“a new chapter in the urban theater circuit as a whole—a genre that has been dogged by criticism from some Blacks in the traditional theater. Perry, as the most visibly recognized player in the circuit, has felt the brunt of this criticism.” ‘They say that Tyler Perry has set the Black race back some 500 years with these types of “chitlin’ circuit” shows. The problem with the naysayers is that they don’t take the opportunity to see my shows,’ Perry argues. ‘With my shows, I try to build a bridge that marries what’s deemed “legitimate theater” and so-called “chitlin’ circuit theater,” and I think I’ve done pretty well with that, in bringing people in to enjoy a more elevated level of entertainment.
The Chitlin’ Circuit
The Underground Royal Peacock Atlanta
The Carver Theatre Tall Paul’s Funland, The Persian Room in Birmingham, Alabama;
the Cotton Club, Small’s Paradise and the Apollo Theater in New York City;
Perv’s Place Robert’s Show Lounge, Club DeLisa and the Regal Theatre in Chicago;
The Howard Theatre, The Mark 4 in Washington, D.C.;
The Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia;
The Royal Theatre, The Latin Casino in Baltimore;
The Casino Royale, The Mozambique, The 20 Grand, Roostertail Ben’s High Chapparell, Ethel’s the Fox Theatre in Detroit;
the Victory Grill in Austin, Texas;
the Hippodrome Theatre in Richmond, Virginia;
the Ritz Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida;
The Madam C. J. Walker Theatre on Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis.
Mr. B’s Evansville, Ind
The Bottoms Up , Columbus , Ohio
The Pine Grill , Buffalo, New York
The Orbit Lounge, The Night Life, Huntsville Ala
The Sugar Shack, Boston, Mass
The Mardi Gras, Mobile, Ala
Leo’s Casino, Cleveland, Ohio
The Music Box, Cleveland, Ohio
Gleason Show Bar, Cleveland, Ohio
Buster Inland Beach, Jeannette, Penn
