Black Celebrity Men

Tyler Perry kicked off his latest tour Madea's Big Happy Family last week in El Paso, Texas and will run through May. And after reading fans' comments on Tyler's Facebook page, the play is a instant hit! A lot of readers have been asking me what the play is about and who else stars is in it. For a while I couldn't find anything...until today. I can now tell you Cassi Davis (who plays Aunt Ella on House of Payne), Palmer Williams Jr. (who plays Floyd on House of Payne), singer Cheryl Pepsi Riley, Chandra Currelley, Tamar Davis and Donnie Sykes (he also starred in Tyler's stage play The Marriage Counselor) all star alongside Tyler, who of course plays Madea. Tyler also cast a couple of guys he found on Youtube (and I am too lazy to look their names up). I know, I know, I know. Some of yall may be wondering, 'Where's the eye candy?' The hell if I know! I'm wondering too!

Here's the play's synopsis (may include spoilers so read at your own discretion):

The family matriarch, Shirley, has experienced a recurrence of her unnamed cancer and the muscular, hunky doc gives her four- to six-weeks to live. She tries to convene the family - including her three warring daughters, two struggling sons and a crack-addled brother - to break the news. But they are so busy bickering and worrying about their own agendas - one's a real estate agent in overdrive, another a frumpy "old maid" at 32, another resorts to selling drugs to please his brand-name addicted girlfriend - that mom can't get a word in edgewise. When the family finally finds out her fate, it's too late to clean up their acts.

After Shirley's death, depicted in a lengthy scene that features one of the show's most inspirational songs (performed by actress Chandra Currelley as Shirley) and a hokey video showing her ascension into a cloud-filled heaven, it's up to Madea to set things straight, which she does with typically no-nonsense clarity and a lot of nostalgia for '70s R&B music.

I also found the following review written by Doug Pullen (of the El Paso Times) from Tyler's opening night and it had me hollering out loud in laughter. He said:

The key, of course, is Perry himself. He's literally a big, towering presence onstage, something his fans have been missing for half a decade now, and it's obvious who's in charge from all the self-inflicted humor. He manages to direct the play while onstage, fully acknowledging the performance's occasionally unpolished, dress rehearsal quality of the some moments in an otherwise inspired performance. The tall, 40-year-old, funny and religious Perry - who infuses a strong dose of old-time religion into his narrative - also paused the show to tie back a curtain so the audience on far stage right could see better, picked on cast members for rushing scenes or missing lines, not delivering a line with enough conviction, and, apparently, eating Doritos when off stage.

He often kept the audience, cast members and himself in stitches over his occasional interruption - in character, no less - for self-deprecating remarks about his own inability to remember his lines and his desire to "pop, pop, pop" a gum-chewing fan in the front row who was distracting him.

Now can you just picture Tyler in his Madea costume doing all of that? You can check Tyler's official website TylerPerry.com to see if your city (or a city near you) has been added to the tour. But remember to keep checking though because he's adds new cities periodically. My only problem is trying to decide if I want to attend a Jacksonville show or wait (hope and pray) to see if he adds Tallahassee to the list.
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Remember these photos from Tyler Perry's grand opening of his multi-million dollar tv and film studio in Atlanta this past weekend? Everyone who has seen these two particular pictures has asked the same question: 'What was going on to make Tyler and Oprah cry openly?' Well as a proud Tallahasseean, I am happy to tell you that the tears they shed were tears of joy as the listened to the angelic voices from the The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee. Choir director Dr. Earl Lee Jr. said he thought someone was trying to pull a fast one on him when he received the call saying Tyler wanted the Boys' Choir to sing at his grand opening. And then it took another two weeks before he was convinced that the call was real. Tyler found the choir after doing a bit of online research. Once he went to their official website and listened to their voices, it was a wrap! He footed the bill so that the 70 member choir could travel to Atlanta and have ample time to rehearse for his big historical day.

"The boys will definitely be talking about this experience for a long time. They were greeted and received by a thunderous applause from the special guests in attendance. The talk at the gala was 'What choir is that performing?' They stopped and watched the choir and they were in tears. They were crying. The stars were actually taking pictures of the local stars so it made the boys feel real good that those folks actually were in tears because the Amazing Grace was absolutely gorgeous. He (Tyler) wanted the choir to sound like angels and to look like angels and that's what they did," Lee wrote Sunday in an e-mail to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Amazing Grace happens to be Tyler's favorite song, hence the tears. As for Oprah, well we all know it doesn't take much for her to cry! Bless her heart. Besides, she's not a stranger to the Boys' Choir. The group performed on her talk show back in 2002 as part of her Angel Network. Lee says Tyler told the group that they are now a part of the Tyler Perry family and that "they will go down in history" as the first choir or boys choir to perform at Tyler Perry Studios. They were also the first to see Perry's new studio. Fourteen year old Boys Choir member Forrest Price said, "It was fantastic. We met a lot of people. We met new stars, we saw Tyler Perry. We went to a studio. It was a lot of fun." Jamaal Shareef-Rogan, a 14-year-old choir member, said, "When I saw Oprah in person, I really just wanted to stop singing and say hey to her. But I really couldn't get off focus. It was really exciting." Hell, now I'm over here about to cry. I'm so proud of them! The Boys' Choir sung at my grandmother's funeral about 8 and a half years ago when two of my cousins were members. She LOVED to hear them sing and adored Dr. Lee, so hearing them sing at her funeral was truly bittersweet. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the church on that cold January morning but on the flip side, there also was a lot of hand clapping and rejoicing as well! After high school, one of my cousins later became a mentor to the new members coming in.

To read the background history of The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee, go to their official website by clicking HERE. I'm just sorry I'm not able to provide you all with any photos of the guys at the event, but here are a few file photos of the choir.

