Fans love it. Critics don’t. After Tyler Perry, can urban theater cross over? -3
Perry, a writer-actor-director-
producer who made millions touring
the country with dozens of plays
featuring his beloved Madea
character, burst into mainstream
success in 2005 with the box office hit "Diary of a Mad Black Woman,"
an adaptation of one of his earlier
works. That movie made more than
$50 million, and the success got
industry tongues wagging. Would
the genre break out of its niche? That was more than a decade ago,
and despite fresh talent, more
secular story lines and a younger
audience, urban theater has
remained largely the same, and the
stage plays are still panned by critics. Sure, the front of the house is happy
and turning a profit, but there are
signs of stagnation, and a few folks
behind the scenes want something
more.-credited to Washington post
producer who made millions touring
the country with dozens of plays
featuring his beloved Madea
character, burst into mainstream
success in 2005 with the box office hit "Diary of a Mad Black Woman,"
an adaptation of one of his earlier
works. That movie made more than
$50 million, and the success got
industry tongues wagging. Would
the genre break out of its niche? That was more than a decade ago,
and despite fresh talent, more
secular story lines and a younger
audience, urban theater has
remained largely the same, and the
stage plays are still panned by critics. Sure, the front of the house is happy
and turning a profit, but there are
signs of stagnation, and a few folks
behind the scenes want something
more.-credited to Washington post
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