I’m Jake Jeppson, a human being who works as a playwright, ghostwriter, and educator.
I live in the Hudson Valley in a small village on the banks of a big river where I am in constant relationship with what Rachel Carson described as “the repeated refrains of nature.”
My theater work has had homes across the United States, the UK, and Europe. My work often explores the shortcomings of language — how words never truly add up to the essence of our human experience. In a world that is increasingly subsumed by the apparatus of Big Tech, I believe theater and the performing arts provide an essential opportunity to celebrate the beautiful friction of our humanity.
I have an MFA in playwriting from the Yale School of Drama. I’ve been a Jerome Fellow and Core Writer at The Playwrights’ Center, and have had my work supported by the National Theatre (UK), Ars Nova, and Soho Theatre. I’m a regular collaborator with the amazing Scottish company groupwork, where we’ve made award-winning work that mixes dance, script, and design.
As a teacher of writing, I’ve been a visiting faculty member at Wesleyan University, Connecticut College, and the National Theatre Institute. I’ve mentored teenagers, led workshops for retirees, and run two nationally recognized apprentice programs.
Outside of the theater, I ghostwrite books and speeches for a wide range of clients. My background in playwriting helps me pick up a subject’s voice and find the story that coheres a memoir. I am endlessly curious about other people’s lives, and love the back-and-forth collaboration involved in the ghostwriting process.
I’ve also written scripts for a variety of Nat Geo’s TV programming and created award-winning branded content — one campaign included the Backstreet Boys selling Chex Mix.
However you found me, I am happy you did. Please reach out. Unless you’re a bot.