I Know I've Been Changed


I Know I've Been Changed was the first successful play from playwright Tyler Perry. The play focuses on issues including child abuse and rape and how they can be overcome by a strong belief in God.
Soul musician Ryan Shaw got his start performing in this play in 1998. The play received its first staging in Atlanta in 1992. The play toured from 1998 to 2000.
Grammy award winning vocalist Ann Nesby of the musical and instrumental group Sounds of Blackness played a supporting role in this play/production.
"I Know I've Been Changed" has been called one of the most successful shows of this genre, selling out repeatedly during its 1998-99 tour in major cities like D.C., New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Miami, just to name a few. After being sold out for three weeks in Dallas, an exhausted Perry decided to add a Monday night show.

Plot

This hard-hitting play used comedy and drama to tell a story of two adult survivors of child abuse who became the people that their abusive mother said they would be. It is also the story of how they overcame, by the power of God, with a shocking twist at the end.
Mary, the lead character, married and had two children before she had the opportunity to become an adult herself. Emotionally and spiritually irresponsible, she sought the succor of drugs to alleviate the pressure of rearing her children. This drug abuse manifests itself in verbal, emotional and physical abuse toward her children. She is unable to see the beauty of her own children, and, while addicted to drugs, is unable to alter the destructive path she has embarked upon. Compounding an already dysfunctional family situation, the husband is abusive to his wife and children as well, molesting his older son, which results in a dramatic plot twist later in the play.
Fanny, is a mother divorcing her husband after becoming a famous singer. In a bold move to pursue her dreams she had to leave her daughter Ellen, to be raised by her husband, Joe.

1998/1999 Cast

Shows

DateCityVenue
March 30, 1999Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
March 31, 1999Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
April 1, 1999Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
April 2, 1999Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
April 3, 1999Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
April 4, 1999Washington, D.C.Warner Theatre
April 13, 1999AkronAkron Civic Theatre
April 14, 1999AkronAkron Civic Theatre
April 15, 1999CincinnatiTaft Theatre
April 16, 1999CincinnatiTaft Theatre
April 17, 1999CincinnatiTaft Theatre
April 18, 1999CincinnatiTaft Theatre
April 20, 1999TulsaBrady Theatre
April 21, 1999TulsaBrady Theatre
April 22, 1999Kansas CityKansas City Convention & Entertainment Center
April 23, 1999Kansas CityKansas City Convention & Entertainment Center
April 24, 1999Kansas CityKansas City Convention & Entertainment Center
April 25, 1999Kansas CityKansas City Convention & Entertainment Center
April 27, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
April 28, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
April 29, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
April 30, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 1, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 2, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 4, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 5, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 6, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 7, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 8, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 9, 1999New York CityBeacon Theatre
May 11, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic Center
May 12, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic Center
May 13, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic Center
May 14, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic Center
May 15, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic Center
May 16, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic Center
May 18, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 19, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 20, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 21, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 22, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 23, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 25, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 26, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 27, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 28, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 29, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center
May 30, 1999HoustonWortham Theater Center

The Band

  • Elvin Ross - Musical Director/Keybaords
  • John Forbes - Keyboards
  • Mike Frazier - Bass
  • Marcus Green - Drums

Musical Numbers

All songs written and/or arranged by Tyler Perry and Elvin D. Ross.
  • "Overture" - Band
  • "I Know I've Been Changed" - Mary
  • "Just Because God Said It" or "Don't Be Discouraged" - Sister Lewis
  • "More Than Just a Sin" - Ellen
  • "I Should Have Been There" - Mary
  • "If I Knew What To Do" - Mitch
  • "I'm Still Wearing Your Name" - Fanny
  • "Gotta Move Blues" - Joe
  • "Old Time Mix" - Millie, Mary, Ellen
  • "She's Gonna Live" - Ellen and Johnny
  • "He Will Take Away All Your Pain / I Know I've Been Changed" - Company

Trivia

  • This is the debut play of Tyler Perry.
  • In this play, Tyler Perry portrays Joe, a character still being portrayed by Perry in his movies.
  • While existing as one of Perry's first plays, it is one of the very least few that is not available on DVD.
  • *The show was later supposed to be taped in 2002, and then in 2003. The plans weren't followed through for unknown reasons.
  • "More Than Just A Sin" would later be included as part of the filmed version of "Why Did I Get Married? in 2005.
  • This arrangement of the "Old Time Mix" would later be reused in 2002's "Madea's Family Reunion.
  • Chandra Currelly, Ms. Millie in the show, subs in for the voice of Sister Lewis on the play's soundtrack recording, performing the show original "Don't Be Discouraged" in place of LaShun's "Just Because God Said It."