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

high res photos

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Debbie Allen, director Phylicia Rashad, actress Kate Burton and dancer Vivian Nixon

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, actress Kate Burton and dancer Vivian Nixon

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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

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad (center left) and the cast

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad (center left), cast member LiLlias White (center front) and the company

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad (center left), cast member LiLlias White (center front) and the company

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad (center left), cast member LiLlias White (center front) and the company

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
The cast during the curtain call

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
The cast during the curtain call

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
The cast during the curtain call

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
The cast during the curtain call

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member LiLlias White waves during the curtain call

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Keith David, LiLlias White and actors Dawnn Lewis and Jesse Williams pose backstage

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members LiLlias White, Lamar Richardson and Nija Okoro

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad and cast member LiLlias White

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad and cast member LiLlias White

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actresses Angela Bassett and Dawnn Lewis

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actresses Angela Bassett and Dawnn Lewis

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Damon Gupton, Jason Dirden, actress Angela Bassett and cast member Glynn Turman

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member Jason Dirden, actress Angela Bassett and cast member Glynn Turman

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Margaret Avery, cast members Glynn Turman and Damon Gupton, actress Dawnn Lewis and cast member Jason Dirden

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Jason Dirden, Glynn Turman and Damon Gupton

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member Jason Dirden and actor Jesse Williams

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member Jason Dirden and actor Jesse Williams

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member Jason Dirden and actor Jesse Williams

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Jason Winston George, cast member Keith David and actor Dule Hill

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members LiLlias White and Nija Okoro

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members LiLlias White and Nija Okoro

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Jason Dirden and Keith David

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actors Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Merle Dandridge

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Damon Gupton and Jason Dirden

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Damon Gupton, Jason Dirden and Greg Bryan

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad and cast members Keith David and LiLlias White

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members LiLlias White, Lamar Richardson, Ed Swidey and Nija Okoro

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner and director Phylicia Rashad

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner and director Phylicia Rashad

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member Damon Gupton, actress Kate Burton and Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Roger Guenveur Smith and cast member LiLlias White

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Ed Swidey and Lamar Richardson

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast member Lamar Richardson and actor John Earl Jelks

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Cast members Matthew Henerson and Greg Bryan

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actors Wilson Cruz and Angela Bassett

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actors Wilson Cruz and Angela Bassett

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Angela Bassett

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Angela Bassett

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actors Dule Hill and Jazmyn Simo

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actors Dule Hill and Jazmyn Simo

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Musician Cree Summer

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Musician Cree Summer

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Athlete Norm Nixon and Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Athlete Norm Nixon and Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Dominic Hoffman and Debbie Allen

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Jesse Williams

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Jesse Williams

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Wilson Cruz

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Wilson Cruz

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Dawnn Lewis

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Dawnn Lewis

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Shawn Carter Peterson

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Actor Shawn Carter Peterson

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Writer Matthew Weiner

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Writer Matthew Weiner

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Dancer Vivian Nixon and actor John Earl Jelks

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Dancer Vivian Nixon and actor John Earl Jelks

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Nikki Crawford

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Nikki Crawford

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Merle Dandridge and Chris Johnston

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Merle Dandridge and Chris Johnston

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Merle Dandridge

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Merle Dandridge

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner

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Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner

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Actress Anna Maria Horsford

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Actress Jackee Harry

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Actor Jason Winston George

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Amber Morse and actor Dominic Hoffman

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Author Logan Westbrooks

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Ronice White and actor Al White

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Chandra Wilson

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Actress Chandra Wilson

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Officer with Links, Inc. Deborah Beavers-Watford, President of the Museum of African American Art Berlinda Fontenot Jamerson and Carole Hall

Video: First Look At The Gay Men's Chorus Of Los Angeles Disney PRIDE In Concert
Director Phylicia Rashad, Ten Chimneys Foundation President Randy Bryant and cast member Ed Swidey



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