Prince’s Purple Rain Heading to the Stage From Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
(© Scott Penner/Wikimedia Commons)
A stage musical based on Prince’s film and album Purple Rain is in the works from playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Appropriate) and director Lileana Blain-Cruz (The Skin of Our Teeth).
Inspired by the screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn and featuring music and lyrics by Prince, Purple Rain is the story of “an up-and-coming rock musician in the Minneapolis club scene, as he contends with a tumultuous home environment, a rival band, and a budding romance.” Songs include the chart-toppers “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy,” as well as the Oscar-winning title track.
The original Purple Rain film soundtrack has sold over 25 million copies world wide and went Platinum 13 times. One of the greatest musicians of all time, Prince was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a seven-time Grammy winner. He died in 2016 at the age of 57.
Purple Rain is being shepherded to the stage by producer Orin Wolf (The Band’s Visit), L. Londell McMillan, chairman of The NorthStar Group, and Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music.
Further details have not yet been announced.
