New musical A WONDERFUL WORLD, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, starring Tony Award® winner James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong, will premiere in New Orleans and Chicago this autumn, prior to Broadway. 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. Mirroring Armstrong’s own musical path from New Orleans to Chicago, A WONDERFUL WORLD will premiere first at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans from 1 to 8 October 2023 before moving to the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago where it will play from 11 to 29 October 2023. Conceived by Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee, Christopher Renshaw (Broadway’s The King and I, Taboo), and novelist Andrew Delaplaine, A WONDERFUL WORLD has an original book by author 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) provide original music, arrangements, orchestrations and music direction. Renshaw directs the production, with choreography by Rickey Tripp (Associate Choreographer for Broadway’s Once on This Island and Choir Boy). Christina Sajous serves as Associate Director and Aurelia Michael as Associate Choreographer.
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