Lin‑Manuel Miranda Joins Broadway’s ‘Purple Rain’ as Producer

The Pioneer Press has reported that Hamilton creator Lin‑Manuel Miranda and his father, Luis Miranda Jr., have officially joined the upcoming Broadway production of Purple Rain as producers and investors. Their level of creative involvement remains unclear, but the addition of the Mirandas brings major visibility and industry weight to the project as it moves toward its New York debut.

The Broadway run is set to begin previews at the Majestic Theatre on March 12, with opening night scheduled for April 12. The musical, first announced in early 2024, adapts the 1984 film that transformed Prince into a global superstar. Its soundtrack became Prince’s first No. 1 album and famously held the top spot for 24 consecutive weeks.

Before heading to Broadway, the show premiered at the State Theatre in Minneapolis with a reported budget of $26.5 million. Newcomer Kris Kollins starred in the production, which ran for nearly six weeks and underwent significant changes during previews. The official opening night was shortened by about half an hour, and the premiere drew notable attendees including Dave Pirner, Bobby Z, Spike Lee and Minneapolis legend Cornbread Harris Jr.

The Mirandas saw the show shortly before its Minneapolis opening. Luis Miranda Jr. later announced their involvement on X, writing: “Prince gave the world one of the greatest albums ever made, and now that story takes the stage. We can’t wait for you to see it. Next year we’re gonna party like it’s 2027.”

The Pioneer Press notes that the Broadway version will differ substantially from the Minneapolis staging. Saheem Ali has replaced Lileana Blain‑Cruz as director, while Peter Duchan has taken over book‑writing duties from Branden Jacobs‑Jenkins. Lead producer Orin Wolf, who previously collaborated with Ali on Buena Vista Social Club, emphasised that Prince’s music remains the driving force behind the reworked production.

Wolf said he is eager to see Ali, Duchan, choreographer Ebony Williams and music supervisor Jason Michael Webb build the new version around Prince’s “legendary music,” promising an experience as exciting today as when fans first heard the songs.

The article closes by highlighting Miranda’s career achievements, including In the Heights, Hamilton, and his work on Moana, Vivo and Encanto, along with his Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer accolades.

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