"Purple Rain" musical holds first preview performance in Minneapolis
Excited fans descended upon downtown Minneapolis Thursday night to see the first preview performance of "Purple Rain" the musical at the State Theatre.
The adaptation of the iconic 1984 film is slated to go to Broadway, but first, it'll run for six weeks in Prince's hometown.
The fictional show follows "The Kid", who is trying to break into the club scene in Minneapolis while also dealing with issues at home, a rival band and a romance with singer Apollonia.
Fans came from all over the country to view the stage adaptation and celebrate Prince's legacy.
"Look, I've never stepped foot in this city in my life, and here I am, taking in, being tourists, being the Prince fan, and it's great," said Elijah Reiss, who visited from New York. "I don't think it could have premiered anywhere else."
The show's writer and director Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins said he wanted to show the musical to fans living in Prince's birthplace before anyone else.
The musical was originally scheduled to premiere in April, but Hennepin Arts said last year that producers needed "more time for creative development." Two of Prince's closest musical collaborators — Bobby Z of The Revolution and Morris Hayes of New Power Generation — are serving as the production's music advisers.
The film version made $100 million worldwide and was set and shot across the Twin Cities, with the legendary Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue as a major character.
Opening night for the musical is on Nov. 5. For tickets and more information, visit the Hennepin Arts website.