Brokaw was raised in Aledo, Illinois, and graduated from the Yale School of Drama.
He received a Drama League fellowship and was initially given directing work through Carole Rothman and Robyn Goodman, artistic heads of the Second Stage Theatre.
[2] He has directed many off-Broadway productions, and his New York work includes premieres by Lynda Barry (The Good Times Are Killing Me), Douglas Carter Beane (As Bees in Honey Drown), Neal Bell, Eric Bogosian, Keith Bunin, Charles Busch, Kevin Elyot, Lisa Kron (2.5 Minute Ride), Lisa Loomer, Kenneth Lonergan (This Is Our Youth, Lobby Hero), Craig Lucas (Dying Gaul), Eduardo Machado, Patrick Marber (After Miss Julie), Robert Schenkkan, Nicky Silver, Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive, Long X-Mas Ride Home) and Wendy Wasserstein.
His work has also been seen at London's Donmar Warehouse and the Menier Chocolate Factory, Dublin's Gate Theatre, and the Sydney Opera House.
He directed the film Spinning into Butter starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Beau Bridges and Miranda Richardson in 2006.