Jason's Lyric Live!

JE’CARYOUS JOHNSON PRESENTS
JASON’S LYRIC LIVE!,
A STAR-STUDDED EVENT BROUGHT TO
PHILADELPHIA BY ENSEMBLE ARTS
AND THE TOURING CO.,
 APRIL 3 – 4, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 6, 2025) – Ensemble Arts Philly, in association with The Touring Co, is proud to present Je’Caryous Johnson’s stage adaptation of Jason’s Lyric at the Miller Theater on April 3, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. and April 4, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release, award-winning playwright and visionary producer Je'Caryous Johnson is transforming the beloved film into an immersive theatrical experience.

Jason's Lyric Live! follows Jason Alexander, a young man striving to escape the cycle of trauma and violence that has plagued his family in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Haunted by his late father’s violent legacy and torn by loyalty to his troubled brother, Joshua, Jason dreams of a better life. When he meets Lyric, a woman with her own aspirations, their love offers him hope for a future free from his past. But as Joshua’s life spirals out of control, Jason faces an impossible choice between loyalty to family and the promise of a life filled with love and self-discovery. Set to soulful R&B and hip-hop and brought to life with dynamic stage direction, Jason's Lyric Live! explores the power of love, the burden of trauma, and the courage to forge a new path.

The star-studded cast is led by Allen Payne (House of Payne, New Jack City), reprising his iconic role as Jason, with Eva Marcille (All the Queen’s Men) as Lyric, Treach (Naughty by Nature) as Alonzo, Tyrin Turner (Menace II Society) as Josh, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (The Jacksons: An American Dream) as Maddog, and K. Michelle (Love & Hip Hop, chart-topping R&B artist) as Marti.

"Jason’s Lyric Live! is not simply recreating this early 90s story; Je’Caryous Johnson has reimagined it for the stage with a perspective that honors its roots while inviting audiences to explore deeper, more nuanced emotional landscapes,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “The fresh adaptation breathes new life into a tale of love, resilience, and transformation, offering a live, theatrical experience that's as powerful and poignant as the original film."

Je'Caryous Johnson's adaptation brings these characters to life with a dynamic cast, employing powerful dialogue, emotive performances, and a keen attention to the emotional arcs that define the film’s storyline. The production features evocative settings and original music that hones in on the emotional landscape of the narrative, enhancing the dramatic elements that audiences originally connected with in the film.

Other featured upcoming performances include David Nihill: Shelf Help Tour (March 6, 2025, Perelman Theater); Sheng Wang (March 7, 2025, Miller Theater); Sh!t-faced Shakespeare®: Much Ado About Nothing (March 8, 2025, Perelman Theater); Tango After Dark (March 12, 2025, Miller Theater); The RESET – An Immersive Sound Experience with Davin Youngs (March 29, 2025, Miller Theater); An Evening with David Sedaris (April 5, 2025, Miller Theater); Bitch Sesh: The You’ve Got a Friend in Me Tour (April 12, 2025, Miller Theater); and PHILADANCO! Relentless Resident Visions (April 25 – 27, 2025, Perelman Theater).

Tickets
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at  www.ensembleartsphilly.org. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See  www.ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.

Je'Caryous Johnson Presents Jason's Lyric Live!
Miller Theater
Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 4, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. 

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