Previous thread: https://prince.org/msg/7/471664 (seems to have autolocked).

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Bobby Z Rivkin and Morris Hayes talk about their work on the musical in this video: https://www.fox9.com/news...in-musical

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[Edited 11/6/25 16:17pm]

StarTrib review of the premiere: https://www.startribune.c.../601482782

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this adaptation of his work — his film and songs — while quite entertaining, falls short, like his heavily flawed movies “Under the Cherry Moon” and “Graffiti Bridge.”

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[Edited 11/6/25 14:11pm]

Review of one of the final "open rehearsal" performances on Reddit: https://old.reddit.com/r/...l_bno_its/

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the cast is good with the exception of Apollonia and the Morris Day character who were excellent. However, they are not Broadway good. They are MN good, Chan dinner theater great. Which is fair because the lead, Kris Kollins is talented but he feels like he’s cosplaying Prince and it doesn’t work for me.

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KARE 11 : 'Purple Rain' musical has opening night in Minneapolis

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https://www.youtube.com/w...5XgzkUyBg4

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FOX 9 : 'Purple Rain' musical world premiere in Minneapolis

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https://www.youtube.com/w...rj_O-7jeG0

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WCCO : "Purple Rain: The Musical" reviews are in. Does the stage adaptation do Prince justice?

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https://www.youtube.com/w...gHVPgJeG2Y

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Star Tribune: The upcoming Broadway musical, Purple Rain — North Star Summit 2025

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https://www.youtube.com/w...qAiNAjqWYA

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KARE 11: WATCH NOW: 'Purple Rain' opening night

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https://www.youtube.com/w...3x43vOrBa8

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WCCO: Bobby Z and Morris Hayes - Prince's Bandmates - Talk About the New Purple Rain Musical!

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https://www.youtube.com/w...Vqfv7g3S6U

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It's baffling that the reviews say that the lead is NOT playing Prince, he's playing The Kid. We all know the movie is semi-autobiographical.
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If he's playing The Kid, why is he singing Prince songs that The Kid never sang? Why is he wearing Prince outfits inspired by non-Purple Rain Prince eras?

Boydie said:

Exactly! I made the point on the other thread Purple Rain is a strong enough story to stand on its own (as long as big storyline chunks are not removed, like his relationship with his father) - and I don't even have a problem with adding more Price songs from other eras HOWEVER - my fear was that they would mix a Prince tribute/jukebox musical with a standalone "Purple Rain on stage" - and end up ruining both...which is what seems to have happened I would have personally avoided a Price lookalike and soundalike and gone for someone different to play the character of the Kid

I think I may have scrapped the idea of adapting Purple Rain. Without Prince....it's gonna come off inauthentic. I would have gone the Moulin Rouge, or Across the Universe route. Create a brand new story inspired by Prince's songs. Having some have to "be" Prince aka The Kid is almost impossible.

https://thestagesofmn.com...ss-behind/

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It’s a rare opportunity for Minnesotans that should’ve been a celebration of Prince and his music; instead, it felt like they were dragging him through the mud. The lack of energy from some of the cast, made it feel like they thought that as well.

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It's a scathing review.

bizzie said:

https://thestagesofmn.com...ss-behind/

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It’s a rare opportunity for Minnesotans that should’ve been a celebration of Prince and his music; instead, it felt like they were dragging him through the mud. The lack of energy from some of the cast, made it feel like they thought that as well.

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It's a scathing review.

I'm sad to say it, but this review actually covers my feelings/thoughts on the play as well. Again, I wanted to LOVE the play, but they botched the core structure of the story so badly. It's just a really poor adaptation from a narrative standpoint.

Has anyone been blown away by the musical? It is obvious that there are some very talented people involved in the production.My scepticism about the Grim Reaper and Purple Banana aside, did anyone really love it on balance?

[Edited 11/9/25 17:25pm]

NYT has a negative review.

I have a local pal who went to see it. This was his assessment:

I'm sad to say that it was pretty grim. The musical numbers were great, the dialogue was awful. There were highlights (Morris Day, Apollonia...) but the lead is way out of his league. Too long (2 hrs 45). Major rework is needed if this is going to Broadway. 6/10

If the musical is what we're hearing from many people, I'm sorry folks have had to endure "the rough-draft version". (It sounds like if this musical is going to make it to Broadway - and garner any real success - there will need to be a bunch of changes made.)

Keep in mind - Broadway juggarnauts like Wicked and Alladin played to negative and mixed reviews to start, took the reviews to heart, 'made changes - and are now immovable, successful Broadway mainstays.

Also, how much of Prince does Kris have in him? (Remember when Rolling Stones fans threw bottles, cans, and even fried chicken bones at Prince when he opened for the Stones in 1981? Not to forget racial and homophobic slurs; Prince received his own scathing reviews in that key moment in his development.) It'll take some thick skin from Kris to take these reviews and keep after it. I don't know him, but it would show me something if he's able to keep his chin up and push past the lumps.

pdiddy2011 said:

If the musical is what we're hearing from many people, I'm sorry folks have had to endure "the rough-draft version". (It sounds like if this musical is going to make it to Broadway - and garner any real success - there will need to be a bunch of changes made.)

Keep in mind - Broadway juggarnauts like Wicked and Alladin played to negative and mixed reviews to start, took the reviews to heart, 'made changes - and are now immovable, successful Broadway mainstays.

