Branford Marsalis Will Arrange and Orchestrate Broadway Louis Armstrong Biomusical A Wonderful World
The three-time Grammy-winning composer and saxophonist previously penned music for Broadway’s The Mountaintop, Children of a Lesser God, and Fences.
Branford Marsalis
Palma Kolansky
Broadway’s upcoming Louis Armstrong biomusical A Wonderful World has added three-time Grammy winner Branford Marsalis to its music team. The composer and saxophonist will pen orchestrations and arrangements for the show, which begins previews at Studio 54 October 16 ahead of a November 11 opening night.
Marsalis joins a previously announced music team led by music supervisor Daryl Waters, who is also providing vocal and incidental music arrangements and additional orchestrations. The team also includes dance music arranger Zane Mark, music director Darryl G. Ivey, and music contractor David Lai.
Aladdin Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart, recently seen on Broadway in the revival of Spamalot, is set to star as the late jazz legend. James T. Lane (Chicago, A Chorus Line) will play Armstrong at certain performances.
Starring as Armstrong’s four wives will be Darlesia Cearcy (How to Dance in Ohio) as Lucille Wilson, Dionne Figgins (Memphis) as Daisy Parker, Kim Exum (The Book of Mormon) as Alpha Smith, and Jennie Harney-Fleming (The Color Purple) as Lil Hardin. The cast will also feature DeWitt Fleming, Jr. as Lincoln Perry, Jason Forbach as Crooner, Gavin Gregory as King Joe Oliver, and Jimmy Smagula as Joe Glaser, with an ensemble comprising Brandon L. Armstrong, Wesley 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. Trista Dollison will be a standby.
Conceived by Tony nominee Christopher Renshaw (The King and I, Taboo), who also directs, and novelist Andrew Delaplaine, A Wonderful World has an original book by author Aurin Squire (This Is Us) and features songs made popular by Armstrong. The new musical tells the story of jazz legend Louis Armstrong, from his early days in New Orleans through five decades of international stardom, through the eyes of the women in his life.
READ: King Arthur, Louis Armstrong—James Monroe Iglehart Is in His Leading Man Phase
RL Campbell will serve as production stage manager, Jen Ash as stage manager, and Alex Luong as assistant stage manager. Casting is by Arc Casting’s Duncan Stewart and Patrick Maravilla. Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae) and Vanessa Williams and Liz Curtis, and Remmel T. Dickinson are producing. Additional creative team members will be announced.
A Wonderful World is being presented in association with Roundabout Theatre Company and is included in Roundabout’s subscription packages.
READ: ‘The Man Behind the Trumpet’: A Wonderful World Aims to Tell Louis Armstrong’s Story
Miami New Drama presented the world premiere of A Wonderful World in December 2021 at the Colony Theatre.
Visit LouisArmstrongMusical.com.
