By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Directed by Amina Robinson
Produced in association with Geva Theatre
February 5 – 25, 2027
“A merciless dissection of hypocrisy — You may have trouble catching your breath from laughing so hard.”
— The New York Times
★★★★★ (out of 5)
“Purpose is a big swing. But that’s what it takes to get a big hit.”
— Time Out
In Purpose, a family reunion becomes something far more complicated. When Nazareth Jasper returns home during a winter storm, he finds himself pulled back into the orbit of a family whose legacy looms large. The youngest son of a celebrated Civil Rights leader, Nazareth has spent years trying to escape the expectations placed upon him—but one weekend under the same roof forces everyone to confront truths they’ve long avoided.
As parents, siblings, and an unexpected guest gather around the dinner table, secrets surface, loyalties are tested, and the meaning of family is called into question. With sharp humor and emotional insight, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins crafts a riveting portrait of a family wrestling with reputation, responsibility, and the complicated love that binds them together.
At its heart, Purpose asks what happens when the stories we tell about ourselves collide with the truths we try to hide—and reminds us why theatre is the place where we come together to face them. This is where we gather.
Three Things to Know: 2026/27 Season
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a writer and theatre artist whose plays include Purpose, Appropriate, The Comeuppance, Girls, Everybody, War, Gloria, Appropriate, 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.
Purpose is theatre that meets you in the room. It asks, what do you owe the family you come from—and the life you choose for yourself?
Read more about the Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning Purpose and its recent Broadway run.
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Saturday, February 13, 2027 at 2PM
This performance offers live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Through a wireless headset, audience members receive a spoken account of the visual elements of the production, including actions, costumes, and scenery.
Sunday, February 14, 2027 at 3PM
This performance includes open captioning, displaying the spoken dialogue, sound effects, and other audio elements in real time on a screen visible from select seating areas. The open captioning machine will be located at the front of the right side Orchestra section. For the best viewing experience of the captions, we recommend seating in Rows C–D of the right Orchestra.
Wednesday, February 17, 2027 at 1PM
This performance features live American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation by certified interpreters. Reserved seating is available to ensure optimal sightlines to the interpreters.
Run Time
Approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Age Recommendation
Ages 16+
Content Advisory
Contains strong language, mature themes, discussions of mental health, sexuality, reproductive choices, and family conflict.