Pulitzer Prize for Drama

[Broadway Forever2]

So this will be announced in a few weeks. What do you think the finalists will be? What do you think will win? Pulitzers are often so unpredictable 

[standingovation79]

very true. They can be unpredictable, a spoonful of water for one, definitely not expected and hadn't even been produced in a professional theater when it won the award.

I think Hamilton is going to take this award (it's a musical and its the biggest hit of the probably the next few years. Plus it is about something bigger than hamilton alone)

The Humans will be a finalist, The Christians has a good chance. and Marjorie Prime is the other I thought could be included.

[JBroadway]

I think the subject matter of Allegiance could have made it an interesting candidate, but I think it's a long-shot to be a finalist at this point, due to its generally tepid reception and short run. 

[QueenAlice]

I too think HAMILTON will take this. The only thing working against it, is that it is based on a recent book and the Pulitzer committee usually "prefers" to honor completely original works.  But that didn't stop them from honoring SOUTH PACIFIC, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK or STREET SCENE and I doubt it will keep them from honoring HAMILTON, which is a play about the 'American experience' if there ever was one.

[Broadway Forever2]

Yeah I was thinking Hamilton had a big chance buy I was looking at the winners of the last few years and they were all kinda small scale and never went to Broadway. 

 

I thought humans had a strong chance but Humans missed out on a lortel nomination so I'm not too sure about it. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

QueenAlice said: "I too think HAMILTON will take this. The only thing working against it, is that it is based on a recent book and the Pulitzer committee usually "prefers" to honor completely original works.  But that didn't stop them from honoring SOUTH PACIFIC, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK or STREET SCENE and I doubt it will keep them from honoring HAMILTON, which is a play about the 'American experience' if there ever was one."

 

The Street Scene that won the Pulitzer in 1929 was Elmer Rice's original play, not the 1946 opera based on that play. 

 

However, you can also add How to Succeed and Rent as musicals that won the Pulitzer that were adapted from other works.

[NewYorkTheater]

My guess is that Hamilton will win, but that (most of?) the finalists will be plays that have not been on Broadway.

[CurtainsUpat8]

Hamilton will win. It is based on a Novel but it is so uniquely different than the source material- (yet the same)

The Humans will be a finalist but it could pull off an upset. I think he should have won for Sons of the Prophet over Water by the Spoonful. They may take that into consideration.

Margorie Prime was a finalist last year. I thought it was a very mediocre play. I don't like science fiction though.

[QueenAlice]

Thanks for pointing that out about "Street Scene," AEA AGMA SM;  and you are right about HOW TO SUCCEED and RENT, though I would say too that those are really only very loose adaptations.

[Kad]

Aside from Hamilton, works like The Humans, The Christians, and Sweat all are strong contenders.

[gypsy101]

CurtainsUpat8 said: "Hamilton will win. It is based on a Novel but it is so uniquely different than the source material- (yet the same)"

 

Hamilton is not based on a novel, but a biography based on the life of the first US Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton.

[Fantod]

Marjorie Prime was nominated last year.

Well for the past few years, the frontrunner (Fun Home, Father Comes Home From the Wars) usually ended up as a nominee, with the winner being something slightly more rarified (The Flick, Water by the Spoonful) and the other nominee being something out of left field (A Free Man of Color, Watson Intelligence). So my guess is that Hamilton will be a nominee, but not win. The Christians, The Humans, Gloria, Hir, or maybe even John could have a shot.

[Relevance81491]

Kad said: "Aside from Hamilton, works like The Humans, The Christians, and Sweat all are strong contenders."

That list is identical to mine  I would replace The Christisns with Skeliton Crew....  Gloria could also be a contender 

 

 

[followspot]

THE CHRISTIANS had its first production at the 2014 Humana Festival.  Wouldn't it have been submitted/eligible that year?

[Kad]

Not necessarily. It may not have been submitted for consideration, if its NYC engagement was already planned.

[Auggie27]

Agree that HIR could be a a finalist, as likely as THE CHRISTIANS. 

[MusicAndPassion]

The Pulitzer committee has a hard on for anything with allusions to great piece of written work with subject matter related to current events at times (i.e., Disgraced, Clybourne Park). This will help Hamilton out, too. Especially because it is based off of Chenov's novel. But regardless, Hamilton's got this award in the bag! Looking to see what else is nominated. Hoping Whorl Inside A Loop is, because I loved that piece of theatre.

[Ragged Tear]

MusicAndPassion said: "The Pulitzer committee has a hard on for anything with allusions to great piece of written work with subject matter related to current events at times (i.e., Disgraced, Clybourne Park). This will help Hamilton out, too. Especially because it is based off of Chenov's novel. But regardless, Hamilton's got this award in the bag! Looking to see what else is nominated. Hoping Whorl Inside A Loop is, because I loved that piece of theatre."

Repeat after me: NOT A NOVEL.

 

[wonderfulwizard11]

I would be surprised if Hir is on the shortlist. I loved it and think it's a very smart and relevant play, but it's a little overstuffed and messy dramatically. It reminds me of An Octoroon from the previous year- not a perfect play, but very smart and packs a huge punch, despite some excesses, and unfortunately the Pulitzer committee didn't find it necessary to include that play on the final list (and I'm still baffled that Between Riverside and Crazy took the award). 

I do expect Hamilton will be included somewhere, but the Pulitzers are always hard to predict so the top prize could very easily go to another play. 

[qolbinau]

I can't remember if I've already asked or if we've discussed this, but is the Pulitzer Prize for drama considered the most prestigious theatre award? My perception is that it is. 

[Fantod]

yes

[djoko84]

The most prestigious theatre award is the Tony. That shouldn't even be a discussion. As for what will win this year, I'm going with Hamilton with The Humans as a possible upset.

[VernonGersch]

I'd argue that the Pulitzer is more prestigious, at least from my external view of The Theater.

[JBroadway]

Prestige is sort of in the eye of the beholder, but I would agree that the Pulitzer is more prestigious. The Tony awards for Best Musical or Play are big and flashy and they make a big to-do about it on television, and it gives the show publicity. But ultimately, they are very political and tend to reward flash over true quality. 

 
Meanwhile, the Pulitzer Prize is more high-brow and well-known throughout the nation as a prestigious award. Plus, the potential pool of candidates is larger than just Broadway. A Tony-Winning play is designates it "The best play on Broadway this year" whereas the Pulitzer designates its winner the most interesting, relevant and culturally impactful piece of theatre in NYC this year. The latter strikes me as more prestigious. In the long-run, I think a playwright will be more proud to call themselves a Pulitzer-prize winner than a Tony winner. 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

The Pulitzer is the more prestigious award, mainly because it doesn't have the commercial implications of the Tonys and Broadway. The fact they consider more than the handful of Tony plays that open each season helps to add to its prestige.

And I can't wait to read the HAMILTON novel.