I Know I've Been Changed

Last updated
I Know I've Been Changed
Written by Tyler Perry
CharactersJoe, Mary, Fanny, Ellen, Sam, Mitch, Sister Lewis, Millie, and Lequita
Original run1998-2000
Tyler Perry website Official site

I Know I've Been Changed was the first successful play from playwright Tyler Perry. [1] The play focuses on issues including child abuse [2] and rape and how they can be overcome by a strong belief in God.

Contents

Soul musician Ryan Shaw got his start performing in this play in 1998. The play received its first staging in Atlanta in 1992. [3] The play toured from 1998 to 2000. [4]

Grammy award winning vocalist Ann Nesby of the musical and instrumental group Sounds of Blackness played a supporting role in this play/production.

Saycon Sengbloh would later become the first Black stand-by and then principle lead for the role of Elphaba in the Broadway musical WICKED.

Plot

This hard-hitting play used comedy and drama to tell a story of two adult survivors of child abuse who became the people that their abusive mother said they would be. It is also the story of how they overcame, by the power of God, with a shocking twist at the end. Mary, the lead character, married and had two children before she had the opportunity to become an adult herself. Emotionally and spiritually irresponsible, she sought the succor of drugs to alleviate the pressure of rearing her children. This drug abuse manifests itself in verbal, emotional and physical abuse toward her children. She is unable to see the beauty of her own children, and, while addicted to drugs, is unable to alter the destructive path she has embarked upon. Compounding an already dysfunctional family situation, the husband is abusive to his wife and children as well, molesting his older son, which results in a dramatic plot twist later in the play. Fanny, is a mother divorcing her husband after becoming a famous singer. In a bold move to pursue her dreams she had to leave her daughter Ellen, to be raised by her husband, Joe.

Cast

Shows

Scheduled shows
DateCityVenue
March 12, 1998Atlanta The Tabernacle
March 13, 1998Atlanta The Tabernacle
March 14, 1998Atlanta The Tabernacle
March 15, 1998Atlanta The Tabernacle
April 27, 1998RochesterRochester Auditorium Theatre
April 28, 1998RochesterRochester Auditorium Theatre
April 29, 1998Buffalo Kleinhans Music Hall
April 30, 1998Pittsburgh Benedum Center
May 6, 1998Columbus Palace Theatre
May 12, 1998Baltimore Lyric Performing Arts Center
May 13, 1998Baltimore Lyric Performing Arts Center
May 14, 1998Baltimore Lyric Performing Arts Center
May 15, 1998Baltimore Lyric Performing Arts Center
May 16, 1998Baltimore Lyric Performing Arts Center
May 17, 1998Baltimore Lyric Performing Arts Center
June 21, 1998Manhattan Beacon Theatre
October 2, 1998Chicago Avalon Regal Theater
October 3, 1998Chicago Avalon Regal Theater
October 4, 1998Chicago Avalon Regal Theater
October 11, 1998Oakland Paramount Theatre
November 10, 1998Dorchester Strand Theatre
January 12, 1999Miami Olympia Theater
January 13, 1999Miami Olympia Theater
January 14, 1999Miami Olympia Theater
January 15, 1999Miami Olympia Theater
January 16, 1999Miami Olympia Theater
January 17, 1999Miami Olympia Theater
January 26, 1999Dallas Dallas Convention Center Theater
January 27, 1999Dallas Dallas Convention Center Theater
January 28, 1999Dallas Dallas Convention Center Theater
January 29, 1999Dallas Dallas Convention Center Theater
January 30, 1999Dallas Dallas Convention Center Theater
January 31, 1999Dallas Dallas Convention Center Theater
February 5, 1999Memphis Orpheum Theatre
February 6, 1999Memphis Orpheum Theatre
February 7, 1999Memphis Orpheum Theatre
February 25, 1999Indianapolis Old National Centre
March 26, 1999Memphis Orpheum Theatre
March 27, 1999Memphis Orpheum Theatre
March 28, 1999Memphis Orpheum Theatre
April 22, 1999Kansas City Kansas City Music Hall
April 23, 1999Kansas City Kansas City Music Hall
April 24, 1999Kansas City Kansas City Music Hall
April 25, 1999Kansas City Kansas City Music Hall
September 28, 1999Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
September 29, 1999Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
September 30, 1999Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
October 1, 1999Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
October 2, 1999Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
October 3, 1999Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
November 18, 1999St. Louis Fox Theatre
November 19, 1999St. Louis Fox Theatre
November 20, 1999St. Louis Fox Theatre
November 21, 1999St. Louis Fox Theatre

Musical Numbers

All songs written and/or arranged by Tyler Perry and Elvin D. Ross.

