THE HUNTINGTON ANNOUNCES THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM OF PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING DRAMA PURPOSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Gabrielle Choi, Associate Director of Publicity
617-273-1520
PHOTOS available for download here
Members of the press, RSVP here
THE HUNTINGTON ANNOUNCES THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM OF PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING DRAMA PURPOSE
Following an acclaimed run on Broadway, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ smash hit family drama kicks off The Huntington’s 2026/27 season at the Calderwood Pavilion
(BOSTON) – The Huntington announces the cast and creative team of Purpose, a sharp family drama by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Appropriate, An Octoroon) and directed by Josiah Davis (Lifted). Purpose runs at The Huntington from Thursday, September 10 – Sunday, October 11, 2026 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St, Boston, MA, 02116).
Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize and a smash hit on Broadway, Purpose is the explosive and wildly entertaining new play from Tony Award winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, diving headlong into the life of a prominent and influential political dynasty.
Encircled by civil rights leaders, pastors, and congressmen for decades, the Jasper family is a foundational pillar of Black American society. That is, until their youngest son returns home with an unexpected dinner guest, and their carefully curated existence begins to fracture. Purpose is a searing and hilarious exploration of faith, class, ambition, and heritage that The Washington Post called “a feast of jaw-dropping tea and riveting food for thought.”
Hot from a Tony Award-winning production on Broadway, a fresh staging of Purpose comes to The Huntington to kick of its 45th season. Huntington Norma Jean Calderwood Artistic Director Loretta Greco shares, “There is no better way to launch this thrilling new season than with the brilliant Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, whom we are welcoming to The Huntington for the first time, with his stunning play Purpose!
“Branden has conjured a richly layered family in the throes of a seismic generational reckoning — one worthy of the greatest family drama,” Greco continues. “The play’s beating heart: a compelling reminder that we all need something larger and more impactful than ourselves to strive towards in community with others. Perhaps now more than ever.”
Called “a densely packed powder keg of a play” by The Washington Post, Purpose was originally commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company and workshopped at the Colorado New Play Festival in 2019. Directed by Phylicia Rashad, it premiered at the Steppenwolf in 2024 and transferred to Broadway in the 2024/25 season, winning the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Reflecting tensions between public legacy and private reality, Purpose is a sharp, deeply human story about what we inherit, what we hide, and how hard it is to truly love ourselves alongside the people who know us best. The New York Times lauds it as “a merciless dissection of hypocrisy” and warns “you may have trouble catching your breath from laughing so hard.”
“For me, Purpose is a family story that’s trying to transcend, to be about the universal,” says playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. “It’s a play that’s really trying to connect people… it’s about taking stock of the community immediately around you and figuring out how to love deeper and better.”
This production marks the first time Jacobs-Jenkins’ work is being produced at The Huntington. Boston audiences may recognize his work from recent productions on other local stages in the mid 2010s, such as Appropriate at SpeakEasy Stage and An Octoroon at Company One and ArtsEmerson.
Director Josiah Davis most recently collaborated with The Huntington on the in-process presentations of Mfoniso Udofia’s Lifted (the seventh play in Boston’s acclaimed Ufot Family Cycle). Through very different pathways, themes of family and legacy were delved into during that dynamic run as well.
“Legacy is hard to build. But it’s even harder to escape,” says Davis. “The journey of finding yourself is difficult when expectations of who you ought to be, who you were raised to be, looks over your head. Is it possible to escape familial demands and carve out a space of your own?”
Unique to this production, audience engagement programming for Purpose is presented in partnership with community partner Embrace Boston. Embrace Boston is a racial justice non-profit organization founded in 2017 that works at the intersection of arts, culture, research, and policy to dismantle structural racism and build an equitable, radically inclusive community. Together, The Huntington and Embrace Boston will offer audience engagement experiences and community programming inspired by Purpose, enriching conversations sparked by the production.
The cast of Purpose includes:
Ezra Knight as Solomon Jasper, father. Credits include Othello and Mean Girls on Broadway and Toni Stone Off Broadway.
Phyllis Yyvonne Stickney as Claudine Jasper, mother. Credits include Tartuffe and Big Momma and ‘Nem Off Broadway and the film Malcolm X.
Omari K. Chancellor as Nazareth Jasper, youngest son. Credits include Amani Off Broadway, Fences at the Old Globe, and Love Story on FX.
Ugo Chukwu as Solomon “Junior” Jasper, oldest son. Credits include Ripcord at The Huntington, Give Me Carmelita Tropicana! at Soho Rep, and the Broadway national tour of Oklahoma!.
