Downtown theaters will host 11 Broadway shows throughout Hennepin Theatre Trust’s upcoming 2024-2025 season.

The upcoming season, which starts in September, includes seven Minnesota premieres and four returning favorites, according to a Thursday announcement from Hennepin Theatre Trust.

Here's the full lineup:

  • Back to the Future: The Musical – A musical adaptation of the 1985 film kicks off the 2024-2025 season and runs for two weeks from Sept. 10-22 at the Orpheum Theatre
  • Some Like It Hot – The Tony Award-winning musical runs from Oct. 15-20 at the Orpheum Theatre
  • Les Misérables – The Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon returns to Minneapolis for a two-week run from Nov. 19-Dec. 1 at the Orpheum Theatre
  • The Book of Mormon – The outrageous musical comedy and nine-time Tony Award winning Best Musical returns for a fifth appearance in Minneapolis from Dec. 17-22 at the Orpheum Theatre
  • Parade – The musical revival makes its North American debut in Minneapolis from Jan. 21-26, 2025 at the Orpheum Theatre
  • Hadestown – Following sold-out performances in 2022, the Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical returns to the Orpheum Theatre from Feb. 11-16, 2025
  • Life of Pi – The Tony Award-winning musical based on the best-selling novel by the same name runs March 4-9, 2025 at the Orpheum Theatre
  • Purple Rain – The new musical based on Prince’s iconic film and movie premieres at the State Theatre in spring 2025
  • & Juliet – A new musical that reimagines Shakespeare’s classic love story comes to the Orpheum Theatre from May 13-18, 2025
  • Kimberly Akimbo – The acclaimed musical makes its Minnesota premiere at the Orpheum Theatre from July 8-13, 2025
  • Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – A newly reimagined 30th anniversary production runs for two weeks from Aug. 5-17, 2025 at the Orpheum Theatre

All of those shows have won a combined 40 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Costumes and Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Scenic Design of a Play, according to Hennepin Theatre Trust.

“Set against the vibrant backdrop of downtown Minneapolis, the new Broadway season promises artistic excellence and a significant local community and statewide economic impact.” Hennepin Theatre Trust President and CEO Todd Duesing said in a statement. “I’m delighted to join in the anticipation of welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to our historic theaters where they’ll experience the magic of live theater. The arts not only uplift and inspire, but they also have lasting effects beyond the final curtain by contributing to the cultural vitality of Minnesota.”

Todd Duesing, president and CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust, speaks to the crowd at the Armory during the Minneapolis Downtown Council's annual meeting on Feb. 7. Photo by Brianna Kelly

Earlier this week, it was announced that the pre-Broadway world premiere of “Purple Rain” the musical will take place at the State Theatre over multiple weeks next spring. Production dates haven’t been released yet, but Hennepin Theatre Trust’s 2024-2025 calendar indicates that it’ll likely run sometime after “Life of Pi” in early March, 2025 and before “& Juliet” in mid-May, 2025.

The adaptation of the '84 movie starring Prince will be directed by Tony Award-nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz and adapted by two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn. It will also feature music and lyrics by Prince, of course.

“We are more than thrilled and proud to present ‘Purple Rain’ in its hometown next year before it makes its way to Broadway,” Duesing said. “Prince was a visionary artist who created the Minneapolis sound and ignited a profound appreciation for the arts in the Twin Cities and Minnesota as a whole, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the region. As the birthplace of the legendary musician and songwriter, and the setting of the renowned movie that captivated the world, Minnesota will see everybody literally dancing in the streets in celebration of seeing ‘Purple Rain’ transform from screen to stage.”

The Star Tribune reported that "Purple Rain" will have the longest pre-Broadway engagement of any show in the Twin Cities since "The Lion King" in 1997.

Other details on the “Purple Rain” musical, including casting, are expected in the coming weeks.