''Madea's Class Reunion'' is an 2003 American stage

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

created, written, produced and directed by

Tyler Perry Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of the Madea character, a tough elderly woman. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmma ...

. The live performance released on VHS and

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...

(October 2, 2003) was recorded live in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

at the Fox Theatre on September 13, 2003 (Perry's 34th birthday). The play stars

Madea Mabel "Madea" Earlene Simmons (née Baker/Murphy) is a character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry. She is portrayed as a tough, street-smart elderly African-American woman. Madea is based on Perry's mother and his aunt. In Perry's own words ...

and Dr. Willie Leroy Jones, David Mann as Leroy Brown and

Tamela Mann Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson; born June 9, 1966) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and actress. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. She was a featured soloist on several tracks while wit ...

as Cora.

Plot

Tyler Perry's outrageous and tough granny character, Madea, is traveling to the Pandora Hotel, the venue for her 50-year class reunion. Running afoul of the law, Madea still manages to teach valuable lessons amidst the comedy and chaos, addressing the importance of forgiveness and the value of friendship. In addition to Madea, the insane bellboy/bartender, "Dr." Willie Leroy Jones (new character played by Perry), is causing ruckus in the already rowdy hotel before she even arrives. Willie is suffering from an unknown number of Mental illnesses claiming at times to be on lithium, Prozac, and Xanax and is likely criminally insane as he mentions a probation officer. Madea, her daughter Cora, and her colorful crazy neighbor and classmate, Mr. Brown (whose wife from the previous play, Mattie, died from Alzheimer's complications and was cremated) help married couple Corey and Trina Jeffrey (Terrell Carter, Pam Taylor) come to terms with infidelity. A woman Stephanie (

Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley Cheryl Bridget "Pepsii" Riley (born October 18, 1961) is an American singer and actress. Riley is best known for her music during the late 1980s through the early 1990s, most notable; 1988's R&B ballad " Thanks for My Child". Riley also starr ...

) hurt by years of sexual and chemical torment must give up prostituting herself with her abusive husband (D'Wayne Gardner), and reconcile with her tired elderly mother Emma ( Chandra Currelley-Young) who was fired by the evil manager of the Pandora, Ann (Chantell Christopher), who is having an affair with her son's father (Anselmo Gordon) who is married to Cora's friend Diana (Judy Peterson), who is too reliant on her man. While all of this takes place, Madea enters with her usual flair and quickly cuts through all the lies and secrets and forces everyone to see their situations in a new light giving aid and advice to all. They save the Jeffreys’ marriage through the timely interruption of a would be affair with Ann by forcing the woman away and reminding the husband that he stilled loved his wife. Madea convinces Stephanie to break free of her husband and in so doing gain her independence, her self-respect, and a measure of revenge for all the years of abuse. In so doing Stephanie also reconciles with her mother healing their bond. Throughout Madea battles Ann and during a visit to the spa with Diana reveals the relationship between Ann and Diana's husband. Diana confronts Ann and is shocked to learned she has given the man a child and in response she kicks her husband out of her life and turns her life over to God. In the finale we learn that Emma, a long time employee of the hotel, had spoken to the owner about her previous termination by Ann only to be reminded that her previous purchase of stocks in the company to keep it afloat during a financial crisis had blossomed proving her with an impressive fortune. Citing her cruel treatment of employees and her less than satisfying contact with customers Emma fires Ann much to everyone's delight. Before leaving Madea reveals that Mr. Brown is actually Cora's father much to Cora's then despair. Everyone is shown repairing their relationships as the play ends with a powerful and grateful appeal from the cast to Christ for his aid and his goodness.

Shows

Cast

and Dr. Willie Leroy Jones * Chandra Currelley-Young as Emma *

Cheryl Pepsii Riley Cheryl Bridget "Pepsii" Riley (born October 18, 1961) is an American singer and actress. Riley is best known for her music during the late 1980s through the early 1990s, most notable; 1988's R&B ballad " Thanks for My Child". Riley also starr ...

as Stephanie * David Mann as Mr. Brown * Judy Peterson as Diana Massey *

as Cora * Terrell Carter as Corey Jeffrey * Pam Taylor as Trina Jeffrey * Chantell Christopher as Ann * D'Wayne Gardner as Horace * Anselmo Gordon as Clarence Massey * Ahmad Jamal McGhee as DJ & Waiter

The Band

* Mike Frazier - Musical Director / Bass * Eric Morgan - Drums * Jimmy Wyatt - Keyboards * Sean Allen - Keyboards * Mike Charbonneau - Sound * Bruce Danz - Sound

Musical numbers

''All songs written and/or produced by

.'' # "Someday" – Cora # "Gospel Medley" – Brown, Emma and Cora # "One More Chance" – Trina # "I Need Thee" – Emma # "What If I Did?" – Corey # "Taking My Life Back" – Stephanie # "My Man" – Diana # "You Can Make It (Through The Night)" – Diana, Cora, Emma, Stephanie, Corey and Trina

External links

{{Tyler Perry Class reunions in popular culture Plays by Tyler Perry African-American plays 2003 plays