleming Jr, arrangements/orchestrations by Branford Marsalis and music supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Daryl Waters, who also provides additional orchestrations.
The design team includes scenic and video designers Adam Koch and Stephen Royal, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designer Cory Pattak and sound designer Kai Harada.
“A Wonderful World” is produced by Tonya Lewis Lee, Les Coney, Mathew Knowles, Gena Avery Knowles, Thomas E. Rodgers Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae), Vanessa Williams, Elizabeth Curtis, the John Gore Organization (the parent organization to Broadway News), Ryan Donnell Smith, Allen Cheney, Remmel T. Dickinson and Wei-Hwa Huang, in association with Roundabout Theatre Company.
