Phylicia Rashad is set to make her Broadway directorial debut, helming a new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
At 76, Rashad is poised to make her directorial debut on Broadway when Purpose hits the Helen Hayes Theater in New York City on Feb. 25, 2025. Penned by Jacobs-Jenkins, the play chronicles the Jasper family’s ambitious journey to establish themselves as a powerful force in Black American politics. As they navigate the challenges on their path to influence, the family’s dynamics are further tested when the youngest son, Nazareth, arrives home with an unforeseen guest. The unexpected revelation forces the Jasper family to grapple with their faith, their legacy, and the underlying cracks in their seemingly invulnerable foundation.
This isn’t Rashad’s first foray into directing the critically acclaimed play. The Cosby Show star previously directed Purpose when it was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, debuting in Chicago in March 2024 to strong reviews. The production quickly became one of the highest-grossing shows in Steppenwolf’s nearly 50-year history, according to ABC 7, and was extended through April.
“I’ve been many places in my life and good places abound, and this is certainly one of them and this is a good time,” Rashad told the outlet of her passion for directing at the time.
Casting for the Broadway run of Purpose has not been announced as of yet.
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Rashad boasts a remarkable career in acting, theater and film.
She became a household name through her iconic role as the strong and loving Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. Her impressive television portfolio also includes standout appearances in NBC’s This Is Us, Fox’s Empire and Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man on the OWN Network.
Rashad’s influence extends well beyond television, her stage achievements are equally noteworthy. She has captivated audiences on both Broadway and off Broadway, showcasing her musical talents in productions like Jelly’s Last Jam, Into the Woods, and The Wiz among several other stage projects.
In 2016, Rashad was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Shelah in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Head of Passes at the Public Theater. That same year, she also portrayed the Duchess of Gloucester in Richard II for the Shakespeare on the Radio collaboration between The Public Theater and WNYC.
A two-time Tony Award winner, Rashad’s most recent Broadway appearance was in 2022 when she starred in Skeleton Crew. Beyond her illustrious acting career, she is the dean emerita of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University and has a notable directing resume. Her directing credits include August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, marking her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater, and Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Our Lady of 121st Street, among several other acclaimed productions.
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