Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has added another major honor to his growing list of awards. On June 8, the playwright won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play for Purpose. The ceremony took place at New York’s famous Radio City Music Hall.
This win marks a historic moment. Jacobs-Jenkins is the first Black playwright to win the Best Play Tony since August Wilson received the honor in 1987 for Fences. His latest work, Purpose, arrived on Broadway in March and quickly earned high praise.
Just weeks before the Tony win, Jacobs-Jenkins was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the same play. His back-to-back success has made waves in the theater world.
Purpose Delivers a Bold and Thoughtful Story
The award-winning play follows a prominent Black family in Chicago. The plot unfolds when the youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest.
Kara Young, who plays Aziza Houston in Purpose, also made history. She won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for the second year in a row. Last year, she was honored for Purlie Victorious.
Directed by Tony Award-winning actor Phylicia Rashad, Purpose is praised for its sharp storytelling. It runs on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theater through August.
A Meaningful Win After Nearly Four Decades
Before Jacobs-Jenkins, no Black playwright had won the Tony for Best Play since 1987. That year, August Wilson was recognized for Fences, which originally premiered at Yale Repertory Theatre.
This new win highlights Jacobs-Jenkins’ deep influence on modern theater. Many see him as one of the most insightful playwrights of this generation. Yale professor Daphne Brooks called him “an intellectual force” and praised his bold, thoughtful work.
Brooks noted that Jacobs-Jenkins skillfully explores both Black and white identity. She added, “We’ve been waiting for a playmaker like him.”
A Career Built on Excellence and Bold Ideas
Jacobs-Jenkins isn’t new to the spotlight. He won a Tony last year for Appropriate, which earned Best Revival of a Play. He’s also a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist for his plays Everybody and Gloria.
The playwright joined Yale’s faculty in 2021. Before that, Yale Rep produced world premieres of his works War and Girls. His achievements include a MacArthur “Genius Grant” fellowship in 2016.
Currently, Jacobs-Jenkins is working on a musical adaptation of the 1984 Prince film Purple Rain, showing his wide creative reach.
Jacobs-Jenkins Calls for Support of Local Theaters
During his acceptance speech, Jacobs-Jenkins gave credit to the people of Chicago. The play first opened at Steppenwolf Theater Company in 2024. He thanked the city’s theatergoers for their excitement and encouragement.
He also reminded audiences to support regional theaters. “A lot of great stuff happens in New York, but a lot more happens out in the regions,” he said.
His words were a powerful call for theater lovers everywhere to uplift their local art communities.
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