As the leaves begin to turn and autumn’s chill creeps into the air, America’s stages are coming alive with a remarkable array of musicals—each tackling the past, present, and future in their own distinctive ways. From the world premiere of a Prince-inspired spectacle in Minneapolis to a climate crisis musical on tour, and from a sweeping Dickensian epic in small-town Pennsylvania to a timely revival on Broadway, this fall’s theater season is a testament to the enduring power of musical storytelling.
Leading the charge is the much-anticipated stage adaptation of Prince’s Purple Rain, which will make its world premiere on October 16, 2025, at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. According to the Star Tribune, the production will run for a month, wrapping up on November 16 before setting its sights on Broadway. Fans of the late icon can expect more than just nostalgia: the show’s stars, Kris Kollins (portraying The Kid) and Rachel Webb (as Apollonia), have already offered a tantalizing preview by recording a new rendition of "I Would Die 4 U" at New York’s Vinegar Hill Sound. Their intimate spin on the classic, along with earlier teasers like Kollins’ medley featuring "Kiss," has only heightened anticipation.
The creative pedigree behind Purple Rain is impressive. Tony-winner Jason Michael Webb handles arrangements and orchestrations, while Prince’s own collaborators, Morris Hayes and Bobby Z, serve as music advisors—ensuring the production remains true to the spirit of the original. The book is crafted by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a Tony and Pulitzer Prize finalist, promising a narrative as compelling as the music itself. As the curtain rises in Prince’s hometown, fans are eager to see how this groundbreaking artist’s legacy will be reimagined for a new generation.
Meanwhile, Broadway is preparing to revisit America’s complicated past with a revival of Ragtime at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater. Previews begin September 26, with an official opening on October 16, 2025, as reported by Broadway Direct. The production boasts a powerhouse cast: Caissie Levy as Mother, Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Nichelle Lewis as Sarah, and Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh, supported by a 33-member ensemble. With music by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and a book by Terrence McNally, Ragtime draws from E.L. Doctorow’s acclaimed 1975 novel, weaving together the stories of three families at the dawn of the 20th century.
The musical’s themes—racism, capitalism, immigration, and the American Dream—resonate as strongly today as they did in the original 1998 Broadway run, which won four Tony Awards. The upcoming revival is helmed by Lear deBessonet, known for her community-focused and activist approach. "We always make art for community. We make it because we want it to mean something in other people’s lives. We also want people of different experiences, different backgrounds, different views on the world to actually share a space," deBessonet said at the first rehearsal, according to Broadway Direct. The timing of this revival, overlapping with the 2024 U.S. presidential election and following a 25th anniversary benefit concert that raised over $1 million, underscores the show’s enduring relevance.
Not far from the bright lights of Broadway, a different kind of musical activism is taking center stage. Dear Everything, a climate crisis musical, is set to embark on a three-city U.S. tour beginning September 28, 2025, at Miami Beach Bandshell in Florida. As reported by Playbill, the tour will continue to Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre on September 30 and Salt Lake City’s Union Event Center on October 3. Directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus, the show stars Crystal Monee Hall, YDE, Paravi, Luke Ferrari, Michael Williams, Brittany Campbell, Javier Muñoz, and Terence Archie. Each city features a unique narrator: V (formerly Eve Ensler) in Miami Beach, conservationist Terry Tempest Williams in Salt Lake City, and a soon-to-be-announced figure in Los Angeles. Local youth choirs will join each performance, amplifying the sense of community and urgency.
Developed at the American Repertory Theater and featuring music by Justin Tranter, Caroline Pennell, and Eren Cannata, with lyrics by Tranter, Pennell, and V, Dear Everything centers on young activists fighting to save their local forest. The story, described as "an homage to youth activists fighting for our futures" by V, is a rallying cry for collective action and environmental stewardship. Paulus adds, "Dear Everything is more than a show—it’s a passionate cry for protecting our future." The show’s roots in contemporary activism and its collaborative spirit—bolstered by orchestrations from Daniel Crean and contributions from Idina Menzel—make it a standout in a season full of timely works.
For those seeking classic storytelling on a grand scale, Servant Stage’s production of A Tale of Two Cities offers a sweeping, emotionally charged experience. Running through September 28, 2025, at the Performing Arts Center at Warwick High School in Lititz, Pennsylvania, this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel promises a spectacle in the tradition of Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera. As detailed by Servant Stage, the production features 60 performers, a full orchestra, period costumes, and elaborate sets that transport audiences to late-18th-century London and Paris.
Executive Director Johnathan Bauer describes the show as "one of the most moving and visually stunning productions we've ever brought to the stage." The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2008 with music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello, delves into themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption amid the French Revolution’s turbulence. In keeping with Servant Stage’s mission of accessibility, all performances are offered on a pay-what-you-will basis, ensuring that theatergoers of all backgrounds can experience the magic of live performance. With more than 50,000 audience members welcomed in the past year, the company’s commitment to community engagement is clear—and will continue as they close out the year with A Christmas Carol.
What ties these diverse productions together is their willingness to grapple with big ideas—whether it’s the legacy of a music legend, the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, the urgent call to protect our planet, or timeless questions of love and sacrifice. Each show, in its own way, invites audiences to reflect, connect, and imagine new possibilities. As V put it, "It is an urgent and thrilling time to be on the road in America with Dear Everything coming together with audiences in dialogue, community, and action." The stage, it seems, remains one of our most vital forums for collective dreaming and reckoning.
