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Purpose Broadway

Purpose

Run Time:
2hr 50m
Ages: 12+
Opened: March 17, 2025
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Purpose Broadway Tickets, News, Info & More


Spirited, hilarious and filled with intrigue, a new play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (who won a Tony Award in 2024 for Appropriate) comes to Broadway direct from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The epic family drama arrives with Two-time Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad at the helm.

The Broadway cast features Two-time Tony Award nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Harry Lennix, Jon Michael Hill, Glenn Davis, Alana Arenas, and Kara Young.

What's it all about? For decades, the influential Jasper family has been a pillar of Black American Politics: civil rights leaders, pastors and congressmen. But like all families, there are cracks and secrets just under the surface.

When the youngest son Nazareth returns home with an uninvited friend in tow, the family is forced into a reckoning with itself, its faith and the legacies of Black political power and familial duty.

Before arriving on Broadway, Purpose was commissioned by and had its World Premiere at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2024. The production received three 2024 Equity Jeff Awards including Outstanding Production of a Play.


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PREVIEW Purpose - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Purpose

PURPOSE
9 / 10

Jacobs-Jenkins is a fantastic storyteller, and it is possible to walk away from Purpose without considering any of the play’s further implications, simply having relished in his almost unparalleled gifts for dialogue and characterization. (It won’t be a surprise if he ends up with back-to-back Tony Awards.)

“Purpose” on Broadway and “Vanya” Downtown
9 / 10

Thankfully, the extended gestation also means that Rashad's production comes to New York from Chicago with much of its superb Steppenwolf cast intact. (Only Young and Jackson are new additions.) Every actor gets an aria-like monologue, which throws off the play's rhythm, but at least each one is a bravura showpiece. Perhaps that's where the real promise of Purpose in the idea that somehow every member of a family (or of a movement) can be sustained by our attention, rather than our worship. So much precious energy is wasted on building people into icons and tearing them down. Can there be a form of recognition that avoids celebrity? Steppenwolf's own ensemble model shows the way.

Video: Inside Opening Night of PURPOSE on Broadway
by Joey Mervis - March 19, 2025


The stars came out to celebrate Monday at the Hayes Theatre, where Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's new play Purpose celebrated its opening night. Watch in this video as we take you inside the opening night festivities.

Photos: PURPOSE Stars on the Opening Night Red Carpet
by Bruce Glikas - March 18, 2025


Purpose officially opened last night, March 18, at the Helen Hayes Theater, featuring Phylicia Rashad making her Broadway directorial debut. Get a first look at the stars of the production on the red carpet here!

Photos: PURPOSE Takes Opening Night Bows
by Bruce Glikas - March 18, 2025


Purpose officially opened last night, March 18, at the Helen Hayes Theater, featuring Phylicia Rashad making her Broadway directorial debut. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from opening night here!

Review Roundup: Phylicia Rashad Directs PURPOSE By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - March 17, 2025


The great Phylicia Rashad makes her Broadway directorial debut, with PURPOSE by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, opening tonight at the Helen Hayes Theater. Find out how the critics felt about their visit with the influential and dysfunctional Jasper family on Broadway. Read the reviews!

Video: PURPOSE Arrives on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - March 17, 2025


Purpose is getting ready to celebrate it's opening night! Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and directed by Phylicia Rashad in her Broadway directorial debut, PURPOSE officially opens tonight, Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Helen Hayes Theater. Check out video highlights of the cast in action here.

Photos: First Look at Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE
by Nicole Rosky - March 17, 2025


Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and directed by Phylicia Rashad in her Broadway directorial debut, PURPOSE officially opens tonight, Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Helen Hayes Theater. Check out photos of the cast in action here!

Video: Phylicia Rashad Talks Directing Broadway's PURPOSE, Praises Collaborators
by Josh Sharpe - March 12, 2025


Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Purpose is now in previews at the Helen Hayes Theatre, marking the Broadway directorial debut of legendary performer Phylicia Rashad. The director recently visited Sherri Shepherd's talk show to discuss her experience helming the new production.

How Glenn Davis Shepherded PURPOSE on Its Path to Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - March 16, 2025


Glenn Davis had a huge part to play in the Purpose's journey, not only as a cast member in Chicago and now on Broadway, but as Steppenwolf's co-Artistic Director and the person behind pushing along its development in recent years.

Up on the Marquee: PURPOSE
by Jennifer Broski - February 27, 2025


Purpose is now on Broadway! Written by Tony Award-Winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Two-Time Tony Award-Winner Phylicia Rashad, PURPOSE stars Two-time Tony Award nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Harry Lennix, Jon Michael Hill, Glenn Davis, Alana Arenas, and Tony Award-Winner Kara Young. Check out photos of the new marquee at the Hayes Theatre

PURPOSE Will Offer Digital and General Rush Tickets
by Stephi Wild - February 24, 2025


The Broadway production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins new play, PURPOSE, directed by Phylicia Rashad, has announced its Digital and General Rush Policies. Find out how to get discount tickets for Purpose here!

Meet the Cast of PURPOSE, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - February 25, 2025


Steppenwolf’s Purpose begins previews tonight, February 25, ahead of an opening on March 17th, and running through July 6, 2025 at the Helen Hayes Theater. Meet the cast of Purpose here!

Photos: PURPOSE Broadway Cast Behind the Scenes Look
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 3, 2025


You can now get a behind-the-scenes look of the Broadway cast of PURPOSE, written by Tony Award-Winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and directed by Two-Time Tony Award-Winner Phylicia Rashad. Get a first look at the cast here.

Character Breakdown: PURPOSE Cast Unpacks Their Roles
by Joey Mervis - February 8, 2025


A new Broadway play is on the way from Tony winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins! Purpose, directed by Phylicia Rashad, is getting ready to begin performances at the Hayes Theatre, where it is set to open on March 17, 2025. What's it all about? Watch as the cast unpacks their roles in this video.

Video: Meet the Company of PURPOSE on Broadway
by Joey Mervis - January 28, 2025


In just a few weeks, previews will begin on Broadway for Tony Award-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ new play, PURPOSE, directed by Two-time Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad. Watch in this video as Jacobs-Jenkins and the whole cast chats more about what audiences can expect.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Harry Lennix, Kara Young & More Will Star in PURPOSE on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - December 9, 2024


Complete casting has been announced for the highly-anticipated Broadway transfer of Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Tony Award-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ new play, PURPOSE. Check out who has joined the cast!

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE, Directed by Phylicia Rashad, Will Arrive On Broadway in 2025
by Nicole Rosky - August 14, 2024


BroadwayWorld has just learned that the acclaimed Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of Purpose, written by Tony Award-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and directed by Two-time Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad, will come to Broadway in spring 2025. We have all of the details!

Purpose History

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