Purpose - Play

Purpose - Play at OneAmerica Mainstage - Indiana Repertory Theater

Every family has a version of the story it tells in public. Purpose is about what happens when the private version walks through the front door. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' play centers on the Jasper family, whose influence in civil rights, church and politics is well known. Then comes a family celebration, and the polished image starts to crack. If you like drama that gets under your skin, this is the one to see on February 7, 2027.

The spark is simple and dangerous: an uninvited guest. One arrival, and family secrets are pushed into the open. That's the kind of setup that makes a live audience lean forward together. You won't be reading about the fallout in a review. You'll be sitting in the room as it unfolds, wondering what loyalty costs, what legacy demands and who gets to decide what a family owes its own name. Those questions don't stay in the theater. They follow you out and into the car ride home.

This production also comes with serious credentials. Purpose won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, honors that belong to the play itself. Indiana Repertory Theatre presents it as a co-production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, with Tyrone Phillips directing the local staging at the OneAmerica Mainstage in Indianapolis. You'll have plenty to talk about afterward. Reserve your seats for Purpose at Indiana Repertory Theater and see the Jasper family secrets come out live.