Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer- Page 2
Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
#25re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:02amputting all joking aside, I would have to say sweeney todd. I have never seen any of the others mentioned here (Ragtime, Caroline or Change, or Gypsy)
#26re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:07am
Caroline or Change (definitely)
Ragtime (definitely)
Falsettos (it's a CRIME that it didn't win a Pulitzer)
Sweeney Todd (it's implications are about American life in the industrial era, so I think it should be considered 'American')
Urinetown (YES)
Follies (maybe... personal bias... but it does say a lot about a generation of Americans)
There has been ONE Pulitzer- winning musical in each decade since the 1930's. I hope the 2000's aren't the first decade to break this. If only Urinetown had won...
#28re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:54amFollies, despite a superb score, suffers from a troubled book.
walkedthroughmany
Leading Actor Joined: 3/25/07
#30re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:41am
SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE? THE COLOR PURPLE? LEGALLY BLONDE????
No.
I think CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is the only one I feel incredibly strongly about. It's just too brilliant.
GREY GARDENS and RAGTIME deserved a nomination at least.
#31re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:42am
I want to agree with Legally Blonde (just joking) but I barfed when I saw someone suggest "Wicked." I mean, seriously.
Tommonste, Shep Meade's book "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" is a short masterpiece. I have poured over it many times. There is so much material in the book that isn't in the musical (including the entire character Spruance Bibber) but my favorite part is the suggestion "How To Create Your Portfolio" which went something like:
"If you are applying for a job with another company as an advertising director, you'll need a portfolio showing your work, your style and your potential. Every major company has a mountain of artwork, usually stored in the basement. Choose carefully, for this work will have to represent you!"
#32re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:46am
I'm not sure what you are trying to say, re: How to Succeed In Business, but it did win a Pulitzer. In 1962.
Sweeney Todd, while having some overarching themes about Industrialization, isn't specifically American enough for me to feel that it's Pulitzer-worthy.
Also, I am HONESTLY surprised that nobody has said Avenue Q, because hey, maybe it's just me but I thought it was brilliant and it's certainly VERY American.
Updated On: 2/11/08 at 02:46 AM
walkedthroughmany
Leading Actor Joined: 3/25/07
#33re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:49am
Oh come on, Legally Blonde is all about sexism and higher education and inappropriate advances in the workplace (and I'm not talking about Laura Bell and Christian!)! If that doesn't say Pulitzer, I don't know what does!
But seriously, I agree with whomever said it was a crime that Falsettos did not earn the Pulitzer.
Rentaholic2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
#34re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 11:41amYeah I'm surprised it took this long to mention Avenue Q. For that matter, I thought someone would have said Spring Awakening by now.
stupidmansuit
Swing Joined: 11/27/07
#35re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 11:57am
Wouldn't "Sweeney" being officailly based on another play (???) right, that was based (???) on another book disqualifiy it?
Also, "Wicked" is my favorite musical of all time.
I just wanted to make that person barf again.
But it's true.
So, yeah.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#36re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 12:03pm
Umm... once again... previous Pulitzer winners South Pacific, How to Succeed, and Rent were ALL based on other plays or books.
And once again, they all dealt in some way with American life or culture.
#37re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:23pm
I think others have already made the point, but just to clarify, the Pulitzer committee PREFERS works that are original and that deal with American life, but there's no rule which disqualifies works that do not meet these criteria. So the fact that a play is based on a prior work or that it may deal with subjects other than American life does not disqualify the work from consideration. Others have already pointed out several examples of Pulitzer prize winning dramas based on prior material or dealing with non-American themes.
I do believe the playwright has to be American, though.
#38re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/11/08 at 6:25pm
"Follies, despite a superb score, suffers from a troubled book."
I think Follies has a brilliant book, honestly. It's brilliant for the exactly reason why people hate it- it's not real. The dialouge isn't real "Hope doesn't go on trees...etc." and so on, the party probably isn't real. But the ideas are. It's about ideas.
Heybeenfood
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/06
#39re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:41pmAnyone think that Passing Strange could pull a nomination against August: Osage County? No win for sure, but a nomination at least, please.
luvcaroline
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
#40re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:44pm3 words (and a comma): Caroline, or Change
zooxanthellae
Broadway Star Joined: 6/2/07
#42re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:20pmjv92
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#43re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:34pmWouldn't Passing Strange no longer be eligible since it was done last season Off-Broadway.
#44re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:43pmFor all of you said FALSETTOS should have won: While I think it is a gorgeous show and certainly worthy, the play that won that year was ANGELS IN AMERICA...so I think they made the right choice.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#45re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/27/08 at 12:51amAllofmylife: I was kidding when I said Wicked! you thought I was serious??
alterego
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
#46re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/27/08 at 1:28amSome of these suggestions are ludicrous. AVENUE Q, FALSETTO'S, WICKED, LEGALLY BLONDE ???
#47re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/27/08 at 1:38amAbsolutely 100% Falsettos. I'd vote for Follies as well, but I can see why it wouldn't, really.
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
#48re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/27/08 at 1:44am
Look! Scott's posting on the main board!
It's unfortunate that FALSETTOS and ANGELS were the same year, because they were both worthy.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#49re: Musicals That Deserved the Pulitzer
Posted: 2/27/08 at 1:54am
It is tough call between Falsettos and Angels, but I think I would give a slight edge to Angels. My three that I think are deserving would be:
1. Caroline, Or Change
2. Carousel
3. Company
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