As the lights dimmed, a purple-lit “Purple Rain” sign lifted up from the stage while the dramatic music rose alongside the audience’s excitement. They were immediately thrown into a First Avenue concert, and the dramatized story of Prince began.
The pre-Broadway musical “Purple Rain” opened at Minneapolis’ State Theatre on Nov. 5. The show is a dramatized version of musician Prince Rogers Nelson’s life and draws inspiration from the 1984 film and Prince album, “Purple Rain.” The show’s creative storyline is something that any audience can enjoy, although certain aspects of the stage production fell short.
The plot follows the ups and downs of the relationship between The Kid, representing Prince, and Appolonia, a server at First Avenue who meets The Kid by happenstance. The production is a jukebox musical, meaning that the songs were drawn from outside media into a soundtrack for the musical. The jukebox style made much more sense for this production than other shows of the genre because the songs used were written by Prince and blended into the plot about him smoothly.
The beginning of the show features high-intensity, fast, and energetic choreography by Ebony Williams, which greatly adds a degree of excitement and intensity while setting the tone for the rest of the show.
In the lead role of The Kid, first-time actor Kris Kollins brought an energetic, authentic, and unique multi-octave voice to a demanding role that was executed excellently. Starring alongside Kollins is Rachel Webb as Apollonia, who was perfect in her role as a grounding character who contrasts the chaos of The Kid through her calm approach to chaotic moments.
There were disappointing aspects of the production, however. One instance of this occurred during Act Two, during a “television special” within the show. A large screen flew into the stage displaying onstage cameras. These cameras showed the manufactured order of what the creative team wanted you to see during the chaotic scene, a creative but questionable way to direct the audience’s attention. It made the performance feel more like a movie than a stage production.
It also heavily used lighting, pointing at both the stage and the audience, to engage the viewers in concert scenes. Bright flashes made scenes more chaotic, and colorful lights brought calmness. The set featured balconies, a rolling stage, and a consistent purple theme. It was perfectly matched to the show’s Minneapolis setting and paired well with the innovative projections.
Overall, the show brought an excitement to the stage where even non-Prince fans could enjoy the show in its entirety as a celebration of the life of a music legend.
A Broadway premiere date has not yet been announced for the production after its time in Minneapolis. “Purple Rain” runs until Nov. 23 at the State Theatre.