MarHadoo Effeh as Morgan Jasper, wife of Solomon Jr. Credits include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at SpeakEasy Stage, Gem of the Ocean at Actors’ Shakespeare Project, and the film Salesman on Amazon Prime.
Kalyne Ashley Coleman as Aziza Houston, friend of Nazareth. Credits include JaJa’s African Hair Braiding on Broadway, Four Off Broadway, and Interview with a Vampire on AMC.
Understudies include: Chris Everett, Kiera Prusmack, Omar Robinson, and Joshua Wolf Coleman.
The creative team for Purpose includes scenic design by Se Hyun Oh (The Hills of California at The Huntington), costume design by Celeste Jennings (Fun Home at The Huntington), lighting design by Marika Kent (Ulysses at The Public), and sound design and original music by Kathy Ruvuna (Cold War Choir Practice Off Broadway). The assistant director is Tasia A. Jones, the wig, hair, and makeup design is by J. Jared Janas and Cassie Williams, the dramaturg is Ashley M. Thomas, the intimacy consultant is Dr. Ayshia Mackie-Stephenson, the voice and text coach is Kim James Bey, the fight consultant is Omar Robinson, and the emerging artist observer is LaTasha Snider. The production stage manager is Ashley Pitchford and the stage manager is Ross Gray. NY Casting is by Danica Rodriguez. Local casting is by Brett Duffy.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Playwright) is a writer and theatre artist whose plays include Purpose, Appropriate, The Comeuppance, Girls, Everybody, War, Gloria, An Octoroon, and Neighbors. He is a Professor in the Practice at Yale University and serves as Vice President of the Dramatists Guild Council. He has been the recipient of two Tony awards, a Pulitzer Prize, the MacArthur fellowship, the Windham-Campbell Prize for Drama, and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award.
Josiah Davis (Director) is a multidisciplinary artist. A director, choreographer, designer, and performer, his work intersects expressive movement, live music, emerging technology, and ritual to breathe new life into storytelling. Josiah is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and the Brown/Trinity MFA Directing Program (2020). He is a Princess Grace Award Honoraria recipient, a New York Theatre Workshop 2050 Fellow, a National Black Theatre “Soul” Directing Resident, the recipient of the Susan Stroman Directing Award, a Clubbed Thumb Directing Fellow, and the Associate Artistic Director of the On the Verge Theatre Festival (Santa Barbara).
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR PURPOSE
WHEN
Performances: September 10 – October 11, 2026
Evenings: Tues – Thurs at 7pm; Fri and Sat at 7:30pm; Sun at 7pm
Matinees: Select Wed, Sat, and Sun at 2pm
Days and times vary; see complete schedule above.
Press Opening: Wednesday, September 16 at 7pm (RSVP here)
WHERE
Calderwood Pavilion
527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
TICKETS
Tickets start at $29. Season ticket packages and FlexPasses are also now on sale:
- online at huntingtontheatre.org
- by phone at 617-266-0800;
- or in person at the Huntington Theatre (264 Huntington Ave) or Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street)
Select discounts apply:
- $25 student tickets (valid ID required)
- $30 military tickets (valid ID required)
- $40 “HYPE” tickets (Huntington Young Patron Events) for patrons 40 years-old and younger (valid ID required)
- Limited number of Pay-What-You-Wish tickets (not available online, please call or visit the box office to inquire using the contact info above)
The Huntington asks that any patron experiencing illness stay home and contact ticketing services for more information about exchanges.
ACCESS PERFORMANCES FOR PURPOSE
Tickets are $20 for each patron and their guests. To reserve tickets please Email access@huntingtontheatre.org, call ticketing services at 617-266-0800, or visit in person at the Huntington Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston or the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont St, Boston.
Accessible performances are supported in part by the Liberty Mutual Foundation.
OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE: Tuesday, September 29 at 7pm. The Huntington offers open captioning at designated performances for any patron who benefits from having the text of spoken dialogue visible in time with the play.
ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE: Friday, October 2 at 7:30pm. The Huntington offers American Sign Language interpretation at designated performances for patrons who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE: Saturday, October 3 at 2pm. The Huntington offers audio description for patrons who are blind or low-vision at designated performances. Please visit huntingtontheatre.org/visit/accessibility for information.
