“Purple Rain,” the movie, is an odd one. Fronted by a first-time actor and marred by misogyny and violence, it ultimately succeeds thanks to one of the greatest rock music soundtracks in history.

“Purple Rain,” the musical, is also an odd one. Fronted by a first-time actor and marred by attempts to correct that misogyny and violence, it nearly succeeds thanks to, well, the music.

After three weeks of previews — a time when producers gauge audience reaction and make changes as needed — the (reportedly) $26.5 million world premiere based on the 1984 film officially opened Wednesday night at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Friends, family and followers of the Purple One filled the crowd, including Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner, Revolution drummer Bobby Z (who, along with Prince associate Morris Hayes, served as a musical adviser) and filmmaker Spike Lee. (Minneapolis music icon James Samuel “Cornbread” Harris Jr. was sitting behind me at the show.)

It’s not the story of Prince, but rather a loose adaptation of the film, itself a semi-autobiographical tale based on Prince, who is dubbed “the Kid.” But pretty much everyone else — Apollonia, Morris Day, the members of the Revolution — are referred to by their real names. And a significant amount of the musical takes place on a reproduction of First Avenue, awkwardly renamed “the First,” the famed nightclub where much of the film was shot. So the lines between truth and fiction understandably get blurred.

Beyond newcomer Kris Kollins in the lead role, the cast and crew are stocked with seasoned Broadway professionals, including Tony-nominated director Lileana Blain-Cruz and two-time Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who wrote the book. “Hamilton” actor Jared Howelton steals every scene he’s in with his over-the-top and absolutely hilarious portrayal of Morris Day. (Even when he sings a song from inside of a dumpster!)

Blain-Cruz and Jacobs-Jenkins attempted to counter the rampant sexism in the movie — which includes a scene where a woman is tossed into an aforementioned dumpster — by fleshing out the characters of Apollonia and Revolution members Wendy and Lisa and exploring the Kid’s mental health issues. In the first night of previews, those changes bogged down the proceedings, which stretched past three hours (including intermission) with seemingly endless scenes weighed down with therapy speak.

Wednesday’s production made much-needed cuts and edits that dropped about a half hour’s worth of the show and gave it a more streamlined feel. At the same time, the storyline now comes across as even more muddled and confusing. One could walk away thinking it’s the story of a self-absorbed jerk who is terrible to everyone around him and magically becomes a slightly less self-absorbed jerk by the end.

The best thing that happened during previews is Kollins’ rapid development from timid amateur to captivating headliner. On the first night, he nailed Prince’s vocals but utterly lacked in stage presence whenever he wasn’t singing. His line readings still feel stilted at times, just like Prince’s felt in the movie. But now Kollins has figured out how to shine like a true star and the show’s all the better for it.

It’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge that Prince was a true musical genius, a once-in-a-generation talent who mastered every instrument he touched, wrote and performed trail-blazing, game-changing music and made it all look as easy as breathing. That Kollins can even come close to replicating any of that is incredible. “Purple Rain” is the definition of a musical that will live or die based on its lead.

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While the plot needs work that may well be impossible, the musical sequences are the real draw. Thanks to advisers Bobby Z and Hayes along with Tony Award-winning music supervisor Jason Michael Webb, the songs throb with raw energy. They also serve as a reminder that Prince drew from any number of genres including rock, funk, gospel and electropop to create such enduring numbers.

“The Beautiful Ones” closes the first act and sees the Kid attempting to win back the heart of Apollonia, played by Broadway vet Rachel Webb. The emotionally charged number, easily one of Prince’s finest moments, culminates with the Kid writhing around on the floor, screaming in agony and ecstasy, pain and release. Breathtaking is one way to describe it.

Even better is “Darling Nikki,” the famously filthy rocker that so offended Tipper Gore and other Washington wives that they created the Parental Advisory sticker for records, which ironically enough became a sort of badge of honor for some musicians. The song is a vital one from the era of Dirty Prince, long before he became a Jehovah’s Witness around the turn of the century.

Kollins performs the number on a stage bathed in deep red light and stares directly into the hand-held cameras that beam live footage to a screen above, a move used in several songs to terrific effect. For a few electrifying minutes, Kollins truly does embody Prince in all his mysterious, dangerous and sexually charged glory. Moments like that make it easier to overlook the show’s flaws.

‘Purple Rain’

When: Through Nov. 23
Where: State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis
Tickets: Starting at $50.25 and priced dynamically via hennepinarts.org
Capsule: The music is the star of this show.

By FATIMA HUSSEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Budget Office on Thursday confirmed it had been hacked, potentially disclosing important government data to malicious actors.

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The small government office, with some 275 employees, provides objective, impartial analysis to support lawmakers during the budget process. It is required to produce a cost estimate for nearly every bill approved by a House or Senate committee and will weigh in earlier when asked to do so by lawmakers.

Caitlin Emma, a spokeswoman for the CBO said in a written statement that the agency “has identified the security incident, has taken immediate action to contain it, and has implemented additional monitoring and new security controls to further protect the agency’s systems going forward.”

The Washington Post first wrote the story on the CBO hack, stating that the intrusion was done by a suspected foreign actor, citing four anonymous people familiar with the situation.

The CBO did not confirm whether the data breach was done by a foreign actor.

