Purpose (play)

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

The 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

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

The 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

The 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

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2025	Pulitzer Prize for Drama		Branden Jacobs-Jenkins	Won	[8]
	Tony Awards	Best Play	Branden Jacobs-Jenkins	Won	[9]
		Best Leading Actor in a Play	Jon Michael Hill	Nominated
			Harry Lennix	Nominated
		Best Leading Actress in a Play	LaTanya Richardson Jackson	Nominated
		Best Featured Actor in a Play	Glenn Davis	Nominated
		Best Featured Actress in a Play	Kara Young	Won
	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Purpose	Won	[10]
		Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play	Kara Young	Won
	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Purpose	Nominated	[11]
		Distinguished Performance	LaTanya Richardson Jackson	Nominated
			Kara Young	Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Purpose	Nominated	[12]
		Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play	Jon Michael Hill	Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play	LaTanya Richardson Jackson	Nominated
			Kara Young	Nominated
		Outstanding Direction of a Play	Phylicia Rashad	Nominated
	New York Drama Critics' Circle Award		Branden Jacobs-Jenkins	Won	[13]