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A stage adaptation of “Purple Rain,” the 1984 cult classic film starring Prince, will debut on Broadway in 2027.
The musical will run at the Majestic Theatre, with previews beginning on March 12 ahead of opening night
on April 12. Producers announced the news on the 42nd anniversary of the movie, which became a box office hit with nearly $100 million worldwide and inspired the mega-selling album of the same name.
“Prince is, without doubt, one of the rarest, most brilliant musicians we’ve ever had,” said producer Orin Wolf. “What he accomplished with ‘Purple Rain’ in 1984 — the song, the album and the film — is a testament to the art of making music and showcases it at the highest level. It will be every bit as exciting for audiences today as it was when we first heard these songs on our boom boxes.”
Here’s the show’s official logline: “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 stage adaptation features over 20 of Prince’s iconic hits, including “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “Take Me With You” and “The Beautiful Ones.”
Released in 1984, “Purple Rain” marked Prince’s film debut. In addition to box office success, the “Purple Rain” soundtrack album received two Grammys, three American Music Awards, two Brit Awards and an Academy Award for best original song score. The album remained at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks.
“Purple Rain” will be directed by Saheem Ali (“Buena Vista Social Club”), with a book by playwright and screenwriter Peter Duchan (“Dogfight”), a music team led by Jason Michael Webb (“MJ the Musical) and choreography by Ebony Williams. Bobby Z and Morris Hayes, both of whom worked with Prince for years as bandmates and musical collaborators, serve the production as music advisers. The musical was first staged in 2025 at Hennepin Theatre Trust’s historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, where the musical superstar was born.
“Prince was an icon and ‘Purple Rain’ is iconic; one of the best musical films of my generation. I watched it as a teenager in Kenya and though I was appropriately scandalized, it never left me, especially the music,” Ali said. “Our aim is not only to honor the legacy that Prince built, but to make his timeless music feel urgent and alive, passing it on to the next generation of fans who will make it their own.”
Added Duchan: “Prince gave us the blueprint for this story, and our job has been to make sure his voice and music lead the show and to celebrate his remarkable legacy. It’s a privilege to help bring this story to the stage, and we’re all excited to share it with fans of the film and the album around the world.”
Webb noted the aim of “Purple Rain” isn’t about “recreating what already exists,” but rather “it’s about honoring the spirit, fearlessness and musical genius that made it timeless.”
