Jason’s Lyric LIVE” Ends National Tour in Dallas with Allen Payne, Treach, Eva Marcille & K. Michelle

The stage play Jason’s Lyric LIVE wrapped its national tour in Dallas at The Black Academy of Arts & Letters, featuring Allen Payne and Treach reprising their original film roles, Eva Marcille as Lyric, and K. Michelle in her emotional final performance.

Dallas audiences were treated to an emotional and musically-charged performance as Jayson’s Lyric LIVE wrapped its national tour at The Black Academy of Arts & Letters. Presented by Je’Caryous Johnson, the stage adaptation brought new life to the 1994 film Jason’s Lyric, giving fans—both new and old—a gripping, soulful experience that stayed true to the original while embracing the spirit of live theater.

Eva Marcille as Lyric shares a quiet, tender moment from the balcony above Allen Payne as Jason during Jason’s Lyric LIVE in Dallas, capturing the emotional core of the story’s love narrative.

For me, this was a first introduction to the story, having never seen the film. And before you try to “revoke” my Black card, I was barely 5 years old when Jayson’s Lyric made it’s theatrical debut and it was not a movie that my mom made me watch like she Claudine and Imitation of Life. Experiencing Jayson’s Lyric through the play made the narrative feel immediate and raw, with themes of love, trauma, and redemption unfolding in real time on stage.

Treach, of Naughty by Nature fame, reprised his role from the original movie, delivering a gritty, emotional performance that resonated with the audience. One of the unexpected highlights of the evening was learning that the show I attended marked the final performance of K. Michelle’s run in the role. Her presence added vocal power and dramatic nuance, and the cast as a whole gave strong, heartfelt performances.

Treach as Alonzo (center), Tyrin Turner as Josh (right), and Shariff Sinclair as Ron (left) perform a tense scene in front of a symbolic brick house set during the Dallas showing of Jason’s Lyric LIVE at The Black Academy of Arts & Letters.

The musical elements woven throughout the production helped move the story along and deepened the emotional impact of key moments. At times, the musical numbers extended the runtime a bit more than expected, but they largely felt justified and well-executed.

What disappointed me, however, was the behavior of some in the audience. A noticeable number of attendees began exiting before the final curtain—a gesture that felt disrespectful to the cast and to the storytelling journey they had committed to delivering. Theater etiquette matters, especially when artists are giving their all. Dallas, we must do better.

Overall, Jayson’s Lyric LIVE offered a moving theatrical experience and a unique way to revisit a classic Black film through a modern stage lens. With Dallas as the tour’s final stop, this performance marked both a celebration and a bittersweet goodbye.

For more information about the production, visit: jecaryous.com/theater/jasons-lyric