Award-Winning Writer & Director Je’Caryous Johnson Casts Vivica A. Fox, Columbus Short, Carl Payne, Gary Dourdan & R&B Sensation Vivian Green To Bring Hit Movie Two Can Play That Game To The Stage
Los Angeles, CA – The original movie was met with rave reviews, instantly becoming a fan favorite and cult classic. Over the years, the media has lauded it a “turning point in movie history” and a “game changer.” It is the movie Two Can Play That Game.
Two Can Play That Game was released in 2001 by Sony/Screen Gems and written and directed by Mark A. Brown. Je’Caryous Johnson will be adapting the movie for stage, directing and serving as Executive Producer. Johnson shot to national theatre prominence when he turned the novels of popular African-American authors into hit plays, including Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends & Lovers and Cheaters. Johnson’s recent play, Married But Single sold out in theatres from coast to coast.
Staying true to one of the main elements that made Two Can Play That Game such a huge success was Johnson’s casting of actress Vivica A. Fox to reprise her role as the beautiful and savvy relationship guru Shanté Smith. Johnson has also assembled a who’s who of the film, TV and music world by recruiting Columbus Short, Porsha Williams, Gary Dourdan, Carl Payne, RonReaco Lee, Cocoa Brown and Vivian Green to bring the hit movie back to life on stage. Fans will get the real low down on everyday rules to relationships between men and women.
“Audiences across the country will be able to relive what made this movie unforgettable with the cast we have assembled,” said Johnson. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have this incredibly talented cast. And having Vivica’s stamp of approval and vote of confidence is truly icing on the cake.”
Vivica A. Fox is one of the most recognizable and revered stars in Hollywood. From roles in the blockbuster “Independence Day” films to even her current recurring role on the FOX hit television series “Empire,” Fox continues to make her presence and mark known. Columbus Short catapulted to mainstream prominence after starring in the movie Stomp The Yard and ABC’s hit show Scandal. Fox and Short will also be teaming up in the movie, True To The Game in September. Fans fell in love with Gary Dourdan, while playing Shazza on A Different World and became further captivated by him on CSI and Being Mary Jane. Carl Payne was everyone’s crazy friend Cole on Martin, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Porsha Williams raises the roof as one of the fan faves on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta and as co-host of the syndicated talk show Dish Nation, while Cocoa Brown spiced up things as everyone’s funny girl most recently on Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse and RonReaco Lee currently lights up TV screens everywhere on Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse. With hits like, “Emotional Roller Coaster” to “Get Right Back to My Baby” to her new single, “I Don’t Know,” R&B sensation Vivian Green is the ultimate songbird.
“Bringing Two Can Play That Game to the stage is going to be EPIC,” said Fox. “I want fans to laugh and cry and high five and also learn some new dating rules when they come to see it. ”
In Two Can Play That Game, Je’Caryous Johnson will hold true to the story that fans fell in love with 16 years ago with some new twists and turns to the plot. When it comes to matters of the heart, Shanté Smith (Vivica A. Fox) is so adept at navigating the waters of romance that her girlfriends look to her for relationship advice. But soon, Shante’s own relationship becomes the example when her boyfriend, Keith (Columbus Short), is caught red-handed stepping out with his co-worker and her archrival, Conny (Porsha Williams). However, when Shanté institutes a plan full of tricks and games to get Keith to act right, he, with the help of his friend Tony (Carl Payne), fire back with a quickness, letting Shanté know that “Two Can Play That Game”.
Fall 2017 Tour Schedule:
Oct. 13-14 Memphis, TN Cannon Center
Oct.15 St. Louis, MO Peabody Opera House
Oct. 19 Buffalo, NY Shea’s PAC
Oct. 20-21 Detroit, MI Music Hall
Oct. 22 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square
Oct. 27-28 Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theatre
Oct. 29 Long Beach, CA Terrace Theater
Nov. 3-4 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
Nov. 5 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Theater
Nov. 10-12 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
Nov. 17-19 Houston, TX Hobby Center
Dec. 1 Columbus, OH Palace Theatre
Dec. 2-3 Chicago, IL Arie Crown Theater
For more information, log onto www.jecaryous.com.
