NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Saenger Theatre and Broadway in New Orleans presented by Entergy announced today that tickets for the Broadway-bound new musical A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, will go on sale Friday, July 21, at 10 a.m. The eight performances begin Oct. 1 and run through Oct. 8.
Told from the perspective of the women in Armstrong’s life, A Wonderful World charts the legendary Louis Armstrong’s journey from the birth of jazz in his native New Orleans through his international stardom, featuring beloved songs he recorded and made popular.
Ticket prices start at $34. Individual tickets will be available at the Saenger Theatre box office, which opens at 12 p.m. (1111 Canal St., New Orleans, La, 70112), on saengernola.com, or on BroadwayInNewOrleans.com Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling (504) 287-0372.
Performance Schedule:
- Sunday, Oct. 1 – 6:30 PM
- Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 2:30 PM
- Wednesday, Oct. 4 – 7:30 PM
- Thursday, Oct. 5 – 7:30 PM
- Friday, Oct. 6 – 8:00 PM
- Saturday, Oct. 7 – 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
- Sunday., Oct. 8 – 1:00 PM
About A Wonderful World:
Producers Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Rodgers, Andrew Delaplaine, Vanessa Williams, Liz Curtis and Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae) are pleased to announce A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, which 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.
Joining previously announced Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway: Aladdin, Hamilton) who stars as Armstrong, will be 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.
The cast also features DeWitt Fleming, Jr. (TV: “Boardwalk Empire,” NY City Center Encores!: The Tap Dance Kid) as Lincoln Perry, Gavin Gregory (Broadway: The Color Purple, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as King Joe Oliver, Matthew Greenwood (TV: “1923”) as Johnny Collins, and Matt Wolpe (Broadway: Finding Neverland) as Joe Glaser, with Ronnie S.Bowman, Jr. (Broadway: The Music Man), Eean Cochran (Public Theater: The Harder They Come), Lindsey Corey (Miami New Drama: A Wonderful World), Jamal Christopher Douglas (Broadway: Paradise Square), Alexandra Frohlinger (Broadway: Soul Doctor), Afra Hines (Broadway: Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, Funny Girl), Alan Kelly (National Tour: Pippin, West End: We Will Rock You), Ashley McManus (National Tour: A Bronx Tale), Aurelia Michael (Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Alysha Morgan (Public Theater: The Harder They Come), Jarran Muse (Broadway: Motown the Musical), Aaron Michael Ray (Broadway: Come From Away), Khadijah Rolle (Regional: Sister Act the Musical), Dave Schoonover (Broadway: Bad Cinderella, National Tour: Love Never Dies), Brett Sturgis (Broadway: On Your Feet!, Aida), Renell Taylor (Regional: Newsies, Chicago, Dames at Sea), and Dori Waymer (Regional: The Color Purple).
A Wonderful World is the singular story of jazz legend, Grammy Award® winner and American icon Louis Armstrong, as told by the women in his life. Armstrong’s innovative musicianship and incredible charisma as a trumpet player and vocalist would lead him from the early days of jazz in his native New Orleans to five decades of international stardom.
Conceived by Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee, Christopher Renshaw (Broadway’s The King and I, Taboo), and novelist Andrew Delaplaine and directed by Renshaw, A Wonderful World has an original book by Aurin Squire (“This is Us,” “The Good Fight,” “Evil”) and features songs recorded and made popular by Armstrong. Wife and husband team Annastasia Victory (Caroline, or Change, Once on This Island) and Michael O. Mitchell (MJ the Musical, Motown the Musical) provide music supervision and direction, arrangements, orchestrations, and music direction. Choreography is by Rickey Tripp (Associate Choreographer for Broadway’s Once on This Island and Choir Boy). DeWitt Fleming, Jr. provides Specialty Tap Choreography. Christina Sajous serves as Associate Director and Aurelia Michael as Associate Choreographer. RL Campbell serves as Production Stage Manager.
Scenic and Projection design is by Adam Koch and Steven Royal. Costume design is by four-time Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James. Lighting design is by Cory Pattak. Sound design is by Tony Award winner Kai Harada.
Casting is by Duncan Stewart CSA, ARC Casting. Consulting Producer is Irene Gandy. General Management is by Martian Entertainment.
The World Premiere of A Wonderful World was presented by Miami New Drama in 2021-2022, Michel Hausmann – Artistic Director; Nicholas Richburg – Managing Director.
For tickets and more information for the New Orleans and Chicago engagements, please visit www.louisarmstrongmusical.com.
Mirroring Armstrong’s own musical path from New Orleans to Chicago, A Wonderful World will premiere first at the Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal Street) in New Orleans from Oct. 1-8, before moving to the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, IL (151 W Randolph St) where it will play from Oct. 11-29.
