The popular movie Purple Rain by Prince is being adapted into a Broadway musical.
The 1984 movie will come to the stage with a book from the Pulitzer prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who is currently receiving rave reviews for the family drama Appropriate starring Sarah Paulson and Elle Fanning.
The music and lyrics will be provided by Prince, while the direction of the musical will be handled by Lileana Blain-Cruz, who was nominated for a Tony award. She is well-known for her 2022 production of Thornton Wilder’s satirical play “The Skin of Our Teeth.”
“It has been almost four decades since the release of Prince’s iconic film Purple Rain, which captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. In honor of Prince and his enduring legacy, we are proud to present this stage adaptation of the beloved story,” expressed L Londell McMillan, chairman of The Northstar Group, and Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music. “We are excited to collaborate with our Broadway partners and creative team to bring a theatrical element to the film’s fictional narrative. We look forward to introducing a new generation to the magic of Purple Rain and allowing fans of the original film and album to experience its power once again, this time live.”
The film “Purple Rain” was awarded an Oscar for its outstanding original score and grossed nearly $100 million at the global box office. The accompanying album topped the charts in the United States for 24 consecutive weeks and sold over 25 million copies. Popular songs from the album include “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “I Would Die 4 U.”
The movie follows a musician as they navigate challenges in their personal life, competition in the music industry, and a developing love interest. This marked Prince’s first appearance on the big screen.
In 2018, Universal purchased the rights to a collection of Prince’s songs for a potential movie musical. It is currently unknown if this project is still in the works.
In 2016, Prince passed away after a successful career that included selling more than 100 million records worldwide.
Broadway will be featuring musicals with soundtracks by Alicia Keys, Huey Lewis and the News, and The Who this year.
Source: theguardian.com
