If Any Other Musical Were To Win The Pulitzer...- Page 3

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:36pm

Paul, that does sound right. The rules have changed over the years.

For example, when the first musical won ("Of Thee I Sing!"), they only gave the award to the book writer and lyricist. So, good old George Gershwin didn't get an award. The reasoning was that this was a "literary" award, so it was all about the words, both spoken and sung. But it wasn't for the music.

Ira Gershwin was so upset that he publicly took the award and gave it to his brother George. They have since changed the rule to include the composer, if a musical should win, and I believe they now credit George with having won the award, even though he didn't, initially.

[She_Had_Refinement]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:59pm

Well, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is pretty modern. May not be set in the 70s, but the themes are all there.

Company, in my mind is deserving of an award, because of its innovative book structure (some still hate it!)... but it sure shook things up.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:02pm

Since we're discussing Company... what about Assassins? I'd say that's just as worthy as Company.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/23/08 at 12:37pm

Was adaptation an issue at some point in the Drama category? Very interesting. They must have changed the rule by time ALL THE WAY HOME won.

There aren't that many adaptations that have won Pulitzers for Drama. LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL, DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, SOUTH PACIFIC, HOW TO SUCCEED, ALL THE WAY HOME, GREEN PASTURES and RENT and a couple of others. GREEN PASTURES and RENT are pretty loose adaptations, there more like re-imaginings than anything else. And TOPDOG/UNDERDOG which basically counts as a ripoff.

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/23/08 at 12:59pm

In My Life.
Updated On: 9/23/08 at 12:59 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/23/08 at 1:49pm

Roscoe--I believe the issue was with a dramatic work being adapted from a dramatic work (as with Oklahoma!). They probably changed that a long time ago.

But here's a good trivia question:

What Pulitzer Prize-Winning drama is the only one adapted from Pulitzer Prize-Winning source material?






Answer: R&H's musical "South Pacific" was adapted from Michener's book "Tales of the South Pacific," and both won the Pulitzer Prize.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/23/08 at 1:54pm

SOUTH PACIFIC and ALL THE WAY HOME both won Pulitzers for Drama and were based on Pulitzer-winning material.

Updated On: 9/23/08 at 01:54 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/23/08 at 2:06pm

I stand corrected!

"All the Way Home" is based on "A Death in the Family."

Merci!

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 9/23/08 at 4:41pm

The more I read this thread, I think I would have to cast my votes for "Show Boat" and "Ragtime." I also could almost vote for "Urinetown."