Also, how much of Prince does Kris have in him? (Remember when Rolling Stones fans threw bottles, cans, and even fried chicken bones at Prince when he opened for the Stones in 1981? Not to forget racial and homophobic slurs; Prince received his own scathing reviews in that key moment in his development.) It'll take some thick skin from Kris to take these reviews and keep after it. I don't know him, but it would show me something if he's able to keep his chin up and push past the lumps.

Right, none of our most successful icons (maybe except for MJ) started out with standing ovations. They've all had to push through the negative reactions/reviews etc. Lauryn Hill got booed off the stage when she was only 13.

Is it really following the Puple Rain story? I can just see Purple Reign in VEGAS.

As a New Yorker and ties very much in the Broadway community, I was always afraid that something like you are all describing would happen. Prince is not Rock of Ages, or MJ, or Tina, or Abba. In their defense neither are those shows representative of their subjects but a playlist of songs.

PRINCE has got a WHOLE THING. Prodigy > Revolution > The Artist Formerly Known As > Baby > Resurgence > Politics > Philanthropy > Heart > Heartbreak > Certain Faith > The End.

Thats already too much for 2.5 hours but THERE could be A LOT THERE.

I pray for whomever tries to make the movie. And who is in it.

But they will either try to cover all (too much), or they will also enclose on a time period and leave everything out.

Don't leave the DMSR of it all out... the REAL DMSR, don't leave the struggle, don't leave out the overwhelming "commanding presence", don't leave out the pain, don't leave out the beginning and the end.... so what, two musicals and a play is what we need to tell the story? Because this does not.

This whole thing is a bad idea.

And yet just like those other shows I referenced, people will go to that vapid hits show...

And it won't last as long as MJ... because people are stupid. OOH look they can do Smooth Criminal dancing LIVE! Talk about a smooth criminal....

Ugh

Edit: Now I looked at little video. NO. Read what I said because it is exactly what I expeced, slightly worse..

[Edited 11/13/25 3:52am]

I don't think Kris is all that great! Something seems off with him

TheAStarr said:

PRINCE has got a WHOLE THING. Prodigy > Revolution > The Artist Formerly Known As > Baby > Resurgence > Politics > Philanthropy > Heart > Heartbreak > Certain Faith > The End.

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They do not have the rights to Prince's life story.

bizzie said:

TheAStarr said:

PRINCE has got a WHOLE THING. Prodigy > Revolution > The Artist Formerly Known As > Baby > Resurgence > Politics > Philanthropy > Heart > Heartbreak > Certain Faith > The End.

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They do not have the rights to Prince's life story.

Anyone can write a biography or put on a production based on someone's life. It's freedom of the press and speech. Doesn't mean anyone has to consume or agree with it. My God how many life story books are there about Prince or MJ??? They didn't go get a permission slip to write those books.

[Edited 11/14/25 19:29pm]

Let’s be real — this musical isn’t for us diehards. It’s tailor-made for the casuals, the tourists, the “Purple Rain is my favorite song” crowd.

[Edited 11/15/25 5:54am]

TheAStarr said:

PRINCE has got a WHOLE THING. Prodigy > Revolution > The Artist Formerly Known As > Baby > Resurgence > Politics > Philanthropy > Heart > Heartbreak > Certain Faith > The End.

Thats already too much for 2.5 hours but THERE could be A LOT THERE.

I pray for whomever tries to make the movie. And who is in it.

But they will either try to cover all (too much), or they will also enclose on a time period and leave everything out.

Don't leave the DMSR of it all out... the REAL DMSR, don't leave the struggle, don't leave out the overwhelming "commanding presence", don't leave out the pain, don't leave out the beginning and the end.... so what, two musicals and a play is what we need to tell the story? Because this does not.

[Edited 11/13/25 3:52am]

What about a 9 hour netflix documentary?

Trufunksoulja said:

Let’s be real — this musical isn’t for us diehards. It’s tailor-made for the casuals, the tourists, the “Purple Rain is my favorite song” crowd.

[Edited 11/15/25 5:54am]

Not necessarily. There were a lot of references, inside jokes, and deep cut songs that only Prince fans would be familiar with.

skywalker said:

Trufunksoulja said:

Let’s be real — this musical isn’t for us diehards. It’s tailor-made for the casuals, the tourists, the “Purple Rain is my favorite song” crowd.

[Edited 11/15/25 5:54am]

Not necessarily. There were a lot of references, inside jokes, and deep cut songs that only Prince fans would be familiar with.

It could. But again, I've seen Purple Reign in Las Vegas ad early as 2005 when they were just a kick ass Prince Cover band each Sunday in the most tiny House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, no door charge. And they played whatever they wanted. They rocked.

A couple years ago and one time before I saw them again and now they are a Vegas residency with ticket price (which is fine) but costumes, a sad narrative (which is kind of also fine, at least there are a lot of good songs, nut it' now mostly purple rain), understudies, 13 minutes of Morris & The Time, which I also don't mind, and you even have to sit through Sex Shooter.

The thing is, the degradation but still somewhat an enjoyable experience compare to the video I saw of purple rain the musical.... I thought purple Reign went soft to Vegas pressures and became too campy, but OH no, This Purple Rain: The musical need a sign that says The actual movie and most tribute band are better than this. I know Broadway because I have been on it, literally and these types of shows.... it just doesn't look good as someone who loves theater, and as someone who has been in it, they could offer me the role of Prince and if THAT is the show I'd probably say no.

The leads are talented but screw all the background dancing and over exuberance. Purple Rain is semi-dark for a reason. That, and just to get back to basics, I rolled my eyes so hard and so fast when I saw te clip I saw, it's not gonna be great, and it will defer others from trying harder on a Prince musical.