Laugh to Keep from Crying
Encyclopedia
Laugh to Keep from Crying is a play written and directed by American playwright Tyler Perry
. The show first opened in the fall of 2009. The play is a mixture of comedy, drama, and music, set at a inner-city building in a predominantly African-American
neighborhood.
neighborhood. Carol (Cheryl Pepsii Riley
) is a single mother raising two teenagers: Tony (Donny Sykes), who is studious and participates in gospel
choir; and Lisa (Tamar Davis
), who is rebellious and refuses to attend church. She works long hours during the day, and is good friends with Belinda (Chandra Currelley-Young
), their neighbor across the hall. Carol and Belinda disapprove of Niecey (D'Atra Hicks), their upstairs neighbor who is a prostitute
. Peter (Wess Morgan) and Anna (Stephanie Ferrett) are a white couple who have moved into the building to save money while Peter attends law school. Anna's recently widowed mother, Jane (Rachel Richards). Floyd (Palmer Williams, Jr) is the superintendent
.
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...
. The show first opened in the fall of 2009. The play is a mixture of comedy, drama, and music, set at a inner-city building in a predominantly African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
neighborhood.
Plot
The story revolves around a small group of people living in an inner-city building in a predominantly African-AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
neighborhood. Carol (Cheryl Pepsii Riley
Cheryl Pepsii Riley
Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley-Grace is an American R&B/gospel singer and actress, best known for her 1988 ballad, "Thanks for My Child."-Life and career:Cheryl Riley was born in Brooklyn, New York...
) is a single mother raising two teenagers: Tony (Donny Sykes), who is studious and participates in gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
choir; and Lisa (Tamar Davis
Támar
Támar is an American R&B singer who came to prominence through the artist, Prince. She sang the co-lead vocals on his Grammy-nominated song "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" from his 2006 album, 3121 and on backup vocals throughout the album...
), who is rebellious and refuses to attend church. She works long hours during the day, and is good friends with Belinda (Chandra Currelley-Young
Chandra Currelley-Young
Chandra Currelley-Young is an American actress. Currelley has done extensive work with director and writer Tyler Perry, and has played many roles in his various productions. She also has appeared in several stage plays.-Life and career:...
), their neighbor across the hall. Carol and Belinda disapprove of Niecey (D'Atra Hicks), their upstairs neighbor who is a prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. Peter (Wess Morgan) and Anna (Stephanie Ferrett) are a white couple who have moved into the building to save money while Peter attends law school. Anna's recently widowed mother, Jane (Rachel Richards). Floyd (Palmer Williams, Jr) is the superintendent
Building superintendent
A building superintendent or building supervisor is a manager responsible for repair and maintenance in a residential building. They are the first point of contact for residents of the building. They are expected to take care of minor issues and repairs, such as small leaks or blockages, the...
.
Cast
- Cheryl Pepsii RileyCheryl Pepsii RileyCheryl "Pepsii" Riley-Grace is an American R&B/gospel singer and actress, best known for her 1988 ballad, "Thanks for My Child."-Life and career:Cheryl Riley was born in Brooklyn, New York...
as Carol - Chandra Currelley-YoungChandra Currelley-YoungChandra Currelley-Young is an American actress. Currelley has done extensive work with director and writer Tyler Perry, and has played many roles in his various productions. She also has appeared in several stage plays.-Life and career:...
as Belinda - Palmer Williams, Jr as Floyd
- D'Atra Hicks as Niecy
- Támar DavisTámarTámar is an American R&B singer who came to prominence through the artist, Prince. She sang the co-lead vocals on his Grammy-nominated song "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" from his 2006 album, 3121 and on backup vocals throughout the album...
as Lisa - Donny Sykes as Tony
- Stephanie Ferrett as Anna
- Rachel Richards as Jane
- Anthony Dalton as Donnie
- Celestin Cornielle as Eddie
- Wess Morgan as Peter