A Different World Cast to Reunite for 10-City HBCU Tour, Over 35 Years Since the Show’s Premiere (Exclusive)

School has started again for the cast A different world.

The cast of the iconic NBC sitcom is reuniting this month to embark on a national tour of 10 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) cities to celebrate the show’s 35-year legacy, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.

Darryl M. Bell (Ronald ‘Ron’ Johnson), Charnele Brown (Kimberly ‘Kim’ Reese), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Cleophus Wayne), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson Taylor), Cree Summer ( Winifred ‘Freddie’ Brooks), Glynn Turman (Colonel Bradford ‘Brad’ Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) will all participate in the tour, which will include panels and other events.

Producers Susan Fales and Debbie Allen will also be involved.

The tour will kick off on February 29th in Atlanta, Georgia at the prestigious Atlanta University Center — home of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College.

The full list will be announced soon, but other cities include Washington, DC (host Howard University) and Montgomery, Alabama (host Alabama State University and Tuskegee University), both in April.

‘A Different World’ Season 1 Cast: Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Marisa Tomei and Lisa Bonet.

NBCU Photo Bank

‘A Different World’ Star Dawnn Lewis on ‘Ceiling’ for Black Actresses: ‘What’s a Person Gotta Do?’

A different world ran on NBC for six seasons, from September 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993. The series, a spin-off from The Cosby Showcentered on Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU in Virginia.

Bonet left the show after the first season, as did Marisa Tomei and Loretta Devine. Future stars who appeared on the sitcom included Jada Pinkett Smith and Karen Malina White.

The show consistently ranked first or second among black viewers for most of its run and is often cited as a key reason many choose to attend HBCUs.

Jasmine Guy tried to quit ‘A Different World’ in season one after Lisa Bonet and Sinbad were ‘disrespected’

‘A different world’. Everett

That’s part of the reason why the cast is from A different world is coming together now. The tour won’t just be a nostalgic trip down memory lane for A different world family, but also an opportunity to raise money for scholarship funds. According to the website, Cisco and major financial partner Wells Fargo will sponsor the tour “ensuring more students can access the transformative experience of HBCUs.” A different world we came together to celebrate our 35-year legacy and create more history with today’s HBCUs and future leaders!” Darryl Bell tells PEOPLE.

“Our mission goes beyond nostalgia. We’re looking to raise awareness and enrollment at HBCUs across the country. By leveraging the star power and cultural influence off Another world, our goal is to inspire a new generation to choose HBCUs as their academic homes,” the website states. “We don’t just tell a story; we are rewriting the narrative.”

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A different world current at Max.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education