“Purple Rain” set for Broadway in 2027

The stage adaptation of Purple Rain, based on Prince’s 1984 hit film, will open on Broadway on April 12, 2027, after previews begin on March 12 at New York’s Majestic Theatre.

Directed by Saheem Ali, the musical features Prince’s original songs, including “Purple Rain”, “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy”.

It follows The Kid, an aspiring musician whose troubled past threatens his dream of stardom.

The production includes a book by Peter Duhan. Casting has not yet been announced. Prince, whose music inspired the show, died in 2016 at the age of 57.

Artemis II crew gets space honour

The four Artemis II astronauts who flew around the Moon earlier this year have received the Congressional Space Medal of Honour, the US’s highest space honour.

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen were the first astronauts to travel to the Moon in more than 50 years. During their April mission, they came within 4,067 miles (6,545 kilometres) of the Moon while testing Nasa’s Orion spacecraft.

The crew did not land, but their mission helped prepare for Artemis III, while Artemis IV could land astronauts near the lunar south pole as early as 2028.

President Donald Trump presented the medals in Houston and announced plans for a US Space Academy. Only 30 astronauts had received the medal before them, including Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong.

Tom Hardy releases rap album

Actor Tom Hardy, under his rap name Frankie Pulitzer, has released his first album, Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer, with hip-hop group Czarface.

The 15-track album features Busta Rhymes, Method Man and EL-P, along with references to Marvel, Shakespeare and Stephen King.

Hardy has worked with Czarface since 2021, when the group introduced Frankie Pulitzer as a mysterious rapper. Fans soon began speculating that Hardy was behind the identity, which has now been confirmed.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 12th, 2026