Berklee Celebrates Prince’s Legacy in Two-Night Signature Series Event

Berklee College of Music’s spring Signature Series continues with the Prince Project, a performance honoring the indelible legacy and multifaceted artistry of Prince. The two-night concert will take place Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17, at 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center. 

Under the direction of Tia Fuller, a Grammy-nominated professor known for innovative productions including tributes to Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, the Prince Project takes audience members on a sonic journey through the many eras of the cultural icon. Featuring a global cast of more than 80 students and faculty, the production was originally conceived by students Brayden Crawford and Julian Scott after their experience in Berklee’s Michael Jackson Ensemble.

Fuller is joined by an all-star team of ensemble faculty, including Mimi Jones, production team and health and wellness director; Lisa Guyer, lead vocals director; Jhony Keys, musical director; and Jerome Kyles, backing vocals director. Additionally, Anthony Burrell serves as choreographer and co-creative director, leading a talented cohort of dancers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

“The collective effort that has gone into this production fully embodies the work ethic and commitment to authenticity of Prince Rogers Nelson himself,” said Fuller. “This show celebrates the fearless nature of Prince’s musical and artistic identity, one that defied the traditional labels and historic limitations placed on Black musicians by the mainstream industry. With a production like this, it is imperative that our students lean into the five principles of wisdom, humility, forgiveness, nurturing and spirituality, the building blocks of one’s musicianship and essentially one’s character."

The program features renditions and original arrangements of classic songs that transport listeners through the many eras of Prince’s career: from his early years as an emerging superstar to his battles with major record labels and reinvention as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince, as well as his accomplishments as a producer and his collaboration with Chaka Khan. Audiences can look forward to such hits as “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” “Nothing Compares 2 U,” “1999,” “Little Red Corvette,” and “Purple Rain.”

“I am honored to be part of a show that pays tribute to one of the most iconic musical geniuses of our time,” added Jones. “Prince was such an inspiration to me coming up, as he, along with other luminaries like Michael Jackson and Miles Davis, set trends musically and broke through racial, generational, and gender barriers.”

The production reflects the kind of high-level work that defines the student experience at Berklee. “With ambitious projects like the Prince Project, watching students mature as they navigate these immense changes is really inspiring to see,” said Keys.

The Prince Project takes place on April 16 and 17 at the Berklee Performance Center, located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. Tickets are available online and at the Berklee box office.