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

The August Wilson classic will be presented at the Mark Taper Forum.

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August 8, 2016

The cast of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, directed by Phylicia Rashad. — The cast of August Wilson’s *Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom*, directed by Phylicia Rashad.
(© Craig Schwartz Photography)

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.

Director Phylicia Rashad is a Tony and Drama Desk winning actress for 2004's A Raisin in the Sun. — Director Phylicia Rashad is a Tony- and Drama Desk-winning actress for 2004's *A Raisin in the Sun*.
(© Craig Schwartz Photography)

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.

Lillias White stars as the eponymous Ma Rainey.
(© Craig Schwartz Photography)

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.

Broadway alum Jason Dirden takes on the role of Levee.
(© Craig Schwartz Photography)

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