Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Born 1984 · Age 41
American playwright known for Appropriate, Gloria, Everybody and Purpose; MacArthur Fellow (2016); two-time Tony winner; 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Washington, D.C.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in the Takoma neighborhood.
Started summer writing workshop in Charlottesville
Enrolled in a three-week summer writing workshop for teenagers in Charlottesville; returned annually for the next five years.
Finalist, Scripps National Spelling Bee
At age 13 Jacobs-Jenkins reached the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (stumbled on 'pinyin').
Graduated St. John's College High School
Completed secondary education at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C.
Matriculated at Princeton University
Enrolled at Princeton University; majored in anthropology and engaged heavily in the theater department.
Took Daphne Brooks' African American theater course
Took a class by Daphne Brooks at Princeton that Jacobs-Jenkins later called life-changing for showing performance's roots in history.
Worked at The New Yorker (intern then staff)
Worked in the fiction department at The New Yorker after interning there; connected with theater critic Hilton Als.
Graduated Princeton University, BA in Anthropology
Completed bachelor's degree (anthropology) at Princeton University (class of 2006).
Moved to New York City; enrolled at NYU Tisch
Moved to NYC and began a master's program in performance studies at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Earned MA in Performance Studies from NYU
Completed master's degree in performance studies at New York University (2007).
Wrote first play while working as editorial assistant
Wrote his first play during his time as an editorial assistant at The New Yorker (before Fulbright).
Residency/reading time at Freie Universität Berlin's JFK Institute Library
Spent intensive time reading classic American plays at the JFK Institute Library while on Fulbright in Berlin, which he cites as formative for his writing practice.
Received Fulbright Award; moved to Berlin
Awarded a Fulbright Study/Research grant to Germany; spent time in Berlin reading classic American plays and writing.
Wrote War during Fulbright stay
Began writing the play War while on the Fulbright fellowship in Germany, exploring biracial children (Mischlingskinder) after WWII.
Neighbors premiered Off-Broadway at the Public Theater
Neighbors (about minstrelsy and race) premiered at The Public in Feb–Mar 2010 and became a cause célèbre.
An Octoroon premiered at PS122 (first staged run)
An Octoroon, an adaptation of Boucicault's play, first ran at Performance Space New York (June 24–July 3, 2010).
Regional productions of Neighbors (Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston)
Neighbors presented at Matrix Theatre (LA, Aug 2010) and Mixed Blood Theatre (Minneapolis, Sep–Oct 2011) and Company One (Boston, 2011).
Won Helen Merrill Emerging Playwright Award
Awarded the Helen Merrill Award (Emerging Playwright category).
Received Paula Vogel Playwriting Award; Vineyard residency
Won the Paula Vogel Award from Vineyard Theatre; award included a residency (2011) enabling him to write Gloria.
Graduated Lila Acheson Wallace Playwrights Program at Juilliard (alumnus)
Completed the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at The Juilliard School (date approximate based on alumni records).
Gloria workshop at Vineyard Theatre
Gloria received a workshop at the Vineyard Theatre in January 2013 (development leading to later premiere).
Received Sundance Institute Tennessee Williams Award (inaugural)
Awarded the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award by the Sundance Institute (2013).
Joined Signature Theatre Residency Five program
Named a Signature Theatre Resident (Residency Five), a program guaranteeing productions of new work.
Won Obie Award(s) for Appropriate and An Octoroon
Received Obie Awards in 2014 (including Best New American Play for Appropriate and An Octoroon; also direction/performance Obies tied to these works).
An Octoroon Soho Rep run (revival)
An Octoroon ran Off-Off-Broadway at Soho Rep (Apr–Jun 2014), continuing the play's high-profile productions.
Appropriate premiered Off-Broadway at Signature
Appropriate debuted Off-Broadway at Pershing Square Signature Center (Mar 16–Apr 13, 2014), a critical breakthrough.
War premiered at Yale Repertory Theatre
War, commissioned by Yale Rep and developed while on Fulbright, premiered at Yale Rep in December 2014, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz.
Won Steinberg Playwright Award
Awarded the Steinberg Playwright Award in 2015, recognizing his contribution and promise as a dramatist.
