Madea's Big Happy Family is a 2010 American stage play created, produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons, Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam, and Chandra Currelley-Young as Shirley. Perry began writing the show after the death of his mother Willie Maxine Perry in December 2009. The main character of Shirley is based on her. The live performance that was released on DVD was taped in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in July 2010. The DVD was released on November 23, 2010.