#26
Posted: 7/27/26 at 8:23pm
Blain Cruz did an amazing job directing John Adam’s El Niño at the Met.
Prince’s PURPLE RAIN opening at the Majestic in April — Page 2
#27
Posted: 7/27/26 at 9:00pm
I dont remember anyone thinking MJ would struggle to sell tickets? MJ has one of the most popular and fantastic catalogues of all time, and I certainly never doubted that the actual production would be well received.
i was just appalled at that reality.
Updated On: 7/27/26 at 09:00 PM
#28
Posted: 7/27/26 at 9:35pm
Jay Lerner-Z said: "Sutton,
MJ is... problematic. Anything more than that, I can not say for fear of deletion. Perhaps factor that in to your analysis on why people thought it might not last."
I saw the tour of MJ and the Minneapolis tryout of Purple Rain and I can confirm they are VERY different beasts. MJ is basically a system meant to effectively deliver Michael Jackson's music and choreography in as straightforward and inoffensive a manner as possible while hitting the main bullet points of his biography and avoiding anything that makes him look like anything other than a Great Artist. On that level it mostly delivers, but it's practically offensive in its inoffensiveness.
For better or for worse, Purple Rain actually feels like it wants to tell a real story. Like the movie it wants to talk about the circular nature of abuse & trauma and how much BS people are expected to put up with from a Great Artist, and like the movie it mostly whiffed it. The musical also adds dimensions like commentary on some of the problematic elements of Prince's music and how women are treated by the entertainment industry. I'm not going to fault the show's ambition, but it's one of those productions that had too much on its mind to explore any of the elements in a satisfying way.
Hopefully the new creative team can come up with something with a more focused story and tone.
#29
Posted: 7/27/26 at 10:01pm
i was just appalled at that reality?
You weren't here in 2019 when it was announced but one thread was full of people thinking it was going to be a disaster.
As I said back then, this board doesn't represent anything other than a few hundred people who apparently watch too much Lifetime For Women and believe the white media. Shockingly, billions of people on this earth love, pay for, and enjoy anything Michael Jackson. The musical is a massive success with many accolades. The movie was a massive success with great performances. He was acquitted on all charges (surely as a lawyer you know what that means, correct?) and his estate generates billions. No one cares about this board regarding Michael Jackson. No one on Earth. Hope that clears it up for the foolish and dumb.
Back on topic:
For better or for worse, Purple Rain actually feels like it wants to tell a real story.
It absolutely does but it was not great at the State Theatre. It was all over the place. This new team is full of much better people suited for the job and the entire world loves Prince. With the right casting and choreography, it could be huge.
Next Spring is absolutely PACKED with musicals. I'm so excited!
Updated On: 7/27/26 at 10:01 PM
#30
Posted: 7/27/26 at 10:35pm
Poor Sutton. In denial.
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
#31
Posted: 7/27/26 at 11:10pm
As a fan of Prince, I hope Purple Rain turns out to be great against all odds. But the MJ comp probably doesn’t work, because that musical was never dependent on the book, which existed solely as a mechanism to deliver what everyone was there for: an ersatz Michael Jackson singing his old hits.
Purple Rain will be far more dependent on the book, because Prince isn’t as big a star. If this is going to be a film adaptation, it is a riskier but possibly more rewarding approach because - as ham-fisted, weird and dated as the movie could be, it did touch on serious issues in a real place with one of my favorite film scores. Prince made for an unusual leading man, because he wasn’t a great actor but had charisma to spare. If the new creatives take a Prince Show approach, I’m not sure it will be as effective.
But as much as I hope against hope that this isn’t embarrassing, this is one show I won’t buy tickets in advance to see. I maintain a predisposition against anything that seems like a bio-musical, tours excepted. There are a million unknowns. I hope my fears are unfounded.
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