Early Pulitzer Frontrunners

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 4:50pm

I heard from a friend that he was certain the three Pulitzer frontrunners were The Niceties, What the Constitution Means to Me, and the upcoming Slaveplay at New York Theatre Workshop, which seemed like an odd list, but I didn't have too many titles that seemed like Pulitzer bait to refute. Can anybody think of any other plays that seem destined to be nominated for that increasingly dubious award? Dance Nation is probably the only contender I can think of.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 5:11pm

The announcement is 5 months away -- kind of ridiculous to be declaring anything a "frontrunner" now.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 5:37pm

Niceties and Constitution seem like topical candidates, maybe also Pass Over, School Girls, or I Was Most Alive With You. Miss You Like Hell or Soft Power if they include a musical?

The new Broadway plays do not seem like worthy contenders, even the Critics Picks. And remember, sometimes they pick an oddball finalist or something that hasn't played NYC.

The announcement may be 5 months away, but there's only a month and a half left for a play to be submitted for qualification.

Updated On: 11/13/18 at 05:37 PM

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 6:15pm

Pass Over definitely will be a contender. Perhaps The Revolving Cycles too? If the committee had any sense, Mlima's Tale, Is God Is, Miles for Mary, and Emma and Max would be major contenders as well.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 6:33pm

Is The Inheritance eligible?

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 7:23pm

Downstate should be on the list, but of course, the Pulitzer committee does not often honor work outside of New York. Perhaps it will have an off-broadway run next year and be honored in the next cycle

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 7:48pm

TotallyEffed said: "Is The Inheritance eligible?"

Not this year. When it inevitably opens in the U.S., it will be.

Criteria:

Columbia University, on the recommendation of The Pulitzer Prize Board, annually awards a Pulitzer Prize in drama of $15,000 "for a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life."

Productions opening in the United States between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 are eligible. Submit playscripts of productions to the Pulitzer Office for forwarding to the Drama Jury.  Entries should be made in advance of the December 31, 2018 deadline.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 8:07pm

Thanks!

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 8:41pm

I love the Spike Lee filming of Pass Over. I'd love if that won the Pulitzer.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 10:03pm

Usual Girls 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/13/18 at 11:11pm

I find it very difficult to predict the Pulitzer, so I'll just name some ones that I PERSONALLY think should be considered, assuming they are eligible. Some of them might not be eligible due to the cutoff dates/premier dates, etc. but I don't feel like Googling all of those right now.

 

--Miles For Mary by The Mad Ones

--Mankind by Robert O'Hara

--The Low Road by Bruce Norris

--This Flat Earth by Lindsay Ferrentino 

--Mlima's Tale by Lyyn Nottage 

--Paradise Blue by Dominique Morisseau 

--Soft Power by David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori

--Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury

--Collective Rage... by Jen Silverman

--Days of Rage by Steven Levinson

 

And here are a few that I personally disliked, or had very mixed feelings about, but still might make good candidates based on the criteria:

--I Was Most Alive With You

--The Lifespan of a Fact

--American Son

--Pass Over

--Miss You Like Hell

--Relevance 

 

 

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/14/18 at 10:30am

I heard Days of Rage wasn't Steven Levenson's best work, but that man is long overdue for a Pulitzer.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/14/18 at 11:12am

Alex Kulak2 said: "I heardDays of Ragewasn't Steven Levenson's best work, but that man islongoverdue for a Pulitzer."

Long overdue? Are you joking? His entire career is about 10 years old.

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 11/14/18 at 11:21am

I definitely think Collective Rage should be high up on that list.  A truly exquisite and exciting piece of theatre.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 11/14/18 at 11:24am

Also worth noting, though I doubt it will happen: Aaron Sorkin will be eligible for To Kill A Mockingbird.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/14/18 at 11:46am

AC126748 said: "Alex Kulak2 said: "I heardDays of Ragewasn't Steven Levenson's best work, but that man islongoverdue for a Pulitzer."

Long overdue? Are you joking? His entire career is about 10 years old."

 

Maybe "long" overdue is a stretch, but he has written some of the best plays of the 2010s. The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin, Core Values, and If I Forget are all incredible portraits of socioeconomic American life in the 21st century.

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:59pm

I just read Downstate by Bruce Norris, and this play deserves the Pulitzer like no other. There has never been a play as incendiary or as thought-provoking as Downstate.

[bekk99]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 1:15pm

Slave Play seems like a strong contender at this point. 

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 1/10/19 at 3:12am

My money would be on Downstate.... though plays out of NYC are rarely awarded, this is a play by an author who already has a pulitzer at a theatre that already has a few pulitzers - in Chicago no less, New Yorker's weekend getaway spot. This is at least on their radar. 

My other two bets for the "nominee" slots would be SLAVE PLAY by Jeremy Harris and USUAL GIRLS by Ming Peiffer. 

It's definitely between Slave Play and Downstate... 

I'd love to see Robert O'Hara get a nomination at some point though. He continues to push the limits of theatre and they need to take notice. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 3/11/19 at 10:14pm

Any new plays on the radar for the prize?

I haven't heard a lot, but Downstate is still my pick.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 3/11/19 at 10:43pm

Holy smokes, Downstate hadn't been on my radar, but I just read Chris Jones's review and Jesse Green's review. It sounds like Norris has deftly handled awful subject matter... 

I could see What the Constitution Means to Me being one of the finalists because of its topicality, though I think it's too "small" to win. And by all accounts, Slave Play is a worthwhile candidate.

Winners and finalists will be announced April 15.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/11/19 at 11:13pm

I'd still love to see Fairview take it! 

 

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 3/11/19 at 11:40pm

after winning the Blackburn Prize Fairview has slightly hopped over What The Constitution Means To Me on my prediction list.

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 3/12/19 at 12:02am

I've read Downstate. It's...Bruce Norris' best play, so if you can can stomach his writing (which I cannot) you'll love it.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 3/24/19 at 7:33am

any further intel?  anything current playing that could win?