Tyler Perry to Tour in New Stage Show Madea's Big Happy Family

Movie and TV mogul Tyler Perry will return to his theatrical roots on January 4 when he begins a tour of Madea’s Big Happy Family, a new stage show in which he will play the character that made him famous, the sharp-tongued matriarch known as Madea.

In a statement on his personal website, Perry explained that he had been taking time off to be with his mother, Willie Maxine Perry, who died on December 8, then announced his return to the stage for the first time in five years. Describing the new play as “bigger and better than anything I’ve ever done,” the actor/writer/producer/director said, “It’s so funny that we can’t get through rehearsals…The music is off the chain. All I want to tell you is that if you have not seen Madea live on stage, you haven’t seen Madea at all. In the movies, I’m limited, but onstage, Freeeeddommmm!!!

Madea, which Perry plays in a gray wig and padded dress, is the central character in movie comedies such as Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Madea’s Class Reunion and Madea Goes to Jail.

Initial cities and venues for Madea's Big Happy Family include El Paso (Don Haskins Center, January 4), Phoenix (Dodge Theatre, January 5), San Diego (Sports Arena, January 6), Seattle (Key Arena, January 9) and Portland, OR (Memorial Coliseum, January 10), with more cities to be added.