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Purpose

Run Time:
2hr 50m
Ages: 12+
Opened: March 17, 2025
Closing: August 31, 2025
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Purpose Broadway Tickets, News, Info & More


Spirited, hilarious and filled with intrigue, a new play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (who won a Tony Award in 2024 for Appropriate) comes to Broadway direct from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The epic family drama arrives with Two-time Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad at the helm.

The Broadway cast features Two-time Tony Award nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Harry Lennix, Jon Michael Hill, Glenn Davis, Alana Arenas, and Kara Young.

What's it all about? For decades, the influential Jasper family has been a pillar of Black American Politics: civil rights leaders, pastors and congressmen. But like all families, there are cracks and secrets just under the surface.

When the youngest son Nazareth returns home with an uninvited friend in tow, the family is forced into a reckoning with itself, its faith and the legacies of Black political power and familial duty.

Before arriving on Broadway, Purpose was commissioned by and had its World Premiere at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2024. The production received three 2024 Equity Jeff Awards including Outstanding Production of a Play.


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PREVIEW Purpose - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Purpose

‘Purpose’ review: A hilarious and blistering family clash on Broadway
10 / 10

I howled all the way through Jacobs-Jenkins’ clever and venomous spin on the story: This particular bombshell-littered house belongs to the Jaspers, a powerful black political dynasty whose controversies and scandals come down faster than the blizzard outside their window. If your family is anything like them, I’d recommend emancipation.

PURPOSE
9 / 10

Jacobs-Jenkins is a fantastic storyteller, and it is possible to walk away from Purpose without considering any of the play’s further implications, simply having relished in his almost unparalleled gifts for dialogue and characterization. (It won’t be a surprise if he ends up with back-to-back Tony Awards.)

Photos: Hillary Clinton Visits PURPOSE on Broadway
by Bruce Glikas - June 17, 2025


Hillary Clinton recently paid a visit to the newly-minted Tony Award-winning production of Purpose on Broadway. Check out photos from her visit to the show here!

Video: PURPOSE Take First Post-Tony Awards Bows
by Stephi Wild - June 11, 2025


The Broadway production of Purpose shared a video of their first curtain call post-Tony Awards, which was met with love from the applauding audience. Watch the video here!

Video: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins & Glenn Davis Celebrate Tony Win for Best Play
by Joey Mervis - June 9, 2025


Earlier tonight at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Steppenwolf's Glenn Davis, and the producers of Purpose took home a Tony Award for 'Best Play'. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, they checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share their initial reaction!

Video: Kara Young Celebrates Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Play
by Joey Mervis - June 8, 2025


Earlier tonight at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, Kara Young took home a Tony Award for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play' for her outstanding work in Purpose. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!

Video: Kara Young Discusses Tony Nominations and Artistic Journey on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - June 3, 2025


Kara Young, who has made history as the first Black performer to earn four consecutive Tony nominations, recently stopped by The View to discuss her role in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Purpose, which is currently running on Broadway. Watch the interview now!

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE Extends on Broadway for Eight Weeks
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2025


Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ PURPOSE has been extended eight weeks. You can now see the show through late August at the Helen Hayes Theater. Learn more here!

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE Wins 2025 Tony Award for Best Play
by - June 8, 2025


Purpose has won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play for BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS.

PURPOSE's Kara Young Wins 2025 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
by - June 8, 2025


Kara Young has won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for PURPOSE.

Video: Jon Michael Hill Is Glad for the Universality of PURPOSE
by Joey Mervis - June 5, 2025


Watch in this video as Jon Michael Hill chats more about why he thinks Purpose is so important, why he is still in disbelief to be nominated, and so much more.

Video: Glenn Davis Knew There Was Something Special About PURPOSE
by Joey Mervis - May 23, 2025


Watch in this video as Glenn Davis chats more about his pride in pushing to bring Purpose to audiences, why he is still in disbelief to be nominated, and so much more.

Video: Harry Lennix Is Overjoyed, Overwhelmed, and Grateful for PURPOSE
by Joey Mervis - May 31, 2025


Watch in this video as Harry Lennix chats more about the genius of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, why doing Purpose every night is still a challenge, and so much more.

Video: LaTanya Richardson Jackson Is Grateful to Be Given the Grace of Opportunity
by Joey Mervis - May 26, 2025


Watch in this video as LaTanya Richardson Jackson chats more about the genius of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, why it was a bumpy road to opening night of Purpose, and so much more.

Video: Kara Young Continues to Make Tony Awards History
by Joey Mervis - May 17, 2025


Watch in this video as Kara Young chats more about collaborating with her Purpose company, why this play has been such a passion project, and so much more.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE Wins 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
by Nicole Rosky - May 5, 2025


The Pulitzer Prize Board has just announced that Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Purpose has won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Other finalists included: Oh, Mary!, by Cole Escola, and The Ally, by Itamar Moses.

Photos: Oprah & Gayle Visit Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE on Broadway
by Bruce Glikas - April 24, 2025


See photos of Oprah and Gayle at Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Purpose on Broadway! Learn more about the Broadway production and see how to purchase tickets!

Purpose History

Other Productions of Purpose

2025   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway

Purpose Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
2025 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Kara Young
2025 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
2025 Drama League Awards DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE LaTanya Richardson Jackson
2025 Drama League Awards DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE Kara Young
2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Direction of a Play Phylicia Rashad
2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play LaTanya Richardson Jackson
2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Kara Young
2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play Jon Michael Hill
2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Play Purpose
2025 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Glenn Davis
2025 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Jon Michael Hill
2025 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Harry Lennix
2025 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Kara Young
2025 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play LaTanya Richardson Jackson

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