Purpose is a stage play written by American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. It premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 2023–24. The play is a family drama revealing the members of the black, politically prominent Jasper family.[1] It transferred to Broadway for the 2024–25 season at the Hayes Theater, and won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play. In addition, five of the six actors received Tony Award nominations. It won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
| Purpose | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Branden Jacobs-Jenkins |
| Date premiered | 2024 |
| Place premiered | Steppenwolf Theatre Company |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | Chicago, U.S. Present-day |
Synopsis
editThe fictional Jasper family, a prominent African-American family based in Chicago, reunite under the same roof under auspicious circumstances. Revelations occur as the parents and two grown sons (and partner/friends) attempt to define their value to each other and their identity within black culture and politics.[2]
Notable casts
edit| Character | Chicago 2024 |
Broadway 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Nazareth "Naz" Jasper | Jon Michael Hill | |
| Claudine Jasper | Tamara Tunie | LaTanya Richardson Jackson |
| Solomon "Sonny" Jasper | Harry Lennix | |
| Morgan Jasper | Alana Arenas | |
| Solomon "Junior" Jasper | Glenn Davis | |
| Aziza | Ayanna Bria Bakari | Kara Young |
Production history
editThe play was commissioned by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and was workshopped in 2019 at the Colorado New Play Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. After additional readings and workshops, the play premiered as part of Steppenwolf's 2023–2024 season on March 14 – April 28, directed by Phylicia Rashad.
The production transferred to Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre as part of the 2024–2025 Broadway season, with producers David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt, LaChanze, Rashad Chambers, Aaron Glick and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The production was not part of Second Stage Theater's season.[3][4][5][6]
Reception
editThe production received positive reviews when it debuted at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune described it as "explosive" dissection of the legacy of Jesse Jackson and his son Jesse Jackson Jr. amidst the latter’s 2012 arrest and conviction for campaign fraud. Jones also compared it to the Tracy Letts plays August: Osage County and The Minutes but added, "Purpose is its own thing, a brilliant moralistic satire, which sounds deadly but not with a writer who prizes agency, currency and, thank god, ambiguity".[7]
Accolades
editReferences
edit- ^ "Purpose". www.steppenwolf.org. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ "Chicago-inspired 'Purpose' explores fictionalized iconic Black family in blistering Steppenwolf production". Chicago Sun-Times. March 25, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Playbill.com Purpose will play Broadway accessed August 16, 2024
- ^ "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Kennedy, Lisa (June 12, 2019). "In Colorado, Seeing New Plays Before They're Born". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ "Branden Jacobs-Jenkins births a Chicago political drama at Steppenwolf with 'Purpose'". Chicago Tribune. March 21, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ "Review: 'Purpose' skewers the Jesse Jackson story — it's the explosive play Steppenwolf has been waiting for". The Chicago Tribune. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Pulitzer Prizes". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Tony Awards: 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Death Becomes Her,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. May 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 30, 2025). "Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here". Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 22, 2025). "2025 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 25, 2025). "Death Becomes Her Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ "Maybe Happy Ending, Purpose Win New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners".