August 9, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TYLER PERRY SERVES UP URBAN THEATER TO ERWIN CENTER

Tickets for “Why Did I Get Married” Go On Sale Monday, August 16 at NOON

AUSTIN, TEXAS - From homelessness to sheer bliss! Thirty four-year old playwright, director, producer and actor Tyler Perry is truly riding high. Within the span of only six years, he went from being "out on the streets" to "selling out" theaters wherever he goes. He has done it with not only one show - but with seven shows having successfully toured the nation and thus creating a change in the history of Black theater. Catch Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?” starring Kelly Price at The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center, October 9 and 10.

This New Orleans native has had a stellar decade and is showing no signs of letting up any time soon. In 1992, he wrote a series of letters to himself in an effort to find a catharsis for his own childhood pain. Those same letters would eventually culminate to become Tyler's first hit musical, "I Know I've Been Changed," a rousing stage play about adult survivors of child abuse. The story combines a delicate mix of comedy and drama while addressing uncomfortable issues surrounding painful childhood scars.

Perry, feeling that he was onto something, eventually saved twelve thousand dollars and moved to the city of Atlanta with a script in his hand and a dream in his heart. But after renting out a theater and starring in the production, he soon found out that it was not going to be as easy a task as he had thought. When only thirty people showed up in the audience over the entire weekend, Tyler came to the realization that theatrical promoting was definitely not his calling. When he did finally reach the point where he was going to give up, he reluctantly decided to do one last show. It was that one faithful decision which would change his life forever.

In the summer of 1998, what was supposed to be the "final" production of Tyler Perry's "I Know I've Been Changed" opened at the House of Blues in Atlanta and sold out eight times over. Two weeks later, the play would move to the prestigious Fox Theatre and sell out 9,000 more seats for just two shows! "I Know I've Been Changed," would go on to gross several million dollars in revenue and ultimately raise the level of thinking with regards to Black theater productions.

Tickets for Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” starring Kelly Price at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 GO ON SALE Monday, August 16 at NOON at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and San Marcos; Ft. Hood Bldg. #136 and Renaissance Records in Killeen), charge-by-phone at 512/477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or order on-line at TexasBoxOffice.com. Ticket prices and show times: $28.50 for Saturday’s 3PM performance, $34.50 for Saturday’s 8PM performance, $29.50 for Sunday’s 3PM performance, & $33.50 for Sunday’s 7:30PM performance. THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE; NO DOUBLE DISCOUNTS; $3 off groups of 20 or more for all performances, except Saturday’s 8PM performance. Groups should call the Group Sales Department at 512/471-7744. Convenience charges may apply. All information subject to change. The Frank Erwin Center is a smoke-free facility. Convenient parking is available within walking distance in nearby state and University lots. For more information, call 512/471-7744. uterwincenter.com

Media Contact: Lauren Landeros 512/471-3678

Back to 2004 Press Releases

Frank Erwin Center
1701 Red River
Austin, TX 78701

(512) 471-7744
FAX (512) 471-9652

Send us a comment:
comments@erwin.utexas.edu