The world premiere of Purple Rain — the Broadway-bound stage adaptation of Prince’s 1984 musical film — has found its Kid and Apollonia. Musician-songwriter Kris Kollins will make his professional stage debut as The Kid, while Rachel Webb, fresh off her run as Juliet in the first North American tour of & Juliet, will step into the role of Apollonia.
Based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn, Purple Rain follows the electrifying fictional journey of The Kid, a gifted but troubled Minneapolis musician navigating rivalries, romance, and a tumultuous home life while fighting to find his voice.
With a book by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Appropriate), music and lyrics by Prince, direction by Lileana Blain-Cruz (The Skin of Our Teeth), and choreography by Ebony Williams, the musical will run October 16 through November 16 at Hennepin Arts’ State Theatre in Minneapolis — Prince’s hometown — before its expected Broadway transfer.
Kollins, a Washington D.C.-based singer/songwriter discovered through a nationwide social media search, dropped his debut EP Pistachio last year. His singles “GSAW” and “River” are featured in Paramount+’s Noah’s Arc: The Movie. “From our first encounter with his original music and socials, we were absolutely floored by Kris’s gifts — his musicianship, his voice, his magnetism,” Jacobs-Jenkins shared. “Kris is the real deal, and we can’t wait for audiences to see him bring The Kid to life.”
Webb, whose credits also include For the Girls with Kristin Chenoweth and Hip Hop Broadway: A Musical Revue alongside Jennifer Holliday, made a lasting impression on the creative team. “She is a stunning presence with an incredible voice, who inspired us to really reimagine what was possible for the role of Apollonia,” said Blain-Cruz.
The creative team includes scenic design by David Zinn, video and projection design by Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, costume design by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting design by Yi Zhao, sound design by Palmer Hefferan, and hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan. Jason Michael Webb will serve as music supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator, with longtime Prince collaborators Bobby Z and Morris Hayes on board as music advisers. Casting is by Taylor Williams.