Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer

[BobbyBubby]

Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#1

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:21pm

I'll start:

Caroline or Change
Ragtime
Falsettos

[CATSNYrevival]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#2

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:22pm

See What I Wanna See.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#2

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:23pm

The first thing that entered my head was RAGTIME. Absolutely. But, can they give a Pulitzer to a musical that is already based on a piece of literature?

I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

[HeyMrMusic]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#3

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:25pm

South Pacific was based on a piece of literature.

~Steven

[ahmelie]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#4

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:25pm

They did with South Pacific. And, unless I'm misinformed, its source material Tales of the South Pacific, also won a Pulitzer.

Edit: Got beat!

Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done. -John Patrick Shanley

Updated On: 2/10/08 at 08:25 PM

[Pippin]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#5

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:27pm

bobby-you know this thread is going to turn into "my fav musical is......." any moment now.

Just sayin.

folks- just because you liked "the Wedding singer", doesn't make it pulitzer-worthy.

"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

[TomMonster]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#6

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:29pm

HOW TO SUCCEED was also based on a book, of sorts...

SWEENEY TODD should have garnered one.

"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx

[jv92]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#7

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:37pm

Carousel
Gypsy
Follies
Sweeney Todd
Ragtime
Grey Gardens

Maybe that's a little much for the musical genre, but absolutely Carousel, Gypsy and Grey Gardens.

[Heybeenfood]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#8

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:39pm

PASSING STRANGE.

[BobbyBubby]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#9

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:41pm

Keep in mind that the main goal of this award is to choose a show that best represents AMERICAN life. A show like Sweeney wouldn't qualify, though Sunday in the Park half takes place in France and I Am My Own Wife, though written by an American, is about a German, so the rules are a little loose based on the quality of the material.

[jv92]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#10

Posted: 2/10/08 at 8:45pm

Yeah, I think because Hugh Wheeler was a Brit, Sweeney wouldn't be considered. That's unfortunate. It IS an AMERICAN musical though.

[jrb_actor]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#11

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:02pm

Caroline, Or Change for sure.

johnraymondbarker.com

[Smaxie]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#12

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:03pm

I'd vote for Urinetown. Reviews of Urinetown tended to focus on the show's satire of Broadway musicals, but I always thought the show's apocalyptic version of a world where we've used up our natural resources got overlooked. It was gleefully nihilistic, a truly difficult achievement.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[jv92]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#13

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:06pm

I can certainly see what you mean Smaxie, but I don't think I feel the same way.

[BobbyBubby]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#14

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:12pm

Urinetown owes itself to Marc Blitzstein.

[Smaxie]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#15

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:15pm

And that's a real recipe for success.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[TheatreFreak05]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#16

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:52pm

Wicked!

[defyingravity11]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#17

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:54pm

Ragtime and Grey Gardens

[Prisoner 24601]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#18

Posted: 2/10/08 at 10:03pm

The Cradle Will Rock
Parade

-Was that a fart?
-My fault, I fear.

[James885]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#19

Posted: 2/10/08 at 10:04pm

Ragtime
Grey Gardens
The Light In The Piazza
Caroline, Or Change

"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

[BobbyBubby]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#20

Posted: 2/10/08 at 10:06pm

I agree with Grey Gardens. It has a very interesting take on wealth, society, and what makes a person happy. Very American themes.

[dancingthrulife04]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#21

Posted: 2/10/08 at 10:12pm

Ragtime was the first thing that popped into my mind.

http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda "And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

[NYC_or_Bust]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#22

Posted: 2/10/08 at 11:26pm

Ragtime, obviously

But I really do have to cast a vote for My Fair Lady. As well as The Color Purple, GYPSY, and Sweeney Todd.

In my own personal opinion, I've never seen (or been in) a show with a more powerful message than Carousel.

I adore the black band holding on the Phantom's mask. ~ Jenna2

[ahmelie]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#23

Posted: 2/10/08 at 11:33pm

The only ones I would agree with mentioned in this thread would be Caroline, or Change, The Cradle Will Rock, and Ragtime.

The Cradle Will Rock is an obvious choice, and fully deserving.

Edit: Actually, Follies as well. That musical had so many underlying themes about the state America. And it was pure genius.

Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done. -John Patrick Shanley

Updated On: 2/10/08 at 11:33 PM

[Theatreboy49]

re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer#24

Posted: 2/10/08 at 11:59pm

Id say Caroline or Change and Ragtime are the two most worthy of the pulitzer.

<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado