Laugh to Keep from Crying

Laugh to Keep from Crying is an 2009 American stage play created, produced, written and directed by Tyler Perry. The show first opened in the fall of 2009. The play is set at an inner-city building in a predominantly African-American neighborhood. It stars Cheryl Pepsii Riley as Carol, Palmer Williams Jr. as Floyd and Chandra Currelley-Young as Belinda. The live performance released on DVD on August 30, 2011 was recorded live in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in July 2010.

Plot
The story revolves around a small group of people living in an inner-city building in a predominantly African-American 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 best 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) visits. Floyd (Palmer Williams Jr.) is the superintendent. Carol meets a police officer named Donnie (Anthony Dalton) then Niecy's pimp Eddie, (Celestin Cornielle) who is bad to everybody involved.

Cast

 * Chandra Currelley-Young as Belinda
 * Cheryl Pepsii Riley as Carol
 * Palmer Williams Jr. as Floyd
 * D'Atra Hicks as Niecy
 * Donny Sykes as Tony
 * Tamar Davis as Lisa
 * Stephanie Ferrett as Anna
 * Chris Cauley as Peter
 * Wess Morgan (FILMED VERSION)
 * Rachel Richards as Jane
 * Theo Williamson as Donnie
 * Anthony Dalton (FILMED VERSION)
 * Greg Stewart as Eddie
 * Celestin Cornielle (FILMED VERSION)

The Band

 * Ronnie Garrett - Musical Director & Bass Guitar
 * Derek Scott - Guitar
 * Marcus Williams - Drums
 * Michael Burton - Saxophone & Keyboards
 * Natalie Ragins - Keyboards & Organ
 * Lindsay Fields - Background Vocals
 * Latayvia Cherry - Background Vocals
 * Jeffrey Lewis - Background Vocals
 * Zuri Craig - Background Vocals
 * Crystal "Chrissy" Collins - Background Vocals

Musical numbers
All songs written and/or produced by Tyler Perry and Elvin D. Ross.
 * 1) "Wake Up Everybody" – Company
 * 2) "We Can Work It Out" – Floyd & Niecy
 * 3) "You Gave Me Hope" – Peter
 * 4) "Lord, I Give It All to You" – Carol
 * 5) "Church Medley"
 * 6) "I Will Trust in the Lord" – Carol
 * 7) "We've Come This Far By Faith" – Tony
 * 8) "He Will Fix It" – Belinda & Niecy
 * 9) "I Better Get All My Rent" – Floyd
 * 10) "Laugh to Keep from Crying" – Belinda
 * 11) "Ooh Child" – Company
 * 12) "I Need Thee" – Tony
 * 13) "No More (I Wanna Be Redeemed)" – Niecy
 * 14) "I'm Sorry, So Sorry" – Lisa
 * 15) "Block Party Medley"
 * 16) "Shame" – Belinda
 * 17) "Square Biz" – Anna
 * 18) "Best of My Love" – Niecy
 * 19) "I'll Take You There" – Jane
 * 20) "Outstanding" – Peter
 * 21) "Ain't Nobody" – Carol
 * 22) "I Like" – Tony
 * 23) "I Want You Back" – Lisa