After taking some time off to recover from the death of his beloved mother, writer, producer, and director Tyler Perry is bringing his signature character back to the stage in a new production set to tour in 2010.

Tyler’s mother, Willie Maxine Perry, died Dec. 8 at the age of 64.

“My mother was the apple of my eye, so this has been difficult to say the least….I’ll say more about her as I am able. It’s just too soon to talk publicly about it.”

In a statement on his website Saturday, Perry says he’s reviving gun-toting grandma Madea on stage for the first time in five years. Madea’s Big Happy Family will begin touring in El Paso, Texas on Jan. 4, before hitting Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, and Portland.

“‘Madea’s Big Happy Family’ is my new play. Trust me when I tell you, I need to laugh and make you laugh even harder. All I want to say is that if you have not seen ‘Madea’ live on stage you haven’t seen Madea at all….”