I'm so happy for them! I really thought Next Fall was going to take it. Surprised In the Next Room was a finalist though...
"In theater, the process of it is the experience. Everyone goes through the process, and everyone has the experience together. It doesn't last - only in people's memories and in their hearts. That's the beauty and sadness of it. But that's life - beauty and the sadness. And that is why theater is life." - Sherie Rene Scott
I am happily suprised about this. I haven't seen the show, and I haven't listened to the cast recording (I plan to, thought), but I still can understand where this came from. I wonder what the boards thinking was in putting it into contention. it's still strange that Foote wasn't even nominated after pretty much everyone believed that he would be.
Also, as a sort of side topic... Is the deal with Next to Normal and In the Heights winning/being nominated that they changed between their Off-Broadway and Broadway runs? I'm assuming that if changes were made between the two productions that it can be nominated, like Sunday was. It's just a bit confusing.
To prior posters: Yank and Scottsboro Boys were not eligible this year. Next year.
I've never been as crazy about Next to Normal as everyone else, but I guess I'm just thrilled Next Fall didn't win. I would have preferred In the Next Room.
I believe that works are considered for their 'penultimate' production by the Pulitzer Board. If it is indicated that a show has a future life (with future revisions) and the producers do not submit it, it is not considered. The Pulitzer Board wants to consider the version that will be published and produced for years to come, not a work-in-process.
Elixer, I edited my original post and I had mentioned "Caroline or Change". I realized that "I Am My Own Wife" won that year, which I didn't see so I can't compare. But I remember thinking as I left the theater that Caroline should have won one that year. For me Caroline was the best thing I have seen since Sweeney Todd.
I couldn't be happier about this. The book, the story, the lyrics...so well deserved. I don't understand why people are disagreeing about it, or saying they thought it was a joke. I would have been surprised if it hadn't won, I didn't really favor any other noms.
"harris007, although they stretched the rules for Ruined, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama is awarded "for a distinguished play by an American playwright, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life." Billy Elliot wasn't written by Americans, and certainly doesn't deal with American life."
Givesmevoice
Givesmevoice, you missed harris007 sense of humour there, think the latter has a British gene in him somewhere.
Congratulations to Next to Normal much deserved Pulitzer Award, s terrific story, which also makes great theatre, one of the best American musicals of the decade.
Come on all you curmudgeons, I am sure Scottsboro Bro and Yank will have deserved recognition next year.
I new NEXT FALL wouldn't take it. They've been going for less conventional choices in the recent years, particularly if you look at the runner-ups and how few of them were on Broadway.
No surprise for VIBRATOR PLAY. Ruhl's a critic darling. She'll have one soon.
ORPHAN"S CYCLE was gunning for it, which is never good.
And uncageg, I agree completely CAROLINE should have won or been a runner-up. It's not perfect, but I think its the definition of an American play dealing with American lives, and where personal and political events collide.
And for the record, you don't have to be a hater (which admittedly, I am) to acknowledge that, especially in a year with so many strong dramas, Next to Normal did not deserve to win the Pulitzer.
What won the year CAROLINE was eligible? It should have won for sure, unless some major work I'm forgetting about won.
And I too think it's ridiculous that THE VIBRATOR PLAY was a finalist. I was not a fan of it. But it is nice to see two relatively unknown works get recognized, even as finalists. I hadn't heard about either of them until fifteen minutes ago.
And for the record, you don't have to be a hater (which admittedly, I am) to acknowledge that, especially in a year with so many strong dramas, Next to Normal did not deserve to win the Pulitzer.