Madea's Family Reunion (play)
Encyclopedia
Madea's Family Reunion is an American
play written by Tyler Perry
. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons, Quan Howell as Reverend Lewis, Sonya Evans as Lisa, D'Atra Hicks as Jackie and Tamela Mann
as Cora.
Just as the southern matriarch Madea buries her older sister, Irene, her granddaughter Lisa is getting married to a very successful rich man named Ronnie at the house. But Lisa's fiance is secretly beating her, and Lisa's ex-boyfriend and first love, A.J., Madea's mechanic, is going to do something about it. While Lisa is trying to cover up her bruises, her sister Tina is getting into more trouble: neglecting her baby, trying to seduce her cousin Jackie's husband Kevin, and stealing drug money from her mother, Cora. Madea's granddaughter Jackie and her ex-con unemployed husband Kevin live with Madea, and Jackie finds out she is pregnant and might have a miscarriage
. When she goes to tell Kevin the news, she finds her cousin Tina trying to seduce him. Although she's upset with him, Jackie urges Kevin to get a job for the sake of their child. Meanwhile, Madea's know-it-all niece Victoria is being romantically pursued by her minister. Later, Tina and Lisa reveal to Cora that when they were kids, their father sexually abused them, and Cora reflects that it will take days of praying to get over this bombshell. Madea must endure the craziness of neighbor Leroy Brown and of the dysfunctional relatives all staying under her roof for the weekend. During the family reunion, Lisa tells everyone that Ronnie has been hitting her. On the wedding day, Lisa decides to marry her first love, A.J.
David Mann and Tamela Mann
, who portray father and daughter in the play, are married in real life. Myrtle, Helen, Gina, Vianne and Maylee do not appear in this play.
by Lions Gate Entertainment, and opened in theaters on February 26, 2006. The film version stars Perry, Blair Underwood
, Lynn Whitfield
and Boris Kodjoe
. Maya Angelou
, Rochelle Aytes
, Jenifer Lewis
, Keke Palmer
, Cicely Tyson
and Cassi Davis
also appear in the film.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
play written by Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons, Quan Howell as Reverend Lewis, Sonya Evans as Lisa, D'Atra Hicks as Jackie and Tamela Mann
Tamela Mann
Tamela J. Mann is an American actress and gospel singer, known for her role as Cora in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark...
as Cora.
Synopsis
The Simmons family has a funeral, a wedding, and a family reunion all in the same weekend, and it is up to no-nonsense matriarch Madea to keep things in order.Just as the southern matriarch Madea buries her older sister, Irene, her granddaughter Lisa is getting married to a very successful rich man named Ronnie at the house. But Lisa's fiance is secretly beating her, and Lisa's ex-boyfriend and first love, A.J., Madea's mechanic, is going to do something about it. While Lisa is trying to cover up her bruises, her sister Tina is getting into more trouble: neglecting her baby, trying to seduce her cousin Jackie's husband Kevin, and stealing drug money from her mother, Cora. Madea's granddaughter Jackie and her ex-con unemployed husband Kevin live with Madea, and Jackie finds out she is pregnant and might have a miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
. When she goes to tell Kevin the news, she finds her cousin Tina trying to seduce him. Although she's upset with him, Jackie urges Kevin to get a job for the sake of their child. Meanwhile, Madea's know-it-all niece Victoria is being romantically pursued by her minister. Later, Tina and Lisa reveal to Cora that when they were kids, their father sexually abused them, and Cora reflects that it will take days of praying to get over this bombshell. Madea must endure the craziness of neighbor Leroy Brown and of the dysfunctional relatives all staying under her roof for the weekend. During the family reunion, Lisa tells everyone that Ronnie has been hitting her. On the wedding day, Lisa decides to marry her first love, A.J.
