In the opening scene of Purpose, Nazareth, the youngest of Solomon and Claudine Jasper, is alone. He launches into a monologue that begins with the words, “That morning…” You don’t quite know why he’s starting here, but eventually it will make sense.
This scene, in many respects, is a clue; it’s a sign that Naz (as he is called throughout the production) is setting the stage for…something. And, to some extent, this opening scene is a good example of the way Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the playwright of Purpose, tells stories.
He invites the audience in, says Director Keith Arthur Bolden.
“He invites you into a home to explore these different dynamics of mostly familiar structures. We all like to pretend as though our families are perfect, and we’re perfect,” he says. “But Branden shows cracks, which I applaud.”
For Bolden, who is directing the Alliance Theatre’s production, Jacobs-Jenkins accomplishes something that many of his contemporaries struggle to achieve.
“He’s provocative without shock value. Some people don’t know how to be provocative without polarizing your audience. He has questions about humanity,” he says. “He doesn’t necessarily need to answer those questions, right? But he asks the questions he has about humanity in his work. He asks questions about the humanity of his characters in a grander sense that allows everyone to find themselves in each of the characters.”
In Purpose we meet the Jasper family. They are gathering for a reunion that is long overdue. For decades the Jaspers have embodied what it means to be a virtuous and powerful Black political family. As ministers, activists, and change-makers, their legacy has shaped generations. Over the course of this one evening, this closely-knit family finds their familial bond and reputation in danger of being upended.
When he was approached with the opportunity of being a part of this production, Bolden said he was presented with two options. He could either be a member of the cast. Or he could direct. He chose to direct.
He’d been introduced to the playwright in 2010 when he was cast in the West Coast premiere of Jacobs-Jenkins’ play, Neighbors at The Matrix Theatre in Hollywood as Sambo, a member of the controversial Crow family who move in next door. When Purpose opened on Broadway 15 years later, Bolden didn’t hesitate to see it.
After, he thought to himself, “I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to play Junior anytime soon, but when it comes up, I’ll definitely audition for it.” But when given a choice, something he said has never really been an option before in his career, directing was the obvious choice.
“This play is my jam,” he said. “I just, I felt like I would enjoy helping people find the story more than being a part of the story. I can show up and move the chess pieces around. That’s where it really becomes fun. You know? I love being in a room and collaborating from every aspect. From the cast to stage management to the music. I want them to bring me their best ideas, and we figure out how it fits in the story.”
In total, Jacobs-Jenkins has written nine major professional plays. Of those nine, he’s received three Pulitzer Prize nominations in Drama (Gloria, Everybody, and Purpose) and won one for Purpose. In 2023, his play, Appropriate, received the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play and in 2025, Purpose was awarded the Tony Award for Best Play.
What he loves most about Purpose is that the play challenges us to ask who gets to define that purpose: our parents, our faith, our family’s legacy, or the quiet truth within ourselves.
“I was raised in Los Angeles by Southern parents who gave me the church, gave me faith, and taught me that God would always be by my side. They also taught me that every life has purpose,” Bolden adds. “Our purpose in life is our driving force. Once you discover it, you can move forward with a certain freedom and clarity—as though you are finally on cruise control—because your steps are ordered and rooted in your truth.”
But, Bolden adds, the play isn’t just about purpose. It’s also about time. He hopes that after audiences see the production, they will walk away with a strong sense of intent. And not in a general sense.
“I’m hoping that people become more aware,” he says. “I hope they will walk away being intentional about life, the choices they make, and the people they share life and time with. I hope they walk away taking stock of who they are and where they are in life, and where they want to go.”
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