'Purple Rain' Prince musical to hit Broadway in 2027

Prince's iconic "Purple Rain" is officially making its way to Broadway, with producers confirming the hit musical will open at New York City's Majestic Theatre in April 2027. Previews are scheduled to begin on March 12, 2027, before the show officially opens on April 12, bringing one of music's most celebrated stories to the Broadway stage. The production features more than 20 of Prince's biggest hits, including When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U, Take Me With U, and The Beautiful Ones. Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson, sold more than 150 million records worldwide during his career before his death in 2016 at the age of 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose.

The Broadway adaptation follows an acclaimed Minneapolis run in Prince's hometown during the 2024-25 theater season. Tony nominee Saheem Ali will direct the new production from a book by Peter Duchan, replacing the original script by Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Returning from the Minneapolis production are music supervisor Jason Michael Webb, choreographer Ebony Williams, and Prince collaborators Bobby Z and Morris Hayes, who will again serve as music advisers. No casting has yet been announced.

Set in Minneapolis in 1984, the musical follows The Kid, a gifted but troubled young musician determined to break into the exploding world of music television while battling personal demons that threaten to destroy both his career and his future. The stage production closely follows the plot of Prince's beloved 1984 film, which grossed more than $70 million worldwide, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, and was added to the National Film Registry in 2019.

Producer Orin Wolf said Prince's music remains as powerful today as it was more than four decades ago. "Prince is, without doubt, one of the rarest, most brilliant musicians we've ever had," Wolf told Deadline. "What he accomplished with Purple Rain — the song, the album and the film — is a testament to the art of making music at the highest level."

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