DeVon Franklin is bringing something deeply personal—and boldly different—to the stage this weekend.
The best-selling author, film producer, preacher, and actor is making his Off-Broadway debut with his one-man show Be True: My Journey from Breakdown to Breakthrough, a live theatrical experience running July 18–20 at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City, in partnership with Audible.
In a recent conversation on the Blex Media presents This Might Get Me Canceled podcast, Franklin described Be True as his most vulnerable and revealing work yet.
“So many times we go through heartbreak, we go through breakdowns—and we don’t always see how those lead to breakthrough,” he shared. “This show is my healing journey over the past few years. I want people to laugh, cry, and most of all—I want them to leave inspired.”
What sets Be True apart is not just its raw storytelling—it’s Franklin’s decision to speak publicly about pain and identity from a male perspective.
“We often see healing journeys told through the lens of women. But as men, we rarely express what we’re carrying. We’re taught to suppress it,” he said. “I wanted to model a different kind of manhood—one where vulnerability is strength.”
During development and rehearsals, Franklin said he found himself laughing at some moments and crying through others. The show walks audiences through heartbreak, public scrutiny, spiritual struggle, and ultimately, renewal.
“The process of writing this gave me the space to process what I had lived through,” he said. “It’s been cathartic. And now I’m hoping it will be the same for audiences.”
The show has already had a dry run with a live audience—one that included both men and women who, according to Franklin, were deeply moved.
“Men came up to me saying I gave language to emotions they’d never been able to articulate. And women said it helped them understand what men go through in silence.”
In addition to Be True, Franklin is continuing to expand his creative footprint. He stars in the BET+ series Divorced Sistas as Pastor Jefferson—a character he says is the opposite of him in many ways. “If he saw Be True, I’d hope he’d learn how to express himself without hiding behind anger,” he said with a laugh.
Franklin is also behind the upcoming Netflix project Ruth and Boaz, a modern-day retelling of the Biblical love story, starring Phylicia Rashad as Naomi.
“Working with her was divine. One day on set, she pulled me aside and said, ‘Take this in. Don’t miss the beauty of this moment.’ It was something I really needed to hear,” he recalled.
Another project in development is a 7th Heaven reboot, which Franklin is producing under his CBS Studios deal. While he remained tight-lipped about specifics, he did confirm that the reboot will modernize the beloved family drama for a new generation.
“We’re honoring the essence, but making it contemporary. My hope is that longtime fans and brand new viewers both find something meaningful in it.”
Still, through all the producing, acting, and storytelling, Be True is a cornerstone moment for Franklin—an artistic risk born out of personal truth.
“We all have a story, and it’s the only thing we truly own,” he said. “This show is me owning mine, fully.”
Tickets for Be True are available now at audiblexminetta.com.