Photo Flash: Lillias White, Phylicia Rashad and More Celebrate MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Opening at the Taper

August Wilson's hard-hitting "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. "Ma Rainey..." is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Phylicia Rashad, who helmEd Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" at the Taper in 2013, directs this groundbreaking play which depicts the racism and exploitation in the music industry through a 1927 recording session in Chicago with a legendary blues singer. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" is inspired by the real-life Gertrude "Ma" Rainey.

The cast features, in alphabetical order, Greg Bryan, Keith David, Jason Dirden, Damon Gupton, Matthew Henerson, Nija Okoro, Lamar Richardson, Ed Swidey, Glynn Turman and LiLlias White.

Scenic design is by John Iacovelli, costume design is by Emilio Sosa, lighting design is by Elizabeth Harper, sound design is by Dan Moses Schreier, the music director is Steven Bargonetti, hair and wig design is by Carol F. Doran, the fight director is Steve Rankin and the production stage manager is David Blackwell.

Tickets for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. Tickets range from $25 - $85 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

Photo Credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging

Director Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

Director Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

Director Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

Director Phylicia Rashad

Director Phylicia Rashad

Director Phylicia Rashad

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen, director Phylicia Rashad, actress Kate Burton and dancer Vivian Nixon

Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, actress Kate Burton and dancer Vivian Nixon

Director Phylicia Rashad (center left) and the cast pose during the party for the opening night performance of Ma Rainey'S BLACK BOTTOM at the Taper

Director Phylicia Rashad (center left) and the cast

Director Phylicia Rashad (center left), cast member LiLlias White (center front) and the company

Director Phylicia Rashad (center left), cast member LiLlias White (center front) and the company

Director Phylicia Rashad (center left), cast member LiLlias White (center front) and the company

The cast during the curtain call

The cast during the curtain call

The cast during the curtain call

The cast during the curtain call

Cast member LiLlias White waves during the curtain call

Cast members Keith David, LiLlias White and actors Dawnn Lewis and Jesse Williams pose backstage

Cast members LiLlias White, Lamar Richardson and Nija Okoro

Director Phylicia Rashad and cast member LiLlias White

Director Phylicia Rashad and cast member LiLlias White

Actresses Angela Bassett and Dawnn Lewis

Actresses Angela Bassett and Dawnn Lewis

Cast members Damon Gupton, Jason Dirden, actress Angela Bassett and cast member Glynn Turman

Cast member Jason Dirden, actress Angela Bassett and cast member Glynn Turman

Actress Margaret Avery, cast members Glynn Turman and Damon Gupton, actress Dawnn Lewis and cast member Jason Dirden

Cast members Jason Dirden, Glynn Turman and Damon Gupton

Cast member Jason Dirden and actor Jesse Williams

Cast member Jason Dirden and actor Jesse Williams

Cast member Jason Dirden and actor Jesse Williams

Actor Jason Winston George, cast member Keith David and actor Dule Hill

Cast members LiLlias White and Nija Okoro

Cast members LiLlias White and Nija Okoro

Cast members Jason Dirden and Keith David

Actors Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Merle Dandridge

Cast members Damon Gupton and Jason Dirden

Cast members Damon Gupton, Jason Dirden and Greg Bryan

Director Phylicia Rashad and cast members Keith David and LiLlias White

Cast members LiLlias White, Lamar Richardson, Ed Swidey and Nija Okoro

Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner and director Phylicia Rashad

Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner and director Phylicia Rashad

Cast member Damon Gupton, actress Kate Burton and Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie

Actor Roger Guenveur Smith and cast member LiLlias White

Cast members Ed Swidey and Lamar Richardson

Cast member Lamar Richardson and actor John Earl Jelks

Cast members Matthew Henerson and Greg Bryan

Actors Wilson Cruz and Angela Bassett

Actors Wilson Cruz and Angela Bassett

Actress Angela Bassett

Actress Angela Bassett

Actors Dule Hill and Jazmyn Simo

Actors Dule Hill and Jazmyn Simo

Musician Cree Summer

Musician Cree Summer

Athlete Norm Nixon and Debbie Allen

Athlete Norm Nixon and Debbie Allen

Actor Dominic Hoffman and Debbie Allen

Actor Jesse Williams

Actor Jesse Williams

Actor Wilson Cruz

Actor Wilson Cruz

Actress Dawnn Lewis

Actress Dawnn Lewis

Actor Shawn Carter Peterson

Actor Shawn Carter Peterson

Writer Matthew Weiner

Writer Matthew Weiner

Dancer Vivian Nixon and actor John Earl Jelks

Dancer Vivian Nixon and actor John Earl Jelks

Actress Nikki Crawford

Actress Nikki Crawford

Actor Merle Dandridge and Chris Johnston

Actor Merle Dandridge and Chris Johnston

Actress Merle Dandridge

Actress Merle Dandridge

Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Actress Anna Maria Horsford

Actress Jackee Harry

Actor Jason Winston George

Amber Morse and actor Dominic Hoffman

Author Logan Westbrooks

Ronice White and actor Al White

Actress Chandra Wilson

Actress Chandra Wilson

Officer with Links, Inc. Deborah Beavers-Watford, President of the Museum of African American Art Berlinda Fontenot Jamerson and Carole Hall

Director Phylicia Rashad, Ten Chimneys Foundation President Randy Bryant and cast member Ed Swidey