The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

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

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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?

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).

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Fiorello
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

That's 6. In 89 years.

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Thanks, everyone!

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.