Laugh to Keep from Crying

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.

• 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 (Taped Version)
• Rachel Richards as Jane
• Theo Williamson as Donnie
• Anthony Dalton (Taped Version)
• Greg Stewart as Eddie
• Celestin Cornielle (Taped Version)

• 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

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

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Category:Plays by Tyler Perry

Category:African-American plays

Category:2009 plays

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