Phylicia Rashad will make her directorial debut on Broadway next year. She will lead a play called Purpose crafted by Tony Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
“Purpose follows the Jasper family, which has created a powerful dynasty in Black American politics. However, when the family’s youngest son, Nazareth, comes home with an uninvited friend, the family must contend with faith, its legacy and the cracks beneath the surface,” a description of the play reads, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The play was originally put in motion by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. Led by Rashad and Jacobs-Jenkins, the play made its world debut in March and is expected to begin previews in New York at Helen Hayes Theater in early 2025. Early reports suggest Purpose could make its way to Broadway as early as mid-March of 2025.
Thus far, it’s unclear who will be leading the way on stage, but Tony Award winner LaChanze Sapp-Gooding, David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt and Rashad Chambers will step in as producers. Behind the scenes, Amith Chandrashaker, Todd Rosenthal, Dede M. Ayite, Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen will handle light, scene, costume and sound design.
