Review: A WONDERFUL WORLD Presented by Broadway In Chicago
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.
Emelin Theatre For The Performing Arts Reveals Lineup Of Free Concerts In The Park
The Emelin Theatre for the Performing Arts has announced the third season of its popular Summer Concert series featuring two family-friendly events. The public is invited to join with friends and family to picnic on the grass in Harbor Island Park while listening and dancing to great music as the moon rises over the LI Sound.
Photos: BEETHOVEN: LIVE IN CONCERT Rocks The House At The Green Room 42
The house was packed and the vocals soared, as Beethoven: Live in Concert shook the stage of The Green Room 42 on Monday night. The concert previewed 10 songs from the upcoming musical, written and composed by Jad Jacob, that chronicles Beethoven's rise to fame through 70's-inspired rock. See photos from the production.
Video: Meet the New Queens of SIX on Broadway
New queens are taking over the Broadway Queendom in just weeks. SIX, the hit musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, has announced new casting for the Tony Award-winning production. Watch video highlights from the new queens who will take over on December 5!