Trivia

Related Research Articles

<i>Diary of a Mad Black Woman</i> 2005 film directed by Darren Grant

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a 2005 American romantic comedy drama film directed by Darren Grant and written by Tyler Perry. Inspired by the play of the same name, it marks Perry's feature film debut and is the first entry in the Madea film franchise. Starring Perry alongside Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Shemar Moore, and Cicely Tyson, it tells the story of a woman who is thrown out of her house by her husband on their 18th wedding anniversary and subsequently moves in with her grandmother, and is the only film written, but not directed, by Perry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Perry</span> American actor and filmmaker (born 1969)

Tyler Perry is an American actor, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of Mabel "Madea" Simmons, a tough elderly woman, and also portrays her brother Joe Simmons and her nephew Brian Simmons. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmmaking techniques to filmed productions of live stage plays, many of which have been subsequently adapted into feature films. Madea's first appearance was in Perry's play I Can Do Bad All by Myself (1999) staged in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madea</span> Fictional character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry

Mabel "Madea" Earlene Simmons is a character created and portrayed by Tyler Perry. She is portrayed as a tough, street-smart elderly African-American woman.

<i>Madeas Family Reunion</i> 2006 American film

Madea's Family Reunion is a 2006 American comedy-drama film and an adaptation of the stage production of the same name written by Tyler Perry. The film is a sequel to Diary of a Mad Black Woman. It was written, directed by, and starring Perry with the rest of the cast consisting of Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons, Lisa Arrindell, Maya Angelou, Rochelle Aytes, Jenifer Lewis, Tangi Miller, Keke Palmer, and Cicely Tyson. The film tells the story of Madea preparing for an upcoming family reunion while dealing with the dramas before and during it. It was released on February 24, 2006, nearly one year following its predecessor, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The independent film was produced by Lionsgate.

Madea's Class Reunion is a 2003 American stage play created, written, produced and directed by Tyler Perry. The live performance released on VHS and DVD on October 2, 2003 was recorded live in Detroit at the Fox Theatre on September 13, 2003. The play stars Tyler Perry as Madea and Dr. Willie Leroy Jones, David Mann as Leroy Brown and Tamela Mann as Cora.

Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself is a 1999 American stage play written, directed, and produced by and starring Tyler Perry. The play marks the first official appearance of the well-known fictional character Madea, whom Perry portrays. Although the original production was not recorded, the live performance released on DVD and VHS was recorded in Washington, D.C., at the Lincoln Theatre in August 2002.

Meet the Browns is a 2004 American stage play written, produced and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars David & Tamela Mann as Mr. Brown & Cora, as they head off to see Brown's side of the family. The play is a spin off of 2003's Madea's Class Reunion, where it's revealed at the ending that Brown is Cora's long-lost father. The live performance released on VHS and DVD on October 27, 2004 was recorded live in Cleveland at the Palace Theatre in October 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamela Mann</span> American gospel singer and actress

Tamela Jean Mann is an American gospel singer and actress. She began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. Mann was a primary vocalist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R Kelly and Bono. She began her solo career by releasing the albums Gotta Keep Movin (2005), and The Master Plan (2009).

Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a 2001 American stage play written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry. The production starred Tyler Perry as Daddy Charles & Madea and Marva King as Helen Simmons-McCarter. The live performance released on DVD and VHS was recorded live in Atlanta at the Atlanta Civic Center in May 2001.

What's Done in the Dark (Will Come to the Light) is a 2007 American stage play written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry. The show first opened in September 2006. The play focuses on two nurses, one of whom is a single mother and the other of whom is having an affair with a doctor, and an eccentric hypochondriac patient, Mr. Brown. It stars Tamela Mann as Cora and David Mann as Mr. Brown. The live performance released on DVD on February 12, 2008 was taped in Charlotte at the Ovens Auditorium in May 2007.

<i>Meet the Browns</i> (film) 2008 American romance film

Meet the Browns is a 2008 American romantic comedy-drama film released by Lionsgate on March 21, 2008. The film was based on the play of the same name by Tyler Perry and is the third film in the Madea cinematic universe. It was written and directed by Tyler Perry with Ruben Cannon helping with the writing, and starring Angela Bassett, Rick Fox, Margaret Avery, Frankie Faison, Jenifer Lewis, Lance Gross, Sofía Vergara, Lamman Rucker, Tamela Mann, Tyler Perry, and introducing David Mann in his film debut as Leroy Brown. The film tells the story of a struggling single mother from Chicago who takes her children to Senoia, Georgia to attend her long-lost father's funeral and meets the relatives she didn't know she had. The film grossed $42 million.

