A few months ago, I said I was taking off the rest of 2009. The reason for that, although I didn't say it at the time, was so I could spend my mother's final days at her side. I am so glad I did.  It made all the difference in the world to me.  Thank you for all of your condolences.  As you know, my mother was the apple of my eye, so this has been difficult to say the least. I'll say more about her as I am able.  It's just to soon to talk publicly about it. It is still very raw. All I'll say is this, take care of your mothers…you only get one. I've got to stop talking about this, sorry.

You have no idea how much I need to go to work right now, for no other reason than to just to be busy. January 4th can't get here soon enough. If you think I've been working at a crazy pace before, you ain't seen nothing yet!…SMILE. I'm telling you, if I walk these dogs one more time, I think they're going to cuss me out!....LOL. Y'all know I can't sit still.

Anyway, I am so glad I have decided to go out on tour.  You can't image how much I need to be in front of the people right now. To get that give-and-take, I am so looking forward to it.  Can you believe it's been 5 years since I've toured? So I'm coming to make you hurt yourself in a good way...LOL.  MADEA's BIG HAPPY FAMILY is my new play. Trust me when I tell you, I need to laugh and make you laugh even harder.  All I want to say 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 on stage....FREEEEDDOMMMM!!! LOL.

This is truly my BIGGEST and BEST PLAY EVER! I've done some things in this show that have never been seen in a play before.  The show is hilarious! I mean, it's so funny that we can't get through rehearsals. We're trying to get it all out now.  And the music! The music is off the chain. So come on out, I'd love to see you there. It's bigger and better than anything I've ever done. I'm excited about it, I really am. Can you tell?

Here are the tour dates for the first leg.

Jan 4th, 2010...El Paso, TX....Don Haskins Center
Jan 5th, 2010...Phoenix, AZ....Dodge Theatre
Jan 6th, 2010...San Diego, CA....San Diego Sports Arena
Jan 9th, 2010....Seattle, WA....Key Arena
Jan 10th, 2010....Portland, OR....Memorial Coliseum

Click the link below to view all scheduled dates.  Oh yeah, if you don't see your city, just remember this is only the first leg...more cities will be added http://tylerperry.com/newplay

God Bless and thank you again.

I almost forgot, on Christmas Eve, I misdialed a number and started talking to a lady who I didn't know.  Her name is Irene Toliver.  She didn't believe it was me so here's your proof ...SMILE.  You and your husband seem like very nice people.  I hope you got your cooking finished in time. Didn't mean to take up your time, but you reminded me of my mother. God bless you.

Tyler Perry

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