Lillias White to Star in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Mark Taper Forum

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

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 will feature (in alphabetical order) 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 will include scenic design by John Iacovelli, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Elizabeth Harper, and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier.

For tickets and more information, click here.