[4] In the early 1900s, Jeff Daniels’ grandfather owned the building that would one day become the Purple Rose as a car and bus garage.

[9] In 1999, a capital campaign worth $2.2 million was launched with the aim to expand the building including the stage, lobby, and administrative spaces.

In those years, Sanville directed over 60 productions,[12] and performed in 12 – including The Tropical Pickle, A Stone Carver and The Odd Couple as Oscar.

[14] Bart Bauer, one of the founding members of the theatre,[15] has designed over 35 sets for the Purple Rose including the Sherlock Holmes world premieres and Annapurna.

Morning After Grace has since had runs at Royal Manitoba Theatre Company, Asolo Rep, and Shakespeare and Co.[21] David MacGregor is another Michigan playwright with 6 productions at the Purple Rose.

TV star Randolph Mantooth has performed in two productions at the Purple Rose: Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts[24] & the world premiere Morning After Grace by Carey Crim.

[64] Jeff plays original music and sometimes is joined onstage by close musician friends[65] such as Brad Phillips, the Ben Daniels Band, and Brian Vander Ark.

[68] The Purple Rose has won three Edgerton Foundation New Play awards – for White Buffalo (2011),[69] Gaps in the Fossil Record (2015),[70] and Willow Run (2017).

[91] Apprentices were paid a modest stipend, gaining experience in lighting, sound, stage management, design, set construction, and administrative/box office work.

[93][94] The claims resulted in an investigation by the Actors' Equity Association, the union representing Purple Rose staff, which dismissed all but one of the complaints.

[95] The Purple Rose reached a confidential settlement with a group of former apprentices in late 2020 regarding wage and hour violations, and committed to hire an independent human resources firm.

[14] In 2001, Purple Rose Films produced Escanaba in da Moonlight,[96] based on the play of the same name written by Jeff Daniels.

[33] In 2002, Purple Rose Films produced an original movie entitled Super Sucker,[97] a story about vacuum cleaner salesmen.

Eleven actors in the film were associated with the Purple Rose Theatre, including Jeff Daniels, Matt Letscher, Guy Sanville, and Michelle Mountain.

[103] In October 2017, the Purple Rose was featured along with Cornelia Sampson and the Guadalupe Arts and Culture Center in an episode of Detroit Performs.