Branden Jacobs‑Jenkins’ Purpose claimed the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play at tonight’s ceremony. This historic win makes Jacobs‑Jenkins the first Black playwright to take home Broadway’s top theatrical honor in nearly four decades.
Directed by Phylicia Rashad, Purpose originated at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre in 2024 and then transferred to Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater for the 2024–25 season. The play explores the inner turmoil of the Jasper family—a prominent Black political dynasty in Chicago—when the youngest son, Nazareth, returns home with an unexpected companion, forcing everyone to confront questions of faith, legacy, and power.
Purpose has already earned the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, cementing its critical acclaim ahead of Broadway’s top honor . The play features a powerhouse cast led by Harry Lennix, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Jon Michael Hill, Glenn Davis, Alana Arenas, and Kara Young.
Kara Young won Best Featured Actress in a Play, making history as the first Black performer to win this award in consecutive years . Meanwhile, the production’s limited Broadway run has been extended through August 31, 2025, in response to overwhelming demand.
Jacobs‑Jenkins, already a Pulitzer finalist twice and recipient of a 2024 Tony for Best Revival (Appropriate), said the play stemmed from years of collaboration with Steppenwolf and personal reflections on Black political legacy and fatherhood.
Sources: nypost.com+15vanityfair.com+15theatrely.com+15; people.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8broadwayworld.com+8; 5theatrely.com+15; broadwayworld.com
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.