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

School is back in session for the cast of A Different World.

PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that the cast of the legendary NBC sitcom are reuniting this month to embark on a national 10-city tour of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in celebration of the show’s 35-year legacy.

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 (Col. Bradford ‘Brad’ Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) will all participate in the tour, which will feature panels and other events.

Producers Susan Fales and Debbie Allen will also be included.

The tour will kick off Feb. 29 in Atlanta, Georgia at the prestigious Atlanta University Center — home to Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College.

A full slate will be announced soon, but other cities include Washington, DC (hosted by Howard University) and Montgomery, Alabama (hosted by Alabama State University and Tuskegee University), both in April.
A Different World ran on NBC for six seasons, from Sept. 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993. The series, a spin-off from The Cosby Show, centered 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, among others.

The show was consistently ranked first or second among Black viewers during most of its run, and is often cited as the defining reason as to why many decided to attend a HBCU.
That’s part of the reason the cast from A Different World is getting together now. The tour will not just be a nostalgic trip down memory lane for the Different World family, but also a chance to raise money for scholarship funds. Per the website, Cisco and premiere finance partner Wells Fargo will sponsor the tour “ensuring that more students can access the transformative experience of HBCUs.”

“The cast of A Different World has come together to celebrate our 35 year legacy and make more history with today’s HBCUs and tomorrow’s leaders!” Darryl Bell tells PEOPLE.
“Our mission goes beyond nostalgia. We’re on a quest to raise awareness and enrollment for HBCUs nationwide. By leveraging the star power and cultural impact of A Different World, we aim to inspire a new generation to choose HBCUs as their academic homes,” the website states. “We’re not just telling a story; we’re rewriting the narrative.”