Large Print and Braille Programs will also be available for patrons at performances
BOSTON FAMILY DAYS
The Huntington is proud to be a part of Mayor Wu’s Boston Family Days, a program that provides students who live in Boston and their families free access to many of the City’s world-class cultural institutions.
The Huntington will host one Boston Family Days performance for Purpose on Friday, September 11 at 7:30pm.
For more information on Boston Family Days and to register for the performance lottery, please click here and scroll down to the section “HOW TO SIGN UP FOR TICKETS TO PERFORMANCES.”
PURPOSE SPECIAL EVENTS
Blackout Performance: Sunday, September 20 at 7pm
In community partnership with Embrace Boston, The Huntington will host a Blackout Performance event for those who identify as members of Africa’s Global Diaspora (inclusive of Black folk of all identities). A Blackout performance is the purposeful creation of an environment in which a majority-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces – free from the white gaze.
The Blackout Performance of Purpose will take place on Sunday, September 20 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Tickets to this performance are Pay What You Wish starting at $5. huntingtontheatre.org/blackout
There will be a pre-show gathering at 6pm with light bites, community, and music from Díjí Kay. More information about Díjí Kay can be found at soundsofdgk.com
This Blackout experience is also shared in partnership with Castle of Our Skins, a Black arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of Our Skins invites exploration of Black heritage and culture while spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of the past and present. castleskins.org
Student Matinee performance: Friday, September 25 at 10am
The Huntington Education Department hosts a student matinee of Purpose on Friday, September 25 at 10am at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St).
To reserve your school group and learn more information, please email education@huntingtontheatre.org.
Humanities Forum feat. Embrace Boston CEO Imari Paris Jeffries: Sunday, September 27 at 2pm
The Huntington hosts a post-show discussion with Embrace Boston President and CEO Imari Paris Jeffries to discuss themes and questions in Purpose after the 2pm matinee performance on Sunday, September 27 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St).
Student Matinee performance: Tuesday, September 29 at 10am
The Huntington Education Department hosts a student matinee of Purpose on Tuesday, September 29 at 10am at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St).
To reserve your school group and learn more information, please email education@huntingtontheatre.org.
Actors Forum: Thursday, October 1 at 7pm
The Huntington hosts a moderated, post-show discussion with members of the cast after the 7pm performance on Thursday, October 1 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Hear actors from Purpose reflect on their roles and nuances of each character.
Actors Forum: Wednesday, October 7 at 2pm
The Huntington hosts a moderated, post-show discussion with members of the cast after the 2pm matinee performance on Wednesday, October 7 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Hear actors from Purpose reflect on their roles and nuances of each character.
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
Media interested in interviewing artists involved with Purpose should contact Associate Director of Publicity Gabrielle Choi at gchoi@huntingtontheatre.org or 617-273-1520.
Press night for critics is Wednesday, September 16 at 7pm. Please RSVP here for press night or other available performances.
Production photos will be available for download online, and b-roll footage can be requested.
PHOTOS available for download here
ABOUT THE HUNTINGTON
Celebrating over 40 years of outstanding theatre, The Huntington is Boston’s leading professional theatre company. On our stages and throughout our city, we share enduring and untold stories that spark the imagination, amplify diverse voices, and connect communities. Since 1982, The Huntington has welcomed more than 3.5 million audience members, produced over 250 plays (including more than 140 premieres, with 18 moving to Broadway or Off Broadway), earned the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, and served more than half a million students.
Led by Norma Jean Calderwood Artistic Director Loretta Greco and Executive Director Christopher Mannelli, The Huntington welcomes broad and diverse audiences, provides life-changing opportunities for students through our education and community programs, is a national leader in the development of playwrights and new plays, and serves as a hub for Boston’s cultural community at the beautifully restored Huntington Theatre and the state-of-the-art Calderwood Pavilion/BCA.
From 2024-2026, The Huntington catalyzed the ambitious two-year Ufot Family Cycle in Boston, a landmark nine-play series by Emmy-nominated and Massachusetts-born playwright Mfoniso Udofia, activating a city-wide effort supported by 35+ organizations and reaching thousands of live and digital audience members across Greater Boston and beyond. In Summer 2026, Olivier-nominated playwright John Kolvenbach’s Stand Up if You’re Here Tonight (part of The Huntington’s 23/24 season) reached international audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. And, coming up in 2027, The Huntington will open a new wing of the Huntington Theatre on Huntington Avenue. This storied venue’s expanded facilities reflect a bold vision for the future, allowing us to innovatively expand our services to audiences, artists, and the community for generations to come.
For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org.
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