A WONDERFUL WORLD: THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL
Featuring James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong
Book by Aurin Squire
Conceived by Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw
Music Supervision, Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements
and Additional Orchestrations by Daryl Waters
Orchestrations & Arrangements by Branford Marsalis
Directed by Christopher Renshaw
A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical played its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, February 23, 2025. At the time of closing, the production will have played 151 performances, including 31 previews. A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical played at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street).
Louis Armstrong’s innovative musicianship and incredible charisma as trumpeter and vocalist would lead him from the early days of jazz in his native New Orleans to five decades of international stardom. A Wonderful World tells the story of Armstrong’s blazing musical career and features beloved songs he recorded and made popular, including “What a Wonderful World” and “When You’re Smiling,” among many other favorites.
A Wonderful World starred Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong, Darlesia Cearcy as Lucille Wilson, Kim Exum as Alpha Smith, Dionne Figgins as Daisy Parker, and Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lil Hardin.
The cast included Trista Dollison as Standby for the roles of Daisy Parker, Lil Hardin, Alpha Smith and Lucille Wilson; DeWitt Fleming Jr. as Fate Marable/Lincoln Perry; Jason Forbach as Crooner & Others; Gavin Gregory as King Joe Oliver; and Jimmy Smagula as Joe Glaser. Award-winning Broadway actor James T. Lane plays Armstrong on Wednesday evening and Thursday matinee performances.
The ensemble included 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 a book by Aurin Squire and was co-conceived by Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw. Renshaw also serves as Director of the production, with James Monroe Iglehart and Christina Sajous as co-directors. Choreography and Musical Staging is by Rickey Tripp. Tap Choreography is by DeWitt Fleming Jr.
Orchestrations and Arrangements are by three-time Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis, Music Supervision, Vocal and Incidental Arrangements, and Additional Orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters, Dance Arrangements are by Tony Award nominee Zane Mark, and Music Direction by Darryl G. Ivey. Grammy and Emmy Award winner David Lai is the Music Contractor for the production.
Scenic and Video Design was by Adam Koch and Steven Royal, who made their Broadway debut with A Wonderful World. Costume Design was by four-time Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James. Lighting Design was by Cory Pattak. Sound Design was by Tony Award winner Kai Harada. Wig and Hair Design was by Matthew Armentrout . Makeup Design was by Kali Taylor. Prop design was by Lilian Sun.
Fight Director was Lee Soroko. Dialect Coach was Jerome Butler. Dramaturg was Faye Price. Casting was by ARC, Duncan Stewart, CSA, and Patrick Maravilla, CSA.
The producers of A Wonderful World were Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae), Vanessa Williams, Elizabeth Curtis, John Gore Organization, Ryan Donnell Smith & Allen Cheney, Remmel T. Dickinson, Wei-Hwa Huang, and Lee/Knowles/Coney.
Advertising and Marketing were provided by The Pekoe Group. Digital Marketing and Audience Development are provided by Biz Chica Media. Tour Booking was provided by The Booking Group (Meredith Blair, Kara Gebhart). General Management was provided by Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White, Gregory Rae, Jim Brady). RL Campbell is the Production Stage Manager. Michelle Tamagawa is the Company Manager. Sightline Productions is the production manager. Irene Gandy is the consulting producer.
A Wonderful World was presented in association with Roundabout Theatre Company. Miami New Drama (Artistic Director Michel Hausmann; Managing Director Nicholas Richberg) presented the World Premiere production of A Wonderful World on December 11, 2021, at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, FL.