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According to eurweb.com

After producing and starring in several film versions of his plays featuring Madea, Tyler Perry is bringing his signature character back to the stage in a new production set to tour in 2010.

The entertainment mogul posted a message on his Web site Saturday that said he had taken some time off in the past few months “so I could spend my mother’s final days at her side.” His mother, Willie Maxine Perry, died Dec. 8 at age 64.

Perry says he will begin touring with his new play, “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” on Jan. 4 in El Paso, Texas. The first leg then goes on to Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and Portland, Ore, reports the Associated Press.

The actor says he is eager to have the gun-toting, curse-you-out-in-a-minute character on stage for the first time in five years.