<i>Madea Goes to Jail</i> 2009 parodic comedy drama directed by Tyler Perry

Madea Goes to Jail is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry, which was based on his 2006 play, and starring Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ion Overman, RonReaco Lee, Sofía Vergara, Vanessa Ferlito, and Viola Davis. The film tells the story of Madea going to prison for her uncontrollable anger management problems as she befriends a young incarcerated prostitute whom an assistant district attorney has known since college. The film was released on February 20, 2009. It is the fourth film in the Madea cinematic universe as it follows up from the cameo appearance of Madea in the previous film Meet the Browns and it features Cora and Mr. Brown from that film.

<i>I Can Do Bad All by Myself</i> (film) 2009 American film

I Can Do Bad All by Myself is a 2009 American romantic musical comedy-drama film which was released on September 11, 2009. The film was directed, produced, and written by Tyler Perry, who also makes an appearance in the film as his signature character Madea. The rest of the cast consists of Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Brian White, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, and Marvin L. Winans. Although the film and play share the same title, the film is not an adaptation of Perry's play of the same name; the two works have different storylines as this film tells the story of an alcoholic lounge singer who is persuaded to take the custody of her niece and nephews by Madea after she catches them breaking into her house and their grandmother has gone missing. Both are named for a lyric in the Changing Faces song "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.". It is the fifth film in the Madea franchise.

Madea's Big Happy Family is a 2010 American stage play created, produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons and Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam. The play also marks the debut appearance of Aunt Bam played by Davis. Perry began writing the show after the death of his mother Willie Maxine Perry on December 8, 2009. The main character of Shirley is based on her. The live performance released on DVD on November 23, 2010 was recorded live in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in July 2010.

<i>Madeas Big Happy Family</i> (film) 2011 American film

Madea's Big Happy Family is a 2011 American comedy-drama film based on Tyler Perry's 2010 play of the same name. It is the 11th film in the Tyler Perry film franchise and the sixth in the Madea cinematic universe. Tyler Perry reprised Madea and Joe, and the other cast members include Loretta Devine, Bow Wow, David Mann, Cassi Davis, Tamela Mann, Lauren London, Isaiah Mustafa, Natalie Desselle, Rodney Perry, and Shannon Kane. It tells the story of Madea finding out that her niece is dying from cancer. Madea gathers her niece's children and their family members together to deal with the news while contending with the different issues between them.

A Madea Christmas is a 2011 American stage play created, produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons and Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam. The play also marks the debut appearance of Hattie Mae Love, played by Patrice Lovely. The live performance released on DVD on November 22, 2011 was recorded live in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in May 2011. This was Perry's first production that wasn't available on tour and had only 2 premiere performances.

Chandra Currelley-Young is an American actress and singer. Currelley has done extensive work with director and writer Tyler Perry, and has played many roles in his various productions and several stage plays. In all of her stage appearances she is known for doing her signature "Holy Shake" where she shakes her shoulders while singing and the audience responds in ovation.

Madea Gets a Job is a 2012 American stage play created, written, produced, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Madea "Mabel" Simmons and Patrice Lovely as Hattie. The live performance released on DVD on February 5, 2013 was recorded live in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in June 2012.

<i>Madeas Tough Love</i> 2015 American film

Tyler Perry's Madea's Tough Love is a 2015 American live action-animated comedy film directed by Frank Marino, written by Matt Fleckenstein produced by Tyler Perry, Matt Moore, and Ozzie Areu, and starring the voices of Perry, Cassi Davis, Rolonda Watts, Avery Kidd Waddell, Philip Anthony-Rodriguez, Georg Stanford Brown, Kevin Michael Richardson, Mari Williams, Indigo, Caitlyn Taylor Love, Maya Kay, Kate Higgins, and Bootsy Collins. The film tells the story of Madea being sentenced to community service at a youth center as she comes across a devious plot to destroy it. It was released on January 20, 2015. While the film is mainly animated and serves as Tyler Perry Studios' first live action-animated film, the beginning and ending scenes however are live-action like the other Madea films.

<i>A Madea Homecoming</i> 2022 American film by Tyler Perry

A Madea Homecoming is a 2022 American comedy film produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry and his second film to be released by Netflix. Besides Perry, the film stars Cassi Davis-Patton, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Gabrielle Dennis, and Brendan O'Carroll. It is the twelfth film in the Madea cinematic universe. The film tells the story of Madea partaking in her great-grandson's college graduation party as hidden secrets emerge and surprise visitors show up. It was released on February 25, 2022. It is adapted from Perry's stage play Madea's Farewell Play, the first Madea film to be adapted from a stage play since A Madea Christmas. The film is also a crossover between the Madea franchise and the Irish sitcom Mrs. Brown's Boys.

References

  1. Andrews-Dyer, Helena (May 30, 2018). "Fans love it. Critics don't. After Tyler Perry, can urban theater cross over?". Washington Post. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  2. "Tyler Perry". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  3. Britannica online article
  4. Play synopsis on Tyler Perry website