Award-Winning Black Family Drama, ‘Purpose’, Comes to La Jolla Playhouse

May 26, 2026

"Purpose," a Tony Award-winning play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins running at La Jolla Playhouse through June 7, examines the Black political Jasper family as they navigate scandal, legacy, and accountability. The story centers on Nazareth, a nature photographer who observes his family's dysfunction from the periphery, including his father Reverend Solomon's moral denial, his mother Claudine's controlling caregiving, and his brother Junior's criminal past and political collapse. The play explores how inherited expectations and public image can crush individuals, while characters like Morgan (Junior's wife) and Aziza (Nazareth's queer friend) challenge the family's dependence on secrecy and rigid traditions.

Who is affected

The Jasper family members: Nazareth (nature photographer), Reverend Solomon (patriarch), Claudine (matriarch), Junior (state senator with criminal history), and Morgan (Junior's wife)
Aziza, Nazareth's queer friend who represents chosen family
Black political dynasties and families dealing with generational expectations
Theater audiences at La Jolla Playhouse
Black women forced into caretaker and protector roles

What action is being taken

The play "Purpose" is currently running at La Jolla Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre through June 7, directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg.

Why it matters

The play matters because it examines how historical righteousness and public image can become tools for denial and harm within Black families, particularly political dynasties carrying civil rights legacies. It reveals the destructive weight of inherited expectations and how names, traditions, and "purpose" can bind people into performing roles that conceal corruption, mental illness, and personal suffering. The production challenges audiences to distinguish between inherited obligation and authentic self-determination, while exposing how secrecy and image management damage both individuals and family structures.

What's next

Tickets and information are available at lajollaplayhouse.org for performances running until June 7.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint