Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Visited St. Louis
The acclaimed writer delivered the 2026 Morrin Lecture and saw his play Appropriate staged in the city.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Arts Theater — General
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Tony-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins visited Washington University to deliver the 2026 Morrin Lecture at the Olin School of Business. During his time in St. Louis, he also supported the Tennessee Williams Festival-St. Louis production of his play Appropriate.
Why it matters
The visit highlights the cultural intersection of contemporary drama and the festival, which is staging a play by an author other than Tennessee Williams for the first time. Jacobs-Jenkins, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, is recognized as the first Black playwright to secure back-to-back Tony Awards.
Jacobs-Jenkins won three Pulitzer Prize awards for drama in the last decade and earned back-to-back Tony Awards in 2024 and 2025. The Tennessee Williams Festival-St. Louis is currently holding its 11th season.
The players
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
He is an award-winning playwright who made history as the first Black author to win consecutive Tony Awards.
Tennessee Williams Festival-St. Louis
This organization is currently celebrating its 11th season of producing theatrical works in the city.
Benny Sato Ambush
He is the director of the current festival production of the play Appropriate.
Zachariah Ezer
He is a professor who conducted a conversation with the playwright during the lecture event.
The details
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins engaged in a public conversation with professor Zachariah Ezer during the lecture hosted at the Olin School of Business. His play Appropriate, directed by Benny Sato Ambush, is the first work by a Black playwright to be featured at the festival and is currently running at the Berges Theatre.
Timeline
The Morrin Lecture occurred on September 18, 2026.
The production of Appropriate closes on September 27, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The prominence of Jacobs-Jenkins follows a trajectory of recognition for Black dramatists that was significantly marked by the 1987 August Wilson Best Play award. His presence at a festival traditionally dedicated to a single author signals a broader shift toward diversifying the repertoires of regional theater institutions.
Residents can attend the production of Appropriate at the Berges Theatre before the final performance scheduled for September 27. Tickets remain available for those looking to see the production that marks a milestone for the local festival.
The takeaway
The festival is expanding its scope beyond its namesake to include contemporary voices in American theater. Local audiences can take this opportunity to engage with award-winning new works that are currently shaping the national dramatic landscape.
Further reading
Explore more local performances and stage news in the Arts Theater — General section.
More information
For more information on the showtimes and to reserve seats, visit the Tennessee Williams Festival ticket information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Louis American.
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