It’s been 40 years since the film topped the box office, winning an Oscar for its soundtrack and helping cement Prince’s role as a pop icon.
The 1984 film follows an emerging rock musician who escapes a tumultuous home life though his music.
According to reports the stage version will be based on the original screenplay, which was written by Albert Magnoli (who also directed the original film) and William Blinn.
Orin Wolf, the producer who previously helped bring the Tony-winning adaptation of The Band’s Visit to the stage, and who is currently backing the theatrical adaptation of another music industry movie, Buena Vista Social Club, announced on Monday that he is developing the musical, based on the 1984 film.
The stage adaptation will feature a book by the playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Lileana Blain-Cruz is set to direct.
The work will feature iconic tracks from the film’s chart-busting soundtrack which include When Doves Cry and Let’s Go Crazy – which both topped the Billboard charts upon their release – as well as title track Purple Rain, which peaked at Number Two on the same chart. The album sold over 25 million copies.
“We can’t think of a more fitting tribute than to honour 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 said in a statement.
“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.”
Additional details about where the show will debut and when, are yet to be announced.
Prince passed away in 2016, aged 57.
