Enthusiasts of the iconic movie "Jason's Lyric" have the opportunity to watch the theatrical adaptation in a location close to them.
The production, led by Je'Caryous Johnson, features Allen Payne returning as Jason alongside Eva Marcille, known for her part in "All the Queen’s Men." The premiere took place in 1994, with Jada Pinkett originating the role of Lyric.
A great deal has occurred in my life during these past years. After making numerous films, I worked on a television series with Tyler Perry for two decades. Additionally, I spent twenty years performing onstage alongside Je'Caryous Johnson," stated Payne. "Throughout the entire run of 'The House of Payne,' where I still need to film an additional season once this project concludes, I continued to be active on stage with Je'Caryous.
The upcoming 20th season of "House of Payne," produced by Perry, is approaching swiftly, with Payne once more leading the cast. Outside of working on Perry’s production, he has been involved in theater. Recently, he performed in the theatrical adaptation of "New Jack City." He notes that since these films attract a loyal audience, those viewers often follow them to the live performances as well.
“If you have a film that speaks to the traditional Black experience, then it's a broad audience. If it's niche, a little group, then it’s not going to speak to everyone,” said Payne. “Everyone resonates with the story already as a film, then what happens when you do the play, it's almost like ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ right? They're giving you your lines.”
Marcille said she appreciated seeing the various representations of Black life portrayed in the film – and now on the stage.
“One thing that I love more than anything is to see myself on screen. And I don't mean Eva – I mean someone that is me: my aunt, my mom, my sister, my stories, my life, my brothers. And ‘Jason's Lyric’ is that movie. It's a movie that let us, as Black people, see ourselves on screen, see that our stories were not thrown away,” said the former “America’s Next Top Model” winner.
The play also stars Treach who was in the original film, as well as R&B star K. Michelle, Tyirin Turner, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Victoria Rowell.