“A Different World” Cast Extends HBCU Tour After Sold-Out Run: It's 'Lightning in a Bottle,' Says Darryl M. Bell (Exclusive)

'A Different World' HBCU College Tour — which features Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis and Glynn Turman — kicks off its second leg on Thursday, Oct. 17 at Bowie State University

College students just can’t get enough of A Different World!

A Different World HBCU College Tour — which features cast members Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis and Glynn Turman — has been extended beyond its originally planned 10-city tour of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) due to popular demand and sold-out crowds, PEOPLE can exclusively confirm.

The tour has already visited academic institutions like Spelman College and Howard University — and the cast couldn't be more thrilled at what's to come.

“It's been really incredible," Bell, 61, exclusively tells PEOPLE of the response. "There are all these students today who are super fans of the show, and none of them were even alive when the show first aired — it all speaks to what's resonating."

"There's also this enduring, evergreen portrayal of issues that matter to students," he continues. "So whether it's the stress of classes, whether it's how to pay for school, whether it's student protests, you know, all of these things still matter. These are all issues that resonate with kids today.”

"We all thought it would be really successful, but the response has truly been overwhelming," Bell adds.

Related: Darryl M. Bell Shares Memories of A Different World's Iconic Guest Stars Patti LaBelle and Halle Berry (Exclusive)

The second leg of the tour kicks off at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland on Thursday, Oct. 17, with further stops planned across the country through 2025. Wells Fargo and Cisco will continue to sponsor the tour, which also aims to raise money for scholarship funds for students.

A Different World ran on NBC for six seasons, from 1987 to 1993. The beloved comedy spinoff of The Cosby Show followed the lives of Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and other idealistic students at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU in Virginia.

Although cast members like Bonet, Marisa Tomei and Loretta Devine departed the show after the first season, the show struck a chord with viewers, becoming a favorite among Black viewers during much of its six-year run. The show is also often cited as the defining reason as to why many Black students decided to attend a HBCU.

Despite its success, Bell says that he’s continually surprised by students who show their love for the series — and particularly his character Ron Johnson.

“I've had someone show up with, you know, glasses and a hat, and he looked just like me,” the actor recalls. "And someone said, you know, 'He could be your son.' I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, he really could!'"

"The other thing that's been really amazing is to see all of the fans that come dressed as their favorite characters. Unbelievable," he notes. "It's Halloween, and on Instagram, fans send us posts with their Halloween costumes. They're going out as our characters, Ronnie, Dwayne [Hardison], or Whitney [Guy].”

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

Part of the tour's appeal has also been the cast's strong bond through the years, says Bell.

"It is so spectacular... lightning in a bottle just doesn't always happen. This is a fact, and you hear people talk about it's like a family," he explains. "We have always been that [way], we spend time together intentionally."

"And one of the things that is palpable, the reason why everything worked on stage so much, is all of our chemistry off stage. And it's one of the things that [fans] have seen," he adds. "[They say] it's just unbelievable to see how much you guys really love each other and it's true."

From parties to dinners, to even being godparents to each other's kids, Bell notes the cast bond extends far beyond the show and its tour. "We've all been on this life journey together," he says.

Overall, the actor adds, "We are so happy to be around each other, and that's one of the things that also has made this tour possible ... It's really about the passion of what A Different World has meant to our fans, what it's meant to promote HBCUs, and just that it gives us time to be together. We we like being back together."

The college tour also meaningfully contributes to what Bell considers A Different World’s larger legacy.

“Our show was able to depict the African American community from ages 18 to 75 and really diverse, not only group of individuals, but backgrounds and ideas,” he explains. “There was always somewhere someone could say, ‘That's me,’ and I relate to that.”

“I think because our show, which was written by, produced by, directed by and starring predominantly Black college educated women from Debbie Allen to Susan [Fales-Hill] and certainly, we had a more diverse writing staff. First be smart, be funny and try to aspire to be great. I think we did that and added a human [element] to it, and I think that's why the show continues to resonate with new generations.”

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A Different World is streaming on Max, and more information about the tour can be found here.

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