Review: A WONDERFUL WORLD Presented by Broadway In Chicago
by Rachel Weinberg
- Oct 15, 2023
World premiere musical A WONDERFUL WORLD has a wonderful lead in James Monrie Iglehart as Louis Armstrong. Iglehart embodies the acclaimed vocalist and trumpeter completely; he nails Armstrong’s signature raspy voice and vocals and larger-than-life presence, but he’s also a master at embodying the role’s emotions. He’s a joy to watch in every moment he’s onstage, even as Aurin Squire’s book charts both Armstrong’s successes and his more human mistakes. In terms of framework, A WONDERFUL WORLD surprisingly reminded me of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX. The musical starts and ends with Armstrong’s four wives: Daisy Parker (Khalifa White), Lil Hardin (Jennie Harney Fleming), Alpha Smith (Brennyn Lark), and Lucille Wilson (Ta’rea Campbell). Each of the musical’s four parts is centered around one of Armstrong’s wives. While the musical piqued my interest in Armstrong’s biography as a whole, I think this framework meant the timeline on his route to fame was incredibly condensed. And the musical certainly conveys that Armstrong was quite the philanderer; Squire’s book and Christopher Renshaw’s direction and conception don’t shy away at all from the fact that Armstrong cheated on each of his past wives with the next one.
Interview: James Monroe Iglehart On Pre-Broadway A WONDERFUL WORLD
by Tara Bennett
- Oct 12, 2023
BroadwayWorld sat down with star James Monroe Iglehart while the production played its first pre-Broadway engagement in New Orleans to chat about bringing Louis' story to life, the care that goes into telling stories through musicals, and if he can play a certain instrument.
Actors Announced for the 12th ANNUAL 48HOURS IN... HARLEM FESTIVAL
by Blair Ingenthron
- Aug 19, 2023
The Harlem9 Producers have announced the 18 Actors for the 12th Annual “48Hours in…Harlem”. The OBIE Award-Winning collective is responsible for “48Hours in…Harlem”, “48Hours in…El Bronx”, “48Hours in…Detroit”, “48Hours in…Dallas,” and “48Hours in…Holy Ground”.
Full Cast Revealed For A WONDERFUL WORLD Musical; Vanessa Williams Joins Producing Team
by Stephi Wild
- Jul 12, 2023
Full casting has been announced for A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, which was previously announced to star James Monroe Iglehart. The production also welcomes multiple Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams to the lead producing team. Find out more about the show, and the cast, here!
Listen: Young Playwrights Ukraine Chat on LITTLE KNOWN FACTS With Ilana Levine
by Little Known Facts w/ Ilana Levine
- Jun 19, 2023
Little Known Facts is a weekly podcast hosted by stage and film actress Ilana Levine. In this week's episode, Levine talks with two Ukrainian teens who are a part of a playwriting group that began during the war and how the pieces they wrote were helpful in their dealing with the trauma of war.
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