The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:33pm

I was just wondering about this today. It got me thinking, because I read Sunday in the Park won the Pulitzer and I was told that it is rare for musicals to take the prize. That lead me to wonder how many musicals actually have been awarded it. It seems like roughly every ten years a musical wins the Pulitzer. Is it possible for The Color Purple to take home this prize, or does the production have to be an original concept, not based on a book? As always, you are the people who know best!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:38pm

I think there's only been 4 or 5 musicals awarded the prize since 1917.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:42pm

South Pacific
A Chorus Line
Sunday in the Park with George
Rent

Think that is it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:42pm

i know RENT has! And I highly doubt Color Purple will take it. I'm not sure if it has to be original, but it kinda makes sense that it should be, ya know?

[boxers7]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:43pm

How to Succeed... also won.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:44pm

Well, The Color Purple (the musical) doesn't have a chance in hell of being awarded a Pulitzer. It's fun and audience-pleasing, but the book has tons of problems and the score isn't particularly distinguished. The original novel, of course, did win the Pulitzer for Literature.

The criteria for the Pulitzer for Drama are:

"For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life."

So in theory it could be eligible even though it's not original, but again, it's mixed critical reception (and the Pulitzer board is usually made up of critics) all but guarantees it won't even be considered. By the way, that bit about "American life" is ignored sometimes (see I Am My Own Wife).

Other musical winners:

Of Thee I Sing
South Pacific
Fiorello!
How To Succeed
A Chorus Line
Rent

Oklahoma received a special award of merit (as did, I seem to recall, Guys and Dolls).

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:44pm

Could be interesting though since it won the Pulitzer for fiction if it also won for Drama.

Oh yeah I forgot How To Succeed. . .
Updated On: 2/22/06 at 02:44 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:45pm

Fiorello
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

That's 6. In 89 years.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:48pm

South Pacific was not original. It was based on Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. How to Succeed was also based on a book. So there you are. It's too bad Falsettos didn't win the Pulitzer, but it was probably ineligible because it previously existed as two separate shows.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:49pm

Thanks, everyone!

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:51pm

And Tales of the South Pacific did win the Pulitzer for fiction.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:53pm

Initially, with "Of Thee I Sing," the award was given to the book and lyrics ONLY, not the music... since "music" wasn't originally considered a literary contribution to the dramatic piece (if you can believe that).

As a result, Ira Gershwin REFUSED his award (since they were snubbing his brother George here).

This got the Pulitzer committee to re-think their "rules," and when South Pacific won, both Hammerstein and Rodgers received the honors.


EDIT: And OasisBroadway---You're right. I believe this was a Jeopardy trivia question a while back... what show won the Pulizter Prize, as well as the source material that it was based on... Answer: South Pacific.

Updated On: 2/22/06 at 02:53 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 4:13pm

Rent won the Pulitzer? It's hardly worthy in my opinion.
It's interesting, but if it weren't for South Pacific winning in 1949, Guys and Dolls would have taken it in 1950. There's also the story that Abe Burrows wouldn't cooporate with McCarthy and his gang back in the day, but the South Pacific story sounds more likely.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 5:02pm

Rent won the Pulitzer? It's hardly worthy in my opinion.
-That sure is one interesting opinion. I think it truley deserved it and that Rent is one of, if not the greatest show of the last 10 years.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 5:11pm

I don't know. The text is good, I just think it's past its prime.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 5:33pm

Actually, the text is probably RENT's biggest problem. I think the true mystery is why How to Succeed won a Pulitzer. It must have been a weak year. I mean, good show, but still...

This isn't the Oscars or the Tonys, folks. It's the freakin' Pulitzer. The Color Purple will not even be considered, and rightly so.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 6:54pm

Roninjoey, I was reading a book that anaylized How To Succeed and another shows, and I remember it saying that it was a very edgy show in the sense that it sorta satricialized the mundane business world. I've never seen/heard the show, but I'm sorta interested in picking up all the Pultizer prize winners in musical theater. I think its just hard to do musical theater and get all the parts right. Only a few shows have done it all and got everything in it to work and match up.

What do you think is going to get it this year? They don't have to be on Broadway do they? Although I'm sure it helps.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 8:01pm

I think the true mystery is why How to Succeed won a Pulitzer. It must have been a weak year. I mean, good show, but still...

I completely agree. I like How to Suceed- it's a fun and enjoyable show. But, it doesn't strike me as being Pulizter worthy in the way that South Pacific, A Chorus Line, or Sunday int the Park with George does. Maybe because by being comedic it made the buisness world look less "real", more "cartoony"...I don't know. It just didn't seem to be as groundbreaking as the other musicals that won the Pulizter.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 8:19pm

How To Succeed is a socio-economic SATIRE, not just a cute little funny show. And it spoke to the people of its time.

Most (not all) of the show's listed here have some "dated" elements and attitudes. Actually the only musical winner here that doesn't is Sunday in the Park.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:31pm

It also is incredibly well written and far from cute and fun. As much as I think that Richard Rodgers' score for "No Strings" is genius, Loesser's score for "Succeed" is brilliant, even better than Guys and Dolls and its lyrics are great as well. Burrows' book is also a sharp, biting and blissful satire. "How to Succeed..." is one of the greatest musicals ever written.

[alwy15]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:51pm

i think caroline or change deserved the pulitzer much much much more than I am my Own Wife.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:51pm

I was actually wondering why it didn't go to Caroline, or Change.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:55pm

Because it stunk.


Mayella Ewell
Maycomb, Alabama

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:42pm

good pt. alwy15 - Caroline is such a great original piece of work. It def. seems Pulitzer worthy. I guess the show was hard for people to grasp. Which, it really is. There aren't really any big solo type numbers and its a lot of singing and things to absorb. but in the end, its a brillant show.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:43pm

They were both deserving, but I think if I had to vote, I would have given it to I AM MY OWN WIFE as well.

Who do you think will win this year? RING OF FIRE?