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Video: A WONDERFUL WORLD Parades to Studio 54
Sep 20, 2024
A Wonderful World has found a new home on Broadway! The new musical, which played in Chicago and New Orleans last year, has officially arrived at Studio 54, and the company made sure that all of the theatre district knew about it. In the video, watch as the company leads a Second Line parade and chats more about what audience can expect!
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0:00
This was fantastic
0:15
This was fantastic. I mean, you know, when we did the show in New Orleans, we had a second line
0:23
And it was so amazing. It was my first time. And they were telling me, they were like, hey, we're going to do a second line in New York
0:27
And I was like, that is the best idea I've ever heard. So if I look a little sweaty, it's because I've been walking from 40 seconds
0:32
three all the way down to Studio 54, jamming with the most amazing New Orleans band in the world
0:38
So we had a great time today. It was us all to celebrate the opening, official opening of our box office
0:43
What are the challenges taking on this role? You do everything. You act, you sing these beautiful songs
0:50
You play the instrument, right? A little bit, a little bit, play a little bit in this
0:54
I will say that the biggest challenge was like calming myself down to not be nervous
0:59
that the challenge it would all bring. You know, it's a lot to do all of that with this
1:05
You know, it's different, no disrespect to any of the roles I've played, but they weren't real people
1:10
And if they were real people, they were versions of real people
1:14
whereas this is the real guy. And I would not want to do anything to disrespect his legacy
1:18
So I'm very protective of it, of how I portray what is said, how it said
1:23
You know, all shows or movies take a little license to help you be able to crunch 70 years
1:28
into two hours, but I've done my, I've hopefully, our team, our directing team and our writer
1:34
has done their best to give us the most clean real story about this man and his and his beautiful wives that helped him become who he became It been wonderful watching the audience remember Lewis and young people discover his music
1:50
I mean, most people that are young only know a wonderful world because of an ad they've seen on television, you know, in a commercial
1:57
So to watch his journey, I think most people will be surprised at the section
2:03
where we talk about the civil rights era. and not only how quiet he was about supporting financially some people and some movements
2:13
but also his vocal dissent at times where people had no idea
2:21
He felt that strongly about what was happening in the country at the time. When I read the book, I only knew the later music, the trumpet, Ella
2:30
reading the books and many books. It was a revelation of what he'd lived through
2:36
People are amazed at who he really was. Not everybody knows that much about him
2:43
So people coming out saying, wow, that's what his life was like
2:47
That's what he went through to give us that smile and the joy. Well, it's been wonderful because there's a lot of authenticity behind the table in general
2:55
We have Ricky Tripp, we have DeWitt, you know, you have myself in Aurelia and James
3:01
who are all artists and have experience being on stage. And so we're able to offer something a little bit more intimate and understanding how the way the actual stage and storytelling works because we've had to be storytellers ourselves
3:16
And then I'm also happy I get a chance to use my degree in directing. So that's really cool. Finally
3:21
What has it been like working on Louis Armstrong working in the room with James Monroe as he creating it too What that been like It been a generous room You know we tag in and out
3:33
You know, James blocks it. I get up there right away, and I'm getting to really work with the other cast members in the process
3:42
which is so important because they get a feel of me. You know, I get a feel of them in real time
3:48
So the learning process is going along at a really wonderful pace together
3:52
and what a gift that is. James Monroe Agar is so generous. I am all the way
3:57
I'm excited to the point where I can't even believe it. It's like it's a dream
4:01
It's a dream that's finally come true, especially being a part of this since its inception
4:06
This is amazing. And the character, the arc of the character that I'm playing
4:11
King Joe Oliver, amazing. I'm so excited. This is my first time originating
4:16
So I'm thrilled to be here, happy to be in the space, and at the iconic Studio 54
4:21
What I enjoy the most, of course, is the music. And the cast is just out of this world
4:27
And then the last thing I enjoy the most is the fact that I get to do this with my wife. I get to perform with Jenny, Harney Fleming
4:33
She's playing Lil as one of Louis's wives. Yes, so I play Lincoln Perry and I play Faye Marrable in the show
4:43
So to be able to share the stage with my wife on Broadway is just out of this world
4:48
Well, James and I actually met back in Hamilton. when he was Lafayette Jefferson
4:54
And so we have a friendship that surpasses this space. And it's just like getting up there and being with a friend and creating and being playful
5:01
and finding things together. So it's really, really exciting. James he just so gracious That the one thing that I can say about him He is really incredibly gracious and kind And you know his words to me is I got you
5:17
Generosity, you know. James is always looking for ways to pour into his fellow actor
5:22
He's a great listener. He's a great leader in the room. And so I'm really excited for audiences to see this new side of him
5:28
I love this cast. This cast is so much fun. They're so smart
5:33
They're so wonderful. They're so game. and when you have James as the leader of that, you can't go wrong
5:40
Some cities have already seen the show and fallen in love with it. What was it like for you as a creator
5:44
watching how this show is affecting people and the changes you wanted to make
5:49
I knew we had something special when people would leave. I always call it the Act 3
5:53
when people leave the theater and they're talking about the show. And so to hear the sound bites and the ideas
5:59
and how it moved them, I'm like, so we have something special and I want to make sure I do well with it
6:04
I do justice by it. I mean, as a black person, as an American, he is someone I look up to
6:10
He is the first superstar recognized around the world who was more famous and known than the president
6:17
And he has been a guiding light as far as when you have that light within you, how that both attracts angels and demons and monsters and gangsters
6:29
And like when anyone has that light, whether you're black or white, how that's a gift and a curse and how you balance that
6:34
And we see over the course of his life how we balance the gifts and the loves of his life with gangsters trying to chase him, people trying to steal him or kidnap him
6:45
And he continued to ascend at each level in each chapter. So if I could have a life like that, any of us could have a life like that, we've led a wonderful life
#Jazz & Blues
#Performing Arts
#Acting & Theater
#Vocals & Show Tunes
#Broadway & Musical Theater