Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is an American playwright whose searing examinations of race, identity, and American history have established him as one of the most vital voices in contemporary theatre, crowned by back-to-back Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize.
Defining moments and milestones
Jacobs-Jenkins emerged from Princeton's anthropology and theatre programs to pursue graduate training at Tisch and Juilliard, establishing himself through fellowships at The Public Theater and residencies at New York's most adventurous theatres. His 2010 debut with *Neighbors* at The Public Theater initiated a prolific career marked by formal innovation and unflinching engagement with American racial history. His ascent to prominence accelerated with *Appropriate* (2014), which moved from Signature Theatre to Broadway in 2023, earning him the 2024 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play and making him the first Black playwright to win consecutive Tonys when *Purpose* won Best Play in 2025, simultaneously claiming the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play for *Purpose* (2025); first Black playwright to win back-to-back Tony Awards (2024–2025)
St. John's College High School, Washington, D.C. (2002); Princeton University (BA in Anthropology, 2006, with certificate in theater); New York University Tisch School of the Arts (MA in Performance Studies, 2007); The Juilliard School (Lila Acheson Wallace Playwrights Program, 2014)
Recordings featuring Branden Jacobs-Jenkins in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.