See James Monroe Iglehart Transform Into Louis Armstrong for “A Wonderful World” Musical (Exclusive)

The Tony winner leads the stage show about the life and loves of the legendary jazz musician

Louis Armstrong is the latest music legend to see his story adapted into a stage musical — and PEOPLE has the exclusive first look!

The jazz musician will blow his beloved trumpet again in A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, now playing in New Orleans's Saenger Theatre through Oct. 8.

James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony Award for portraying the Genie in Broadway's Aladdin, is playing Armstrong. The actor looks unrecognizable in the role, transforming into the beloved performer.

A Wonderful World tells Armstrong's story through the lens of the women in his life as they narrate the musical.

Joining Iglehart is Ta’Rea Campbell (The Lion King, The Book of Mormon) as Lucille Wilson, Jennie Harney-Fleming (The Color Purple, Hamilton) as Lil Hardin, Brennyn Lark (Six, Les Misérables) as Alpha Smith and Khalifa White (Caroline, or Change, Little Shop of Horrors) as Daisy Parker.

Related: Tracy Morgan 'Wants' to Play Louis Armstrong in Biopic, 'Coming 2 America' Costar Jermaine Fowler Says

Armstrong was considered one of the most influential figures in jazz by shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. The multitalented artist played the trumpet, composed, sang and acted during his five-decade career.

The New Orleans native received three Grammy nominations, including a win for his vocal performance of Hello, Dolly! in 1964. His best known songs include that title track as well as "La Vie en Rose," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "When You're Smiling," "When the Saints Go Marching In," and of course, "What a Wonderful World." 

He died of a heart attack in his sleep on July 6, 1971, just one month before his 70th birthday.

Conceived by novelist Andrew Delaplaine as well as Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Christopher Renshaw (who also directs), A Wonderful World features songs recorded and made popular by Armstrong. Aurin Squire (This is Us, The Good Fight, Evil) penned the show's book.

Wife and husband team Annastasia Victory (Caroline, or Change, Once on This Island) and Michael O. Mitchell (MJ the Musical, Motown the Musical) provide music supervision as well as direction, arrangements, orchestrations and music direction. Choreography comes from Rickey Tripp, while DeWitt Fleming, Jr. provides specialty tap choreography.

Among the producers on the musical is actress, singer and Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams.

The cast also features DeWitt Fleming as Lincoln Perry, Gavin Gregory as Joe "King" Oliver, Matthew Greenwood as Johnny Collins, Lindsey Corey as Ensemble/Rachel the Reporter and Matt Wolpe as Joe Glaser. Other members of the company are Ronnie Bowman, Eean Cochran, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Alexandra Frohlinger, Afra Hines, Alan Kelly, Ashley McManus, Aurelia Michael, Alysha Morgan, Jarran Muse, Aaron Michael Ray, Khadijah Rolle, Dave Schoonover, Brett Sturgis, Renell Taylor and Dori Waymer.

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Mirroring Armstrong’s own musical path to stardom, A Wonderful World will head from New Orleans to Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, where it will play from Oct. 11 through Oct. 29. Broadway dates are expected to follow.
 
For more information, visit louisarmstrongmusical.com.

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