I also found a few more pics from Tyler's grand opening. Below you'll see pictures of actor Palmer Williams Jr. with two of his House of Payne co-stars (L) Bobbi Baker and Denyce 'Made in Korea' Lawton (I'm sorry, but I laugh hard as hell everytime I hear Palmer call her that!); newly married couple Malinda Williams and Derrick D-Nice' Jones; New Edition member Johnny Gill; and House of Payne co-star Larramie Doc Shaw and his mother.

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Scenes from Tyler Perry's latest stageplay The Marriage Counselor starring Tony Grant, Palmer Williams, Timon Kyle Durrett, Tamar Davis, Alltrinna Grayson and Jermaine Sellers.

With the comedic craftsmanship of his amazing talent, Tyler Perry presents different segments that identify the quality of marriage. Roger Jackson (Grant), and his wife Judith ( Davis) the marriage counselor would appear to have the perfect marriage. Roger's father, Floyd (Williams, Jr.) and Judith's mom, T.T. (Grayson) are temporary house guests post Katrina. Judith, the professional Ivy league-educated marriage counselor gives marital advice to couples who are confused and bewildered. However, what about her own marriage? Who can counsel the counselor when she turns to a certain college friend? The surprise elements of this adult-themed production is unpredictable yet very delightful.

If it comes to a city near your town, go see it. You won't regret it.

MORE PICS WHEN YOU CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

Hi, everyone and welcome to BlackCelebrityMen.blogspot.com. Thanks for visiting.

Nearly a month ago, my 'big sister' Nikki dragged me and my sister to see Tyler Perry's stageplay The Marriage Counselor at the Tallahassee Civic Center. I griped to my sister about attending because no matter how many times I tried to sit and watch a Tyler Perry screenplay, I'd always seem to lose interest once someone broke out into song! Something about someone holding a conversation then all of a sudden breaking out into a song freaked me out. I also never seemed to get past those gaudy stage sets. So when I decided to attend Tyler's play, I made sure to pack at least 2 books and 3 magazines to read once those people started singing. We get to the venue, go to our seats which were waaaaaaaaay up at the very top. I'm a little over five feet tall and I swear I could have touched the concrete beams above me if I stretched far enough!! I became a bit perturbed because although the folks on the stage looked like ants from where I was sitting, the section we were in was also very dim.... which meant I wouldn't be able to read my books and mags once the singing started. So I'm sitting there like, 'Seriously, Jesus?! For real? This is how You gonna do me?' I guess He got mad at me for questioning Him because the next thing I knew, some girl and her date came and sat in the seats next to me. Five seconds later, all I hear is 'CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH, SLURP, SLURP, SLURP, CRUNCH, CRUNNNCH, CRUUUUUUNCH!' This heffa and her man both going to town on some damn nachos and sodas! Eventually, the lights go down and show starts. Long story short, I LOVED it! Like I said before, I could barely see the actors, but their performances were so full of energy, I felt as if I had no other choice but to sit back and enjoy the show. I honestly don't remember laughing my ass off the way I did that night. I didn't want the show to end. Actor Palmer Williams, Jr. (who also co-stars on Tyler's House of Payne sitcom): I will never look at him the same again. He gained a new hardcore fan that night in Tallahassee. Timon Kyle Durrett. Yes, sir! The Marriage Counselor marks his stageplay debut. He has also had roles on Girlfriends, CSI NY, CSI Miami, Las Vegas and Heroes (thanks for the added info, Cherry. I had no idea). He gained a new fan in me too....and then some! Eye candy like you wouldn't believe is what he is. Yall might want to keep an eye on him. I see him doing big things in the near future. If you look at my banner on the homepage, he's the guy in between The Rock and Idris Elba. Fine, ain't he? Told ya. Needless to say, I never once reached in my purse to pull out a magazine or book! I told Nikki, 'We have to see this play again!'

That brings me to another reason as to why I started this site. I noticed Tyler cast the most fineness men in his films and plays: Terrell Carter, Lamman Rucker, Christian Keys, Boris Kodjoe, Allen Payne, Henry Simmons, Shemar Moore, Michael Jai White, Richard T. Jones, the aforementioned Timon Kyle Durrett, Blair Underwood, Rick Fox and Lance Gross....just to name a few. Then it hit me. A blog which features nothing but black male celebrities. There's BlackCelebKids.com, a website dedicated to the offspring of black celebrities. There's also a website which celebrates the beauty, style and accomplishments of Black and Brown women in Hollywood; and Pigskin Loving Lady, a blog which features only Black NFL players.

Before launching BlackCelebrityMen, I searched the web high and low in hopes of finding a website dedicated to our Black men in the entertainment and sports industry and came up with nothing. My first thought was to only shed light on the media's sexiest black men. Then I thought to myself, 'That's not fair. What if JoJo (of K-Ci & JoJo) fall and bust his ass again? Or what if 50-leven year old Flavor Flav scores another buffoonery of a reality show? Or Kanye West throws another bitch-fit over the pettiest thing just because he feels the urge to?' Surely I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge those events!

All of the explanations above are my primary reasons for creating this blog. Actors, pro athletes, singers, rappers, authors, up-and-coming authors...if they're black men in the the media industry...even the has-beens and the D-list, chances are sooner or later you'll find a post about them here. So take a look around. Hopefully, you'll like what you see and come back for more; and please don't hesitate to tell me what you think of the site. I'm open to any suggestions you all may have that will make this a better blog. Also, I'm still working on adding more blog links as well as a better looking banner for the site as well as an official logo. So if anyone has any suggestions, tips or want to provide assistance, just drop me an email at BlackCelebrityMen@gmail.com.

Once again, I thank you all ever so kindly for visiting BlackCelebrityMen.blogspot.com.
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