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[0:00] Darlesia Cearcy: Louie Armstong's and his whole host of characters, professional, personal, including The Wives, which I am one of. I play Lucille Wilson, his fourth and long-lasting marriage of being together for 34 years. And it's very exciting, very, very exciting.

[0:25] Robert Bannon: So did you know a lot about Louie Armstong's's personal life before you read this book?

[0:30] Darlesia Cearcy: Or hadn't a clue.

[0:33] Robert Bannon: Me either.

[0:34] Darlesia Cearcy: I had no idea how involved his life was. And then, of course, you know, we're setting this show on the backdrop of like 70 years of life, right? Where even his birth date is controversial, you know, whereas there's a discrepancy between July 4th and August 4th, which is very interesting. But August 4th seems to resonate more frequently in books, which happens actually to be my birthday, August 4th. So I'm finding a lot of wonderful divine synchronicities connected to this particular production. But yeah, his life is pretty full, very exciting, very interesting, extremely involved. And every war basically that America had within the beginning of the century, the 20th century up until 1970, I mean, we're participating in it.

[1:40] Robert Bannon: Wow, a whole entire life shown on stage.

[1:42] Darlesia Cearcy: You can go to LouisArmstrongMusical.com so you can get your tickets before the reviews come out, before this is a big old hit, and you want to get your tickets and support theater. What I love about this is that no shade to other shows, but there's a lot of adaptations of movies. There's a lot of properties that we all know, but this is a you may know some of the music, but this is an original musical written, the book written and crafted about his life coming to theaters in New York City after its run in Chicago and where it's been.

[2:12] Robert Bannon: What's it like last season when you did How to Dance in Ohio and you bring an original piece to Broadway? What is that like versus stepping into a role that's already been established on stage?

[2:24] Darlesia Cearcy: Well, I mean, I have the grace of like you talk about last season, but two original productions that were written. This production is written by Orin Squire. And I'm really fascinated at how he's been able to handle the material considering how much of it you're gonna have to craft and select and make very specific choices about to cover a two and a half hour period about someone who is so iconic in our musical history and you know was the most successful jazz musician ever, the most highly paid jazz musician ever, the only one to grace both Time magazine and I mean no one has been able to really kind of cover as much popularity and successful territory as Louie Armstong's. And that's quite a feat, and it's thrilling. And you know, I'm revving up because we're getting closer to our previews, which is October 16th.

[3:41] Darlesia Cearcy: Our opening, of course, is November 11th. But you know, when you're with a production and you're at this point, it's time for you to have an audience. You need the rest of your company basically with you in the room so that you can learn, so that you can share, so that you can communicate what works, what doesn't, you know, which is part and parcel what the previews are definitely about, right? So you can really kind of carve out what is going to sing to them and what they're going to be able to walk away with, what they're going to remember, and what they want to return to see, because we want them to come back, and we want more people, you know, to inhabit the space, inhabit the world of Louie Armstong's and understand what his life was really like, and the nature of the four wives and how his life was cultivated also because of the four wives, and how little they're discussed, and the whole premise of you know, the woman behind the man, you actually get a chance to meet these women behind the man.

[5:01] Darlesia Cearcy: And Lucille, of course, I'm partial. Needless to say, I'm partial because she was such an agent for archiving and creating works beyond his passing that would help create a particular kind of legacy for him that supports him, that helped to take care of the neighborhood, including, you know, the home in Corona Queens, which is now a landmark, as well as a museum, which is also a national landmark, and how the community really understands those places and spaces, and they're very respectful because those spaces help to take care of the community, and that's how it's always been. And I love her independence, I love her values. You know, she set out as a dancer to really kind of help take care of her family and her three sisters when her father's taxi business was failing.

And then she really thrived as a dancer and had quite a successful career as a Cotton Club performer and also breaking, you know, another record, being the darkest skin on the line because you couldn't be darker than a paper bag. You had to be 21 years of age and younger. And you know, five foot six, and she was the shortest. She came in on the line at age 26. She danced at the Alhambra Ballroom for nine years, you know, there, of course, where she met Louie Armstong's. And you know, the rest is quote, street history. The last and the longest wife for short.

