Art Party

Young Professionals turn a ballet stage into a Michael Jackson dance party —Thriller mob included

The stage of the Houston Ballet Center for Dance's black box theater was home to a different type of artsy gathering Saturday night. It may be where the company refines its gestures, but on this evening it was where the tunes of Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses and Michael Jackson inspired young professionals and friends to bust a move — in between sampling performance vignettes from downtown's Theater District organizations.

As if anyone could resist the urge to join in an impromptu "Thriller" synchronized mob. That would be the doing of DJ James Reed — and the flowing open bar outfitted with Saint Arnold Brewing Co. suds.

As if anyone could resist the urge to join in an impromptu "Thriller" synchronized mob.

Houston Downtown Alliance's "Raising the Curtain" evening, presented by Capital One Bank, was the overture to Theater District Open House on Sunday, a free day-long event that teases guests with what's on tap for the 2012-13 season. The cocktail affair honored former Houston Ballet managing directorC.C. Conner and Thompson & Knight attorney/HDA board chair Geoff Long.

Houston Ballet II's elegant and poised pas de deux from Sylvia enchanted the more than 300 patrons. Though it was Houston Grand Opera heartthrob baritone Liam Bonner whose animated aria Largo al factotum from Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia turned on the heat.

HDA's Andrew Huang tickled the ivories and accompanied chanteuse Lena Asinovsky in "Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde, set to run at Theatre Under the Stars Oct. 9-21. Closing the live entertainment was Divisi Strings.

Amid tasting sweet and savory treats from Sambuca, guests posed for the Monsterbooth and a red carpet photo station by Cadillac and captured mementos of this lively party.

Getting a taste of downtown Houston's cultural scene were Cadillac's Jenny McNeil, Nic Phillips, Michael Coppens, Heather Pray, Karl Lin, HGO's Perryn Leech, Downtown District executive director Bob Eury and his wife Gayle, Da Camera's Sarath Rothenberg and Leo Boucher, Alley Theatre's Dean Gladden, 20K Group's Courtenay Siegfried, Christina Gorczynski, Leila Khaleghi, Laura Medard, Houston Symphony's Glenn Taylor and Holly Cassard, Jen Pearsall, Fash Barvarz, Nels Hansen, Jaime Fruge and Joseph West.

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taking center stage

Stage adaptation of iconic Black movie Jason's Lyric to debut in Houston

Courtesy of Jason's Lyric

Most of the movie's cast will appear in the play.

Next year, Houston writer/producer/director/promoter Je’Caryous Johnson will be bringing another beloved Black movie to the live stage.

Jason’s Lyric will join New Jack City and Set It Off in the lineup of ‘90s Black-movie favorites that Johnson has adapted for the stage. The 1994 made-in-Houston drama stars Allen Payne and a pre-Will Smith Jada Pinkett as young lovers trying to maintain a relationship as conflicts and obstacles keep getting in the way.

Jason’s Lyric Live will go on a nationwide, 22-city tour, premiering right here in H-Town on Thursday, February 13 — just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“Houston is my home, and bringing Jason’s Lyric Live to life here first is my way of paying homage to the city and its people who inspired this story,” Johnson said in a statement. “This is more than a play; it’s a love letter to the community.”

Payne will reprise his role as Jason, with actress/model Eva Marcille stepping in Pinkett’s role as Lyric. Naughty by Nature rapper Treach, who played Lyric’s criminal big brother Alonzo in the movie, will also return to the role for the stage production. Tyrin Turner (Menace II Society), K. Michelle (Love & Hip Hop), and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Welcome Back, Kotter) will round out the cast.

"Jason’s Lyric is one of the films that defined my career as an actor,” Payne said. “To bring it to life on stage for audiences who loved the movie — and a new generation experiencing it for the first time — is an incredible honor."

Marcille is also psyched for the show, taking on the role that Pinkett memorably brought to life. "Lyric is a character who embodies resilience and hope, and I’m honored to bring her story to life on stage,” Marcille said.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, December 13, at 10 am. For a full list of dates and ticket information, visit the website.