Jazz trumpet player Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans; a city that has seen some tragic events over the years. The most recent of which was the New Year’s attack of domestic terrorism on Bourbon Street.
The Broadway biomusical production, which includes a descendant from Armstrong, is holding a special fundraiser to help support the victims of that attack.
Broadway Cares is also contributing to the fundraising efforts by pledging $10,000 on top of whatever the musical raises.
Darlesia Cearcy plays Armstrong’s wife Lucille Wilson spoke on the Armstrong and New Orleans saying, “’A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical’ sets up one foundational question: why and how did Louis Armstrong invite us into a song so full of hope, love and light about life? We as a company traverse through his life starting with his birthplace, New Orleans, and his humble, exciting and yet troubled beginnings. This birthplace was and is the place where he initially discovered his love for jazz and, thus, created an empire and status as the King of Jazz.”
She continued, “we honor that status each day at the top of our show inside the French quarter with a song titled ‘Bourbon Street Parade.’ Here we dance and sing to reignite the days of celebration of New Orleans and his contributions to it as an art form. We transport our audiences from there to his first home base called ‘Jane Alley’ and sometimes ‘James Alley’ before we head to Storyville and onward.”
Cearcy adds, “it is our hope, joy, and responsibility to help, honor, and support our fellow citizens that remind us of our surrogate home base and national neighbor through our leader Louis Armstrong. As one of the women who plays his wife (Lucille) I understand the importance of giving ourselves over to something greater than ourselves as Lucille would have done. We as a company know this truth. In order for us to share our story of “A Wonderful World” and sing that honestly, we must do our part. Louis found it for us and established the way forward. Our ‘compass’ including the moral one is being made clear.”
And concluded, “no one needs to suffer the way those innocent victims and their families have suffered, so we stand together in solidarity and love to support them. It’s what Louis Armstrong or ‘Pops’ (as they call him in New Orleans) would have wanted. We aim to serve the greater good. A musical can be fruitful inside of communities. I hope we have and will continue to demonstrate healthy, positive efforts for communities such as New Orleans.”
The musical is asking for fans who are able to make a donation to the Greater New Orleans Foundation – an organization that provides critical support to communities in need – at GNOF.org.