[6:47] Robert Bannon: I can't wait. I want to know the wild soap opera that leads to your character jumping up on stage. So you got to get your tickets. Like we said, they're available now, and the previews are about to start. The show's gonna open, so get your tickets and support art, especially the legacy of Louie Armstong's. His music is played, you know, "What a Wonderful World" is played. My father plays it every day.

[7:09] Darlesia Cearcy: Forever. And he always says, when I'm not here anymore, when I'm—I'm like, I don't want to talk about your funeral, I want to talk about today, but I got you, I got you. It's a part of your life, and it's a part of many of your lives out here as well. We could be following, we could be following on Instagram so you could see the journey as we lead up to opening as well.

[7:25] Robert Bannon: Your career, when you look back and you go back to the very beginning, your Broadway going back to early Broadway and you go to The Goodbye Girl.

[7:25] Darlesia Cearcy: And you go back to The Goodbye Girl and you look at Ragtime, which I'm—I mean it you when you look back and now you see I don't know how many shows it is, eight, nine, ten. It's a lot of eighth Broadway show. When you look back to you studying musical theater, you starting to audition, moving to New York and being a part. Can you imagine this is your eighth show?

[7:57] Darlesia Cearcy: I know. You know, you just you don't know. It's not guaranteed, you know. I don't take it for granted. I love this. I just love it. I mean, I probably could have quit like five times at least. And actually, I was on my way to Houston.

[8:21] Darlesia Cearcy: And this happened. And I'm from Houston, Texas originally. And this happened, and I, you know, I'm thanking God. I'm happy that God was like, okay, no, you need to stay in New York and you need to do this. And so I'm trying to like just sit in the back seat here and be guided in the right way so that I can do the work I'm supposed to do to cultivate whatever it is that needs to be cultivated inside of this story, inside of my personal life, you know, with a whole host of people.

[9:00] Darlesia Cearcy: Um, you know, I firmly believe that anyone that participates in a production, that they are a part of that production for one grand purpose: that we are in service of the production, we are in service to the community that sees the production, and we're all growing. We don't know how exactly, but we're all growing. There is definitely expansion on the horizon in every way. I believe that. I know that. I mean, we just talking about you in particular, besides this all-star cast and this creative team. Um she's got receipts, everybody, because she didn't just do Ragtime, she was Sarah. She didn't just do The Color Purple, she was Nettie and Seely. She didn't just do like we're talking about we are you have the receipt what we saw Once on This Island and How to Dance in Ohio, etc. Shuffle ALong, Book of Mormon. You have done your due diligence. We're ready for you to light up the stage again in New York City.

[9:56] Robert Bannon: That is the sweetest.

[9:57] Darlesia Cearcy: No, it's the truth. So, what is it like to work with this all-star, James? You know, Tony winning extraordinaire, playing Louie Armstong's with the I'm sure I've heard a Tour de Force performance and this incredible cast of people that are around you, and the other wives. And the other wives, you know, everyone is really diligent about investing in the work and stepping up their game. And each time we come into the room, you see that there's a little bit more growth and more growth and more growth. Considering this is my eighth Broadway show. Um, my process is very organic. So I kind of know how to be in the moment and work from there um and I feel very blessed to have that kind of receptivity to the work um but of course it's taken over 30 plus years in order for that to happen right and so um as you you know duly noted all these various characters that I've played I love characterization I love building uh arcs from the ground up uh those that pre-existed but in in those that are brand new I I love like working from scratch and so it's the best possible work I think that an artist an actor can do um because you're really inside of your craft and and so I'm watching and I'm paying attention and I'm allowing and if there's something that I can add I do I do my best to be very supportive in the room um and you know give people their flowers while they can hear it and see it and um yes I have a lot of receipts and when you look at the the not that all of this matters but it does matter in a lot of ways when you look at the billing your billing you you are the top build you know you are the the you're kind of the the mother figure these younger people that are in this show you have the experience you have the the role and you have the role and stature uh along with James you you're kind of like leading this cast and this creative team to the finish line here and that must be thrilling and scary and an honor.

