Miami New Drama Artistic Director Michel Hausmann has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of A Wonderful World, a new musical based on the life and songs of jazz legend and American icon Louis Armstrong. The production will play the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL.) from March 5 - April 5, with opening night set for March 14.
Drama Desk Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee,
Christopher Renshaw (Broadway's Taboo, The King and I), will direct the production, which will be choreographed by
Rickey Tripp (associate choreographer for Broadway's Once on This Island and Choir Boy).
With an original book by
Aurin Squire, the multi-talented playwright and television writer ("This is Us," "The Good Fight," "Evil") and Opa-locka, FL. native, A Wonderful World features songs recorded and made popular by Armstrong, arranged and orchestrated by
Annastasia Victory and Michael O. Mitchell.
Told from the perspective of the women in Armstrong's life, A Wonderful World charts Armstrong's journey from the birth of jazz in his native New Orleans through his international stardom. The musical also focuses on the complex history of race in America, leading up to the Civil Rights era.
"Miami New Drama's mission is to produce new work that resonates with our community while also contributing to national conversations. A Wonderful World bravely looks at our country's complicated relationship with race relations over the course of the past century as lived by America's greatest jazz performer,
Louis Armstrong, and the racial inequality that still haunts us today," says Hausmann.
The production stars
Juson Williams as
Louis Armstrong,
Dionne Figgins as Daisy Parker,
Lana Gordon as Lil Harden,
Nicole Henry as Alpha Smith,
Darlene Hope as
Lucille Wilson,
Gavin Gregory as King Joe Oliver, Stephen G. Anthony as Joe Glaser,
DeWitt Fleming Jr. as Stepin' Fetchit, and
Michael McKeever as Johnny Collins.
Additional cast includes
Kareema Khouri Castro, Lindsey Corey,
Jamal Christopher Douglas, Khadijah Rolle,
Traci Elaine Lee, James A. Pierce III,
Ben Sandomir,
Dori Waymer, Shanna L. Woods, and trumpeter Yamin Mustafa.
The award-winning design team features scenic design by
Adam Koch, costume design by
Ari Fulton, lighting design by
Cory Pattak, sound design by
Kai Harada, props design by Jameelah Bailey. Casting is by Stewart/Whitley, CSA.
Tickets ($39 -$65) are available for purchase by visiting
colony.org or by calling (305) 674-1040.
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