Jesse L. Kearney Jr.—playwright, attorney, and unwavering champion of Black theater—passed away on March 6 at a hospital in Newark, New Jersey, after a two-month battle following emergency brain surgery. He was 49. His wife, Broadway Advocacy Coalition co-founder Jacquelyn Bell Kearney, confirmed the news.
“In moments like these, I think of how bright one soul can shine and pierce the hearts of so many people,” she shared in a statement. “Jesse’s light grows stronger every day.”
Kearney was more than a playwright—he was a force. A recipient of the Jonathan Larson Musical Theater Fellowship and the Lazarus Family Musical Theater Award, he co-wrote Making Micheaux, a short musical film celebrating Black cinema pioneer Oscar Micheaux. His full-length jazz musical, The Oscar Micheaux Project (working title), was commissioned by Prospect Musicals, developed at Goodspeed Musicals’ Johnny Mercer Writers Grove, and went on to earn a spot at both the 2023 NAMT Festival of New Musicals and the 2024 Village Theatre Festival of New Musicals. The project also received the inaugural Michael Friedman Award from the Pipeline Arts Foundation.
But Kearney’s impact stretched beyond the stage. As Content Acquisition and Development Manager at Audible, Inc., he was a fierce advocate for diverse voices in audio storytelling. He also co-founded The STAGE Network, a streaming platform dedicated to theatrical content, and served as vice president of Black Broadway Men United, an organization uplifting Black men in theater.
“We are devastated to lose our treasured friend and colleague Jesse Kearney—acclaimed playwright, loving father and husband, and our widely admired teammate,” said Rachel Ghiazza, Audible’s Chief Content Officer.
Black Broadway Men United president Anthony Wayne echoed the sentiment, calling Kearney an integral backbone of the organization. “He was consistently rooted in the mission of celebrating, educating, and motivating Black men of the Broadway and theater community. His support for the mission has inspired monumental events and paved the way for mentees to come.”
His creative legacy extended to multiple works, including The Little Playhouse, which was workshopped at Lincoln Center Theater Director’s Lab/American Living Room Series. He also wrote the book and lyrics for The Lion in Love and the libretto for The Blind Man, inspired by a D.H. Lawrence story.
Kearney’s journey began in academia, earning degrees from Dartmouth College, NYU’s Musical Theater Writing Program, and New York Law School. A man who balanced law, advocacy, and the arts, he was proof that creativity and legal expertise could go hand in hand.
On January 8, Kearney suffered a cerebral arteriovenous malformation, leading to emergency surgery. As medical expenses mounted, his family launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has since raised significant support.
He is survived by his wife, their daughters Loretta and Cecilia, and his mother Shirley.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, march 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 225 W. 99th St., Manhattan.
Jesse L. Kearney Jr. may have left the stage, but the stories he told, the lives he touched, and the voices he championed will continue to resonate.