‘Purple Rain’ Musical Headed To Broadway In 2027

Purple Rain, the musical adapted from Prince‘s 1984 feature film and and Grammy-winning album of the same name, is coming to Broadway in 2027. Producer Orin Wolf said Monday that the production will premiere at New York’s Majestic Theatre beginning with previews on March 12, 2027. Opening night is April 12.

The musical features more than 20 Prince hits including “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “Take Me with You,” and “The Beautiful Ones.” Prince, (real name: Prince Rogers Nelson), the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who sold more than 150 million records, died in 2016 at age 57 of an accidental fentanyl overdose.

Purple Rain the musical originally took flight in Minneapolis, Prince’s hometown, at the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s State Theatre as part of its 2024-2025 season, with a book by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn, with music and lyrics by Prince. Lileana Blain-Cruz directed.

The Broadway adaptation now sees a book by Dogfight‘s Peter Duchan, with Tony nominee Saheem Ali (Buena Vista Social Club) directing. Back from the original production is music supervisor Jason Michael Webb (MJ the Musical) and choreographer Ebony Williams (Sneakerella). Bobby Z and Morris Hayes, who worked with Prince as bandmates and collaborators, return as music advisers.

No cast has been announced for the transfer, but the Twin Cities production starred newcomer Kris Kollins as The Kid, Rachel Webb as Apollonia, Jared Howelton as Morris and Leon Addison Brown as The Kid’s father.

The plot for the stage adaptation: Minneapolis, 1984. A new era of music television is creating overnight stars. A magnetic young performer known as “The Kid” seems like the perfect frontman to lead his bandmates to stardom. But when his past threatens everything he’s built, he’ll have to sing his way out of the darkness and into the spotlight where he belongs.

The plot hews closely to the Warner Bros film, which starred Prince and was directed by Albert Magnoli. It grossed more than $70 million worldwide, winning the Original Score Oscar, and was added to the National Film Registry in 2019.

“Prince is, without doubt, one of the rarest, most brilliant musicians we’ve ever had,” Wolf said in a release announcing the dates. “What he accomplished with Purple Rain — the song, the album and the film — is a testament to the art of making music and showcases it at the highest level. Having worked with Saheem Ali on Buena Vista Social Club, I’ve seen how he prioritizes serving the music, and I can’t wait to watch him, Peter Duchan, Ebony Williams, and Jason Michael Webb use Prince’s legendary music as the engine for this new production. It will be every bit as exciting for audiences today as it was when we first heard these songs on our boom boxes.”

The Broadway production has set scenic design by David Zinn, video & projection design by Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, costume design by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Gareth Owen, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan and makeup design by Kyle Krueger.