A Louis Armstrong musical is coming to Broadway and Vanessa Williams is one of the producers.
A Wonderful World A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong just announced that the Emmy-nominated actress has joined the producing team, which includes Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Rodgers, Andrew Delaplaine, Liz Curtis, and Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae).
Here’s a description of the musical:
A Wonderful World tells the story of Armstrong’s rise to stardom and blazing musical career from the perspective of his four wives, who each had a unique impact on his life.
The musical just announced the cast for its New Orleans and Chicago performances.
The cast includes Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Hamilton) who stars as Louis Armstrong, Ta’Rea Campbell (Philip tour of Hamilton, Broadway: The Lion King, The Book of Mormon) as Lucille Wilson, Jennie Harney-Fleming (Broadway: The Color Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin, Brennyn Lark (Broadway: Six, Les Misérables) as Alpha Smith and Khalifa White (Broadway: Caroline, or Change, Little Shop of Horrors) as Daisy Parker.
“I became interested in joining the producing team after I worked with Carl White and Greg Rae on a play I am starring in and co-producing called One Reach Away. They told me about this Louis Armstrong piece, and I had to read it. What captured me was the life of Louis was told through the perspectives of his four wives, and that’s when my producing partner Liz Curtis and I dove in,” Williams commented. “We felt it was important to have a deeper dive into how this iconic man loved and transformed throughout his career while embracing these four dynamic forces. Louis Armstrong had an incredible career that truly crossed over musical genres, worldwide cultures and show business mediums that few have ever achieved. I’m honored to help bring this story to the stage and contribute to the magic of the Wonderful World that it helps to create.”
For tickets and more information for the New Orleans and Chicago performances, please visit www.louisarmstrongmusical.com.
