He was born in Minneapolis. He recorded the music in Minneapolis. He shot most of the movie in Minneapolis. Now Minneapolis will be where Prince's "Purple Rain" stage adaptation debuts.
Producer Orin Wolf says the stage adaptation of Purple Rain will makes its world premier at the Hennepin Theatre Trust's State Theatre next spring.
Wolf announced the development of the adaptation based on the 1984 movie and album last month.
In a statement, Prince's former manager L. Londell McMillan said Prince talked about adapting "Purple Rain" for the stage for years, and that it was only fitting the world premiere musical version would be in the city where it all began.
As previously announced, this stage adaptation will feature a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn; music and lyrics by Prince; and direction by Tony Award-nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz.
Much of the film was shot in and around Prince's hometown of Minneapolis and concert footage shot at the iconic First Ave. in downtown Minneapolis, where Prince also debuted the music for the album. The live version of the song "Purple Rain" was recorded at the club in 1983.
Prince was found dead in 2016 at Paisley Park at the age of 57.
It's not the first big Broadway show to debut in Minnesota. Famously in 1997, the stage version of "The Lion King" made its debut in the Twin Cities.