Casting has been announced for the highly anticipated Purple Rain musical, and it’s official: newcomer Kris Kollins will take on the legendary role of The Kid, with & Juliet standout Rachel Webb set to play Apollonia. The pre-Broadway world premiere will run October 16 through November 16, 2025, at the historic State Theatre in Minneapolis.
Discovered on social media during a nationwide search led by casting director Taylor Williams, Washington D.C.-based Kollins is a rising singer-songwriter making his professional stage debut. “From our first encounter with his original music and socials, we were absolutely floored by Kris’s gifts—his musicianship, his voice, his magnetism,” said book writer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. “It took a minute for us to convince him we weren’t stalkers, but I’m so glad we did… Kris is the real deal, and we can’t wait for audiences to see him bring The Kid to life.”
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Rachel Webb, known for her role in & Juliet on Broadway and on tour, brings her powerhouse vocals and stage presence to the role of Apollonia. Director Lileana Blain-Cruz shared, “When Rachel Webb walked into auditions for an early reading several years ago, she really blew us away. She is a stunning presence with an incredible voice, who inspired us to really reimagine what was possible for the role of Apollonia.”
The stage adaptation of Purple Rain features a story by Prince and a book by two-time Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn. The production is directed by Tony nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz with music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Tony winner Jason Michael Webb. Prince collaborators Bobby Z and Morris Hayes serve as Music Advisors.
Choreography is by Ebony Williams, with scenic design by David Zinn, and costumes by Montana Levi Blanco. A Broadway timeline has not been announced, but this Minneapolis run marks the musical’s official pre-Broadway launch.
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