[12:19] Darlesia Cearcy: You know, there's I'm growing up somehow. You know, it's it's been very interesting. But I'm growing up, you know. I thought I was gonna be the oldest woman in the room. Um and I still I may be. I mean I think I'm the oldest woman in the room. You know, because we were joking around about all of that, who's the oldest in the cast, and and I'm totally fine with it, you know. I I didn't know that I would feel that way, but I really am, having been the youngest in the room before, which was quite a challenge. But now I feel like I have the right kind of psychological wherewithal to be in a place where I can really be present inside of myself and be comfortable and be at peace. But some of this has actually happened on the heels of some really major transformative life events, you know.

And because of those specific life events, it's brought me to a place where I know what's precious, I know what's real, you know, I know that this the spirit of the person is more valuable than the physical self. Yes, you know, I've been learning so much lately, and I'm I'm grateful. Sometimes it's been tearful, but but I'm still grateful. I'm very grateful.

[13:50] Robert Bannon: That's I love that so much. That's so beautiful, and that gratitude, we feel it, and we send that right back to you, and we're grateful for all the time you've spent on stage, that voice, your choices you're acting, and the joy you've given to thousands and millions of people who have come stepped through and sat in a seat, held a playbill, and saw you up on stage.

[14:08] Darlesia Cearcy: I'm sensitive, I can feel them, you know, and I can I listen and I pay attention to what people may need, even individually I could just feel it.

[14:17] Robert Bannon: You've got that empath feeling that you can sense it.

[14:20] Darlesia Cearcy: I I can tell already as well and that's what makes you a great artist. You what I'm when I'm reading about this show in particular my selfish part of me wants to just be entertained and the selfish part of me is just like Branford Marsalis. I can't believe it I know I never would have um you know who to think it I didn't what is it like to have directors and James being a co-director and Christina being a co-director does it is it what is it like as an actor to have a team of directors sometimes actors don't want one director if you have the wrong director.

[14:57] Darlesia Cearcy: Well you know what I I've like I said I've been doing this for a really really really long time and I pay attention to the little things right and because sometimes the little things make all the difference in the world and what I've noticed about our co-directing team is that they are very communicative they're they work with transparency and and they're kind people you know they want to help us make the most um crucial and um specific decisions that we can possibly make um in order to facilitate the work that we need to to do for this particular piece. So I've I see how they can tag team one another. I see the rules that they've established for one another and those that they've shared with us as a company. And um I think it's wonderful, you know, having a group that can rely on one another and um and be as comfortable with one another, not only as colleagues, but as friends.

[16:17] Robert Bannon: Well, they come with their own set of receipts as well because of they sure do. You all do. So it's a pro team, everybody. There's pros over there. They're bringing the they're bringing the 54. The theater at you know at Studio 54, they're bringing, they're bringing the pro the A-list, the pros are out here on these Broadway streets, and um, we're excited to see. I can't wait to be down there and see the show.

[16:39] Darlesia Cearcy: Thank you.

[16:37] Robert Bannon: I can't wait to see you too. I I'm I'm looking forward to it, especially on the heels of this particular interview. And and you you know so much about the show already and about the cast of characters, so it'll be fun talking to you again.

[16:55] Darlesia Cearcy: I can't wait. Well, I want people to know that you can get tickets to Louis Armstrong Musical.com if you're coming to New York City this winter, if you're how for the holidays, if you're looking for a music lover in your life, that you have the perfect gift to give this holiday season or if it's Thanksgiving weekend or whatever's going on. You will not be disappointed. They're gonna make you're gonna dance yourself right out of this theater. I promise you that. Louis Armstrong Musical.com is where you can get your tickets, and we're gonna follow you because we want to see the journey, we want to see opening night fashion. We want to see it all that you're we want to see the whole entire journey as we feel like we're going abroadway with you. So we're gonna follow on Instagram. Thank you for being here.

[17:29] Darlesia Cearcy: My pleasure. Thank you for having me. And I'm ready, I'm ready to hear that voice, and we're ready to celebrate with you at this whole entire year. Congratulations.

[17:37] Robert Bannon: That's awesome. I'm excited. Thank you so much.