“The incident is being investigated and work for the Congress continues,” Emma said. “Like other government agencies and private sector entities, CBO occasionally faces threats to its network and continually monitors to address those threats.”

The CBO manages a variety of massive data sources that relate to a multitude of policy issues — from the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans, to the unprecedented implementation of sweeping tariffs on countries around the world, to massive tax and spending cuts passed into law this summer.

Was Apple Valley going to do it again?

One day after upsetting second-seeded East Ridge in the Class 4A quarterfinals in St. Paul, the Eagles took the first set against third-seeded Prior Lake in convincing fashion.

Apple Valley fell to Prior Lake earlier in the month, but that was when star middle blocker Ginny Gores was out with a concussion. This was a different ballgame.

“They definitely pushed us in ways that we hadn’t been pushed in a little while,” Lakers coach Mike Dean said.

But Prior Lake responded. The Lakers won the next three sets to claim a four-set semifinal victory and advance to play top-seeded Lakeville South in Saturday night’s final — the program’s first since 2015. The Lakers have never won state.

“I think we just stayed together and we really found ourselves and found our team,” Lakers sophomore middle blocker Brielle Gunderson said. “We came together, we really put it all out there and we showed them Prior Lake is going to come back and they’re not going to see the same team they saw the set before.”

The Lakers’ serve and block stiffened. Offense that came so easily for Apple Valley quickly dissipated.

“I’m just really proud of the way the girls responded,” Dean said. “I know in that first set we came out a little flat and gave them something to feel good about. The way we battled back and stayed composed spoke to the maturity and the resilience this team has.”

Dylan Raveling paced Prior Lake (23-10) with 17 kills, while Addison Barbow tallied 16.

Gorres and Sophia Cowan again spearheaded the Eagles’ offense. Cowan recorded a gaudy 24 kills.

“Every match that we have, I feel like — whether it’s offensively or defensively — she does something that I don’t think I’ve seen her do, or maybe I haven’t seen a high school athlete do,” Apple Valley coach Hannah Specktor said of her star hitter. “I just think having a power outside like her is something every state tournament team needs if they want to keep pushing forward to the end.”

Each year, the Eagles (19-10) make strides toward that goal. They again figure to be a major fixture next year with Gorres, Cowan and plenty more firepower back. With each tournament trip, Specktor noted, the Eagles learn and evolve.

This year’s lesson for seventh-seeded Apple Valley?

“I think we’re going to remember this tournament as something we used to prove to ourselves that we could do it,” Cowan said. “We are really hard workers and we can do hard things. It’s not easy to make it to the championship. We knew that coming in. But after the game (Wednesday against East Ridge), it proved that we’re relentless and we’re going to work our hardest to give everybody our best game. Just never give up.”

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Sen. Sandy Pappas plans to retire in 2026 after 42 years in the state Legislature, the St. Paul lawmaker announced on Thursday.

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul. (Courtesy of the Minnesota Senate)

Pappas, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party representing Senate District 65 in the heart of St. Paul, was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1984. She was elected to the Senate in 1990 and served as Senate President from 2013 to 2016.

Pappas is chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, which reviews borrowing and funding proposals for large public projects. The powerful committee is responsible for advancing bonding and other spending bills that fund billions of dollars in infrastructure projects.

Neighborhoods in her district include Midway, Frogtown, North End, West Seventh, Summit-University, downtown, as well as the West Side and parts of West St. Paul.

In a news release announcing her retirement at the end of the 2026 legislative session, Pappas expressed gratitude for more than four decades of representing her community.

“The Legislature has been so much a part of my life that leaving is like saying farewell to my family,” Pappas said. “I have worked alongside Minnesotans on issues from reproductive rights to pension policy; traveled from the Northwest Angle to our Iowa border on countless bonding tours; and collaborated with hundreds of colleagues to improve Minnesotans’ lives.”

The Senate DFL Caucus, in a statement, described Pappas as a “steadfast ally to workers and unions; and an advocate for social and economic equality for women and people of color.”

Besides her work on the Capital Investment Committee, Pappas has backed bills requiring employers to provide workers with “sick and safe time,” establishing a child protection program and eliminating the statute of limitations on sexual assault.

Pappas led the effort to pass the 2014 Women’s Economic Security Act, a bill aimed at protecting and promoting opportunities for women in the workplace. She also sponsored legislation creating the St. Paul Sales Tax Revitalization program, which provides funding for neighborhood and arts projects.

Projects funded by Pappas’ bills include downtown St. Paul’s Pedro Park, reconstruction of the Third Street-Kellogg Bridge, the new North End Community Center and Union Depot.

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The Minnesota Legislature has not passed a bonding bill for infrastructure projects since the DFL-controlled state government passed a record $2.6 billion borrowing and spending package in 2023. Pappas will have one more opportunity to pass a capital investment bill during the 2026 session in a now-divided state government.

Pappas is just one of several state lawmakers to announce plans to leave the Legislature in 2026. In September, Senate Taxes Committee Chair Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, announced she would retire at the end of her current term.

Rep. Kelly Moller, a Shoreview DFLer elected in 2018, and Ron Kresha, a Little Falls Republican elected in 2012, announced they wouldn’t run for new terms earlier in October.