Lillias White, Jason Dirden, and More Rehearse Phylicia Rashad-Directed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Rehearsal is underway for Center Theatre Group's upcoming production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Mark Taper Forum. Performances are set to run August 31-October 16 with an official opening September 11.

Phylicia Rashad, who directed Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone at the Taper in 2013, will direct this third installment of the playwright's Century Cycle, which depicts the racism and exploitation in the music industry through a 1927 recording session in Chicago with a legendary blues singer.

The cast features Greg Bryan as Policeman, Tony nominee Keith David (Jelly's Last Jam) as Slow Drag, Jason Dirden (A Raisin in the Sun) as Levee, Damon Gupton (Clybourne Park) as Cutler, Matthew Henerson (Flashdance the Musical) as Sturdyvant, Nija Okoro as Dussie Mae, Lamar Richardson as Sylvester, Ed Swidey as Irvin, Glynn Turman (House of Lies) as Toledo, and Tony winner Lillias White (Fela!) as the title character, Ma Rainey.

The creative team includes scenic designer John Iacovelli, costume designer Emilio Sosa, lighting designer Elizabeth Harper, and sound designer Dan Moses Schreier.

For tickets and more information, click here.