“A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical,” the new Broadway musical starring James Monroe Iglehart (who won a Tony Award as the Genie in “Aladdin”) as the iconic bandleader and jazz musician, will play its final performance on Feb. 23 at Studio 54 following 151 performances, including 31 previews. “This has been a labor of love for our entire cast and creative team, and we are so proud to have brought Louis Armstrong’s extraordinary life and legacy to Broadway,” the producers said in a statement.
Shortly before the show arrived on Broadway, a new music team led by bandleader and jazz musician Branford Marsalis joined the creative team, and Iglehart and Christina Sidious became co-directors in addition to original director Christopher Renshaw, all of which suggested that the show was experiencing difficulties in its development.
‘The Lost Boys’ musical set for Broadway
Before “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Twilight,” there was “The Lost Boys,” the 1987 film directed by the late Joel Schumacher (“Batman Forever”) about teen vampires. A musical adaptation of “The Lost Boys,” which was previously reported as being in the works in 2020, has now been confirmed for Broadway, opening at the Palace Theatre in spring 2026. A private industry presentation of the musical (presumably to attract the interest of investors) will be held in March.
In “The Lost Boys,” two teenage boys move to California and discover that the fictional community of Santa Carla has been consumed by vampires. The cast of the film included Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, and Alex Winter.
It will have music and lyrics by the rock band The Rescues (consisting of original songs and reworked versions of existing songs), a book by actor-screenwriter David Hornsby (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) and Chris Hoch, and direction by Michael Arden (“Parade,” “Maybe Happy Ending”). It is being produced by actors James Carpinello, Marcus Chait, and Patrick Wilson.
Lencia Kebede makes ‘Wicked’ history as first full-time Black Elphaba
Lencia Kebede, a member of the national tour of “Hamilton,” will become the first Black actress to play Elphaba in the Broadway production of “Wicked” on a regular basis (rather than as a standby or understudy) on March 4. Although Cynthia Erivo played Elphaba in the musical’s film adaptation, the role had previously not been associated with Black actresses. In 2022, Brittney Johnson became the first Black actress to play Glinda, Elphaba’s pal and rival, on a regular basis.
‘Little Shop’ production crew finalizes union contract
The production crew of “Little Shop of Horrors” has finalized a union contract, following in the footsteps of “Titanique,” another hit commercial Off-Broadway production. As previously reported, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has sought in recent years to unionize Off-Broadway production workers, which has led to an ongoing strike by the production staff of the Atlantic Theater Company following its inability to reach an agreement with the theater management.
Jane Fonda and Rosario Dawson to take part in climate change musical
Jane Fonda and Rosario Dawson, both well-known activists, will deliver closing word following a concert production on Thursday, Jan. 30 at Terminal 5 of “Dear Everything,” a “musical uprising” addressing climate change written and narrated by V (formerly Eve Ensler, writer of “The Vagina Monologues”).
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