Cast
- Tyler PerryTyler PerryTyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
as Mabel "Madea" Simmons - Deitra Hicks as Jackie
- Sonya Evans as Lisa
- Zakiya Williams as Tina
- Mike Storm as Ronnie
- Gary JenkinsGary JenkinsGary "Lil G" Jenkins is an American musician. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, he is the youngest of seven children.-Musical career:...
as A.J. - Terrell PhillipsTerrell PhillipsTerrell Phillips is an American music artist, recording producer and engineer, R&B vocalist, actor and former member of the R&B/New Jack recording group, Blackstreet. After the departure of Mark Middleton, Terrell was recruited by Blackstreet group leader Teddy Riley...
as Kevin - Quan Howell as Reverend Jonny Lewis
- Pebbles Johnson as Vickie
- David Mann as Leroy Brown
- Tamela MannTamela MannTamela J. Mann is an American actress and gospel singer, known for her role as Cora in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark...
as Cora - Regina McCrary as Mattie Brown
- James Tittle IV as Brian (Jackie's ex boyfriend)
David Mann and Tamela Mann
Tamela Mann
Tamela J. Mann is an American actress and gospel singer, known for her role as Cora in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark...
, who portray father and daughter in the play, are married in real life. Myrtle, Helen, Gina, Vianne and Maylee do not appear in this play.
Musical numbers
- "Looking Back"-Performed by Tamela Mann
- "Jesus Will Fix It"-Performed by Quan Howell
- "On the Battlefield"-Performed by Regina McGrary
- "Trouble in My Way"-Performed by Tamela Mann
- "Have You Tried My Jesus"-Performed by David Mann
- "It Ain't Over"-Performed by Gary Jenkins
- "How Much Can One Heart Take"-Performed by D'Atra Hicks
- "Open My Heart"-Performed by Pebbles Johnson
- "He's the God of Confidents"-Performed by Quan Howell
- "I Wanna Be Whole Again"-Performed by Terrell Phillips and D'Atra Hicks
- "Pray"-Performed by Quan Howell,Terrell Phillips,Gary Jenkins,David Mann,Regina McGrary,Pebbles Johnson,Tamela Mann,and D'Atra Hicks
Movie connections
The stage play was adapted into motion pictureMadea's Family Reunion
Madea's Family Reunion is a 2006 comedy-drama film adaptation of the stage production of the same name written by Tyler Perry and sequel to Diary of a Mad Black Woman. It was written and directed by Perry, who also played several characters, including Mabel "Madea" Simmons...
by Lions Gate Entertainment, and opened in theaters on February 26, 2006. The film version stars Perry, Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood is an American television and film actor. He is perhaps best known as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a role he portrayed for seven years. He has gained critical acclaim throughout his career, receiving numerous Golden Globe Award...
, Lynn Whitfield
Lynn Whitfield
Lynn Whitfield is an American actress.Whitfield began her acting career in television and theatre, before progressing to supporting roles in film. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special and a NAACP Image Award for her performance as Josephine Baker in the...
and Boris Kodjoe
Boris Kodjoe
Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe , better known as Boris Kodjoe, is an Austrian-born German actor and former fashion model who works primarily in the United States...
. Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
, Rochelle Aytes
Rochelle Aytes
Rochelle Aytes is an American actress. She was born in New York City and attended LaGuardia High School. She graduated with a BA in Fine Arts from State University of New York Purchase College.-Career:...
, Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Jeanette Lewis is an American film and television actress and singer.-Early life:Lewis was born in Kinloch, Missouri, to a nurse's aid mother and a factory worker father. She attended college at Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri...
, Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer
Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer is an American actress and singer who rose to fame for her performance in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee. She also starred as the title character in the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP...
, Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson is an American actress. A successful stage actress, Tyson is also known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film Sounder and the television movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots....
and Cassi Davis
Cassi Davis
Cassandra "Cassi" Davis is an American actress. She is mostly known for her role as Ella Payne in Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Davis has done extensive work with director and writer Tyler Perry, and has played many roles in his various productions...
also appear in the film.