Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (born December 29, 1984) is a highly influential American playwright, screenwriter, and producer, known for his boundary-pushing theatrical works that interrogate race, power, identity, and American legacy. With a style that blends classical forms with contemporary critique, Jacobs-Jenkins has emerged as a transformative voice in American drama.
Key Information
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Branden Jacobs-Jenkins |
| Date of Birth | December 29, 1984 |
| Age | 40 (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Hometown | Washington, D.C. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Languages Spoken | English |
| Profession | Playwright, Screenwriter, Producer |
| Genres | Drama, Satire, Experimental Theater |
| Primary Themes | Race, Identity, Media, History, Morality |
| Years Active | 2010–present |
| Famous Works | An Octoroon, Appropriate, Gloria, Everybody, The Comeuppance |
| Education | – B.A. in Anthropology, Princeton University |
| – M.A. in Performance Studies, NYU Tisch School of the Arts | |
| – Playwriting Fellowship, Juilliard School | |
| High School | St. Albans School, Washington, D.C. |
| Mother’s Name | Patricia Jacobs (Harvard Law School graduate, business consultant) |
| Father’s Name | Patricia Jacobs |
| Siblings | Bradley Jacobs |
| Marital Status | Not Married |
| Children | Currently don’t have children |
| Residence | New York City, New York, USA |
| Teaching Roles | Yale University, Princeton University, NYU, Hunter College |
| Awards and Honors | MacArthur “Genius” Grant, Obie Awards, Tony Award, Pulitzer Finalist |
| Theater Affiliations | Signature Theatre (Resident Playwright), Soho Rep, The Public Theater |
| Television Work | Creator/EP of Kindred (Hulu/FX), working with HBO & A24 on new projects |
| Social Media Presence | Low public profile; does not actively maintain personal social media accounts |
| Artistic Style | Metatheatrical, provocative, intellectually rich |
| Inspirations | Classical drama, African-American history, postmodern theater |
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Jacobs-Jenkins was exposed early on to literature and public affairs, thanks to his mother, Patricia Jacobs, a Harvard Law School graduate and business consultant. His upbringing in a culturally aware household laid the foundation for his sharp intellectual and social critiques.
He attended St. Albans School, an elite preparatory school in D.C., where he graduated valedictorian. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Princeton University in 2006, and then pursued an M.A. in Performance Studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He further honed his skills through the Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellowship at the Juilliard School, graduating in 2014.
Before turning full-time to theater, Jacobs-Jenkins worked as an editor at The New Yorker, giving him valuable insight into storytelling, structure, and language.
Theatrical Career and Major Works
Jacobs-Jenkins’s theatrical work is widely praised for its subversive, genre-bending style. Many of his plays take classic narratives and reframe them through a modern lens, particularly focusing on race, class, and historical trauma.
Notable Plays:
- Neighbors (2010) – His provocative debut about a Black family performing racial stereotypes in blackface.
- Appropriate (2014) – A family drama about race and inheritance set in the American South; received an Obie Award and a 2024 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.
- An Octoroon (2014) – A radical adaptation of Dion Boucicault’s 1859 melodrama, dissecting the legacy of racism in American theater.
- Gloria (2015) – Set in a Manhattan magazine office, this play exposes toxic ambition and media culture; Pulitzer Prize finalist.
- Everybody (2017) – A modern retelling of Everyman, this existential play used a live casting lottery for roles each night; Pulitzer Prize finalist.
- Girls (2019) – A contemporary remix of The Bacchae, exploring youth, gender, and rebellion.
- The Comeuppance (2023) – An ensemble drama centered on mortality and politics, received widespread critical praise.
- Purpose (2024) – A modern family saga premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre, heading to Broadway in 2025.
Television and Screenwriting
Branden has recently expanded into television and film:
- Showrunner, Executive Producer & Writer of Kindred (Hulu/FX), a sci-fi drama based on the classic novel by Octavia E. Butler.
- He has also signed deals to work on several HBO and A24 projects and is involved in writing film scripts that carry his signature voice.
Awards and Recognition
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has earned a wide array of honors, reflecting his artistic innovation and cultural impact:
- MacArthur “Genius” Grant (2016)
- Obie Awards – An Octoroon (2014), Appropriate (2014)
- Pulitzer Prize Finalist – Gloria (2016), Everybody (2018)
- Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play – Appropriate (2024)
- Steinberg Playwright Award (2015)
- Windham-Campbell Prize for Drama (2016)
- PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award (2016)
Academic and Teaching Work
Jacobs-Jenkins is deeply invested in theater education:
- He has taught playwriting at NYU, Yale, Princeton, and Hunter College (CUNY).
- He is a Resident Playwright at Signature Theatre and frequently participates in panels, masterclasses, and festivals supporting young playwrights and BIPOC voices in theater.
Legacy
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is not just a playwright—he’s a cultural commentator, a structural innovator, and a pioneer of postmodern Black theater. Through his unflinching examination of race, family, media, and mortality, he continues to shape the future of American drama.
Interesting Facts About Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
- First Black Playwright with Two Simultaneous NYC Productions: In 2015, he became the first African American playwright to have two of his plays (Gloria and An Octoroon) staged simultaneously Off-Broadway.
- MacArthur “Genius” Fellow: He was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2016 for his innovative contributions to American theater.
- A New Yorker Alumnus: Before committing to theater full-time, he worked as an editor at The New Yorker, giving him a deep foundation in storytelling and literary critique.
- Uses Meta-Theatre: His plays often break the fourth wall, include plays within plays, or use audience address techniques that challenge traditional theatergoers.
- Pulitzer Finalist Twice: His plays Gloria and Everybody were both finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
- Reviving Classical Forms: Jacobs-Jenkins reimagines historic texts like melodramas and morality plays to explore modern issues, especially race and identity.
- Random Casting in ‘Everybody’: In Everybody, actors draw their roles from a lottery during each performance, emphasizing themes of chance and mortality.
- Signature Theatre Residency: He is a resident playwright at the acclaimed Signature Theatre in NYC, a hub for boundary-pushing work.
- Headed to Broadway (Again): His 2024 play Purpose premiered at Steppenwolf and is scheduled for a Broadway debut in 2025.
- Cultural Influencer: Widely recognized as one of the most important Black voices in American drama today, his work continues to shape discourse around theater and representation.
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