A Fantastic World: The Louis Armstrong Musical is now in rehearsal! The manufacturing opens on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Avenue). Previews start on October 16, 2024. Tickets are on sale at louisarmstrongmusical.com.
A Fantastic World is produced by Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr., Renee Delaplaine Rodgers, Martian Leisure (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae) and Vanessa Williams and Liz Curtis, and Remmel T. Dickinson.
Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway: Aladdin, Hamilton) will recreate his critically acclaimed efficiency as Louis Armstrong. Final fall, Iglehart starred within the pre-Broadway manufacturing of A Fantastic World in New Orleans and Chicago, the place he received rave opinions. The Chicago Tribune known as him “simply fabulous! – a knockout Louis Armstrong.” The Chicago Solar-Instances cheered, “James Monroe Iglehart provides an exceptional, dynamic and vivacious lead efficiency because the wondrous Louis Armstrong.”
© Jeremy Daniel
A Fantastic World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel
Jennie Harney-Fleming and Dionne Figgins at First Rehearsal for
A Fantastic World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. © Jeremy Daniel
A Fantastic World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.
© Jeremy Daniel
Taking part in the roles of Armstrong’s 4 wives, who every had a novel affect upon his life, will probably be Darlesia Cearcy (Broadway: The way to Dance in Ohio, As soon as on This Island) as Lucille Wilson, Dionne Figgins (Broadway: Memphis, Motown the Musical) as Daisy Parker, Kim Exum (Broadway: The E-book of Mormon) as Alpha Smith, and Jennie Harney-Fleming (Broadway: The Colour Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin.
The 26-member forged additionally options Trista Dollison (Broadway: Oklahoma!, Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility) as standby for the roles of Daisy Parker, Lil Hardin, Alpha Smith and Lucille Wilson; DeWitt Fleming, Jr. (TV: “Boardwalk Empire,” Encores!: The Faucet Dance Child) as Lincoln Perry; Jason Forbach (Broadway: Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) as Crooner & Others; Gavin Gregory (Broadway: The Colour Purple, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as King Joe Oliver; and Jimmy Smagula (Broadway: Spamalot (revival); TV: “Blue Bloods,” “Black Monday”) as Joe Glaser. Award-winning Broadway actor James T. Lane (Broadway: Chicago, Kiss Me Kate, A Refrain Line) will play Armstrong at sure performances.
The ensemble options Brandon L. Armstrong (Nationwide Tour: Hamilton), Wesley Barnes (Nationwide Tour: Imply Women, Jesus Christ Famous person), Willie Clyde Beaton II (Regional: forty second Avenue, Lovely), Ronnie S. Bowman, Jr. (Broadway: The Music Man, The Who’s Tommy), Eean S. Cochran (Public Theater: The More durable They Come), Kate Louissaint (Regional: Lovely), Matt Magnusson (Off-Broadway: Hound Canine), Jodeci Milhouse (Encores!: Pal Joey), Alysha Morgan (Public Theater: The More durable They Come), Khadijah Rolle (Regional: Sister Act, Memphis the Musical),Tally Periods (Broadway: Firm, College of Rock), Brett Sturgis (Broadway: On Your Toes!, Aida), Renell Taylor (Regional: Newsies, Chicago), Meridien Terrell (Nationwide Tour: Summer time: The Donna Summer time Musical), and Dori Waymer (Regional: The Colour Purple). RL Campbell (Deliver It On) will function Manufacturing Stage Supervisor, Jen Ash as Stage Supervisor and Alex Luong as Assistant Stage Supervisor. Casting is by Arc Casting, Duncan Stewart, CSA, Patrick Maravilla, CSA.
Louis Armstrong’s progressive musicianship and unbelievable charisma as trumpeter and vocalist would lead him from the early days of jazz in his native New Orleans to 5 a long time of worldwide stardom. A Fantastic World tells the story of Armstrong’s blazing musical profession. The musical options beloved songs he recorded and made fashionable, together with “What a Fantastic World” and “When You’re Smiling,” amongst many different favorites.
With a guide by Aurin Squire (“This Is Us,” “The Good Battle”) and that includes songs made well-known by Louis Armstrong, A Fantastic World is co-conceived by Andrew Delaplaine and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Christopher Renshaw (The King and I, Taboo), who additionally directs the manufacturing.
A Fantastic World is being introduced in affiliation with Roundabout Theatre Firm and will probably be included in Roundabout’s subscription packages.
Miami New Drama (Creative Director Michel Hausmann; Managing Director Nicholas Richberg) introduced the World Premiere manufacturing of A Fantastic World on December 11, 2021 on the Colony Theatre in Miami Seaside, FL.
