NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ WCBS 880 NEWS) – "Purple Rain," a movie about Prince's journey to becoming an iconic rockstar, is being adapted into a Broadway musical, according to a website dedicated to the production.
The musical is based on the 1984 movie which won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score.
The stage adaptation of "Purple Rain" will be based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn. Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, is writer of the musical. His work includes “Appropriate.”
Directing the show is Tony Award nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz, known for her revival of “The Skin of Our Teeth” at Lincoln Center, which included material by Jacobs-Jenkins.
The story follows the Kid (played by Prince), a rising Minneapolis musician struggling with his anger and home life, as he leads his band, the Revolution. While navigating the club scene and a turbulent relationship with the singer Apollonia, he also contends with competition from musician Morris, who threatens both his career and love life.
“We can’t think of a more fitting tribute than to honor Prince and the ‘Purple Rain’ legacy with this stage adaptation of the beloved story,” L. Londell McMillan, chairman of The NorthStar Group, and Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music, told Variety. “We are thrilled with our Broadway partners and creative team, who are bringing a theatricality to the film’s original fictional story. We can’t wait for a new generation to discover ‘Purple Rain’ and for lovers of the original film and album to experience its power once again, this time live.”
Prince's rise to superstardom was marked by the success of "1999" and "Purple Rain," featuring No. 1 hits "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy." A seven-time Grammy winner, he produced numerous albums, including "Diamonds and Pearls," "The Gold Experience," and "Musicology."
Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, due to an accidental drug overdose, according to reports.
The show's producers will announce additional production details and timing in the coming months, according to Variety.