WHAT A WONDERFUL SHOW!

What’s not to love about American jazz icon Louis Armstrong aka “Satchmo” or “Pops”? When a new musical is told, sung and performed according to Satchmo’s four wives from various stages in his life, there must be more to “Pops” than being that internationally-acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist. So yes, go watch the show and be prepared to sit at almost 3 hours (with a 20-minute intermission).

After having its world premier in New Orleans (Satchmo’s birthplace) a week ago, A Wonderful World opened last night and Chuck and I were so fortunate to snag digital lottery tickets with enviably choiced seating two rows from the stage. Chicago has always established a firm footing as a testing ground for new musicals before they are headed for Broadway. And I have seen quite a few of them, notably: THE PRODUCERS, MOVIN’ OUT, KINKY BOOTS, PARADISE SQUARE & THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

I can only foresee James Monroe Iglehart getting a second Tony (he won his first one portraying the Genie in ALLADDIN) for his portrayal of Louis Armstrong with that dumbfoundingly and exactingly gravelly voice. With the combined talents of Khalifa White as first wife Daisy Parker, Jennie Harney-Fleming as 2nd wife Lil Hardin Armstrong, Brennyn Lark as 3rd wife Alpha Smith and Ta’Rea Campbell as 4th wife Lucille Wilson, this powerful cast with equally powerful voices will be a force to reckon with and I won’t be surprised if it will sweep a multitude of nominations and winnings in next year’s Tony awards. A couple of notable highlights of the show that I couldn’t possibly blink my eyes while watching, literally in a trance: the dazzling 1920’s ultra-stylish flapper-costumed dance sequence and the rendition of that eponymous iconic song with Satchmo seemingly walking, if not floating, on the clouds as he sees all his four wives and other characters in his life while the rest of us do see “trees of green, skies of blue and the colors of the rainbow.” A WONDERFUL WORLD indeed and this is such a A WONDERFUL SHOW! My hat’s off to new producer @VanessaWilliamsVEVO

Click on the YouTube clips below from the show’s website:
https://youtu.be/f5MvX2Kl34s?si=-tyEco-2mMS9ZVGY

https://youtu.be/4EfgnSuCLXQ?si=X3buRCYw021qNQpg

BACKGROUND MUSIC CREDIT: “A WONDERFUL WORLD” performed by Toots Thielemans and Kenny Werner.

#awonderfulworld #louisarmstrong #newmusical #prebroadway #broadwaybound #broadway #broadwaymusical

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