Gloria premiered Off-Broadway at Vineyard Theatre
Gloria, a workplace comedy, opened at the Vineyard Theatre (June 15–July 18, 2015).
Gloria named Pulitzer Prize finalist
Gloria was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Received Windham–Campbell Prize (Drama)
Awarded the Windham–Campbell Literature Prize (Drama) at Yale University; prize includes $150,000.
Named MacArthur Fellow (Genius Grant)
Named a MacArthur Fellow, Class of 2016; fellowship carries a $625,000 award distributed over five years.
Received PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award & Creative Capital award
Won the PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award (Emerging American Playwright) and a Creative Capital award (with Carmelita Tropicana) in 2016.
Left early-career volatility; career momentum increased
By 2016 Jacobs-Jenkins's career accelerated following Obie, Pulitzer finalist nod, Windham and MacArthur awards.
Won Critics' Circle Theatre Award: Most Promising Playwright
Recognized by the Critics' Circle (UK) as Most Promising Playwright for works including Gloria and An Octoroon.
Everybody premiered Off-Broadway at Signature Theatre
Everybody (a modern riff on Everyman) began previews Jan 31, 2017 and officially opened Feb 21, directed by Lila Neugebauer.
Joined board of Soho Rep (serves on board)
Serves on the board of Soho Rep in New York City (Wikipedia notes current board membership; initial appointment year not explicitly listed).
Everybody named Pulitzer Prize finalist
Everybody was a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Consulting producer on HBO's Watchmen (miniseries)
Served as a consulting producer on the HBO miniseries Watchmen (2019).
Joined University of Texas at Austin faculty (MFA Playwriting)
Joined UT Austin's MFA playwriting program faculty; worked with Annie Baker and others on the program.
Girls premiered at Yale Repertory Theatre
Girls (a contemporary version of The Bacchae) premiered at Yale Repertory Theatre Oct 4–26, 2019, featuring dance music and live-streamed video.
Married actor Cheo Bourne
Jacobs-Jenkins married actor Cheo Bourne in 2019; the couple have a daughter.
Awarded Guggenheim and USA Artists fellowships
Selected as a Guggenheim Fellow (John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation) and received USA Artists fellowship in 2020.
Joined Yale Faculty — Professor in Practice
Joined Yale University as professor in the practice of Theater and Performance Studies (Yale Faculty of Arts & Sciences).
Executive producer & writer of FX's Kindred
Served as executive producer and writer on Kindred (FX, 2022), an adaptation of Octavia Butler's novel.
Consulting producer on Outer Range and contributed to Broadway revival
Served as consulting producer on Prime's Outer Range (2022) and contributed original material to a Broadway production of The Skin of Our Teeth (2022).
The Comeuppance premiered Off-Broadway
The Comeuppance (a dark reunion comedy about thirtysomethings) opened Off-Broadway in 2023 (and later ran in London in 2024).
Broadway debut — Appropriate at Hayes Theater
Appropriate opened on Broadway (Hayes Theater) in December 2023 in a revival starring Sarah Paulson and Elle Fanning.
Purpose premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre (Chicago)
Purpose, directed by Phylicia Rashad and portraying a Black political dynasty, premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago (2024).
Announced to write book for Purple Rain stage musical
Producer Orin Wolf announced Jacobs-Jenkins would write the book (libretto) for a new stage musical adaptation of Purple Rain (early 2024 announcement).
Appropriate nominated for 8 Tony Awards (2024)
Appropriate received 8 Tony nominations in 2024, including Best Revival of a Play and acting/direction categories.
Won 3 Tony Awards for Appropriate (including Best Revival)
Appropriate won three Tonys at the 77th Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Play, Best Actress (Sarah Paulson), and Best Lighting Design (Jane Cox).
Won Tony Award for Best Play for Purpose (2025)
Purpose won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play and the production also won Best Featured Actress (Kara Young); Jacobs-Jenkins became the first Black playwright to win back-to-back Tonys for best play.
Purpose won Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2025)
Purpose was awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama (Branden Jacobs-Jenkins named Pulitzer winner).
Purpose transferred to Broadway (Helen Hayes Theatre)
Purpose transferred to Broadway in February 2025 after its acclaimed Chicago run at Steppenwolf.
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