James Monroe Iglehart, DeWitt Fleming Jr. and the company from A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical visited Good Morning America on Thursday. For their first televised performance, the company sang the classic number When You’re Smiling. Watch the performance now!

The production is currently in previews at Studio 54 on Broadway, ahead of opening night on Monday, November 11, 2024. A Wonderful World stars Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway: Aladdin, Hamilton), in the role of Louis Armstrong. Cast as Armstrong’s four wives are Darlesia Cearcy (Broadway: How to Dance in Ohio, The Book of Mormon) as Lucille Wilson, Kim Exum (Broadway: The Book of Mormon) as Alpha Smith , Dionne Figgins (Broadway: Memphis, Motown: The Musical) as Daisy Parker and Jennie Harney-Fleming (Broadway: The Color Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin.

The 26-member cast includes Trista Dollison (Broadway: Oklahoma!, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Standby for the roles of Daisy Parker, Lil Hardin, Alpha Smith and Lucille Wilson; DeWitt Fleming Jr. (TV: “Boardwalk Empire,” Encores!: The Tap Dance Kid) as Fate Marable/Lincoln Perry; Jason Thomas Forbach (Broadway: Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) as Crooner & Others; Gavin Gregory (Broadway: The Color 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 Chorus Line) will portray Armstrong in select performances.

The ensemble includes Brandon Louis Armstrong (National Tour: Hamilton), Wesley J. Barnes (National Tour: Mean Girls, Jesus Christ Superstar), Willie Clyde Beaton II (Regional: 42nd Street, Beautiful), Ronnie S. Bowman, Jr. (Broadway: The Music Man, The Who’s Tommy), Eean S. Cochran (Public Theater: The More They Come), Kate Louissaint (Regional: Beautiful), Matt Magnusson (Off-Broadway: Hound Dog), Jodeci Milhouse (Encores!: Pal Joey), Alysha Morgan (Public Theater: The More They Come), Khadijah Rolle (Regional: Sister Act, Memphis the Musical), Tally Sessions (Broadway: Company, School of Rock), Brett Sturgis (Broadway: On Your Feet!, Aida), Renell Taylor (Regional: Newsies, Chicago), Méridien Terrell (National Tour: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) and Dori Waymer (Regional: The Color Purple).

A Wonderful World features a book by Aurin Squire (Theater: Obama-ology, 7 Deadly Sins; TV: “This Is Us,” “The Good Fight”) and was co-designed by Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw. Renshaw also serves as executive producer with James Monroe Iglehart and Christina Sajous as co-directors. The choreography and musical direction are by Rickey Tripp. The tap choreography is by DeWitt Fleming Jr.

Orchestrations and arrangements are by three-time Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis (Broadway: Fences, Children of a Lesser God), music supervision, vocal and prop arrangements and additional orchestrations are Directed by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters (Broadway: Memphis, Shuffle Along…), dance arrangements are by Tony Award nominee Zane Mark (Broadway: Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, Motown the Musical, The Cher Show) and musical direction is by Darryl G. Ivey (Broadway: Mix Along…). Grammy and Emmy Award winner David Lai (Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Hadestown, Spamalot) is the musical contractor for the production.