2018 Pulitzer Prize

[Jshan05]

With April almost upon us, does anyone have any guesses as to what might be on the shortlist for the Pulitzer this year? I always enjoy hearing people's take on this. 

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

"Skeleton Crew" would be eligible, right? "The Band's Visit?"

I wonder if it's a no-prize-awarded year. Otherwise, nothing on Broadway, and I can't think of anything that has premiered in regional theaters that seems likely, either.

[BroadwayConcierge]

The Band’s Visit would be an incredible win.

[nasty_khakis]

"The Band's Vistit" isn't about American life, though and that's one of the qualifiers, isn't it?

[Jshan05]

That was my initial thought! Would be a great win but I'm not sure the voting committee would give it to another musical so soon. I know it's not a rule, but it seems like they give it to one per decade. 

[TotallyEffed]

I don’t see how The Band’s Visit could be eligible, as wonderful as it is.

[perfectliar]

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is "for a distinguished play by an American playwright, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life." The only one of these three preferred criteria The Band's Visit meets is that it's by American writers. Plus it would have already been considered when it was off Broadway.

[Kad]

I believe Skeleton Crew would've been eligible for the 2017 Pulitzer, since it premiered in May 2016.

Same for The Band's Visit, which premiered in the winter of 2016.

[Jshan05]

Oh interesting-I wasn't aware it was required to deal with American life. Looks like the last time an award wasn't given was 2006...

[SomethingPeculiar]

A Doll’s House Part 2?
Mary Jane?
African Mean Girls?
Escape to Margaritaville?

Was there anything that played regionally that would qualify? It does seem like kind of an odd year, since 3 of last year’s Tony nominees already played Off-Bway and there weren’t many major new American plays.

[cjmclaughlin10]

Marry Jane
Is God Is
School Girls

The Low Road (not sure what the cut off is for opening)

[BroadwayConcierge]

Jshan05 said: "Oh interesting-I wasn't aware it was required to deal with American life."

Somehow I didn't know that either! Thanks for the info, guys.

[Kad]

Doll's House Pt. 2 is definitely the most high-profile eligible play, but I wonder if the Pulitzers will go for it even though it's not explicitly about American life.

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

The eligibility dates and "preferences" always make this a little hazy. "Sweat" won last year, despite premiering in 2015, for instance. And, if "Band's Visit" doesn't meet either the American life or original source "preferences," "Doll's House Pt. 2" has the same issues.

[little_sally]

I think Mary Jane has a great shot and I wonder if Junk has a chance, given that it won the Kennedy Prize. I certainly wasn't a fan but I think it has a chance.

[MrJNLong]

Would Junk or Pipeline be considered 2017? Or did they have previous productions before 2017?

[cjmclaughlin10]

Dose it not depend when they submit Mary Jane for consideration (I think that's how it works...)? Like if they want to make script changes before a transfer or something

[broadwaybelter]

The "American life" rule does not seem to be a determining factor. Nottage won her first Pulitzer for Ruined in 2009.

[Kad]

The key word in the rule is "preferably."

[little_sally]

MrJNLong said: "Would Junk or Pipeline be considered 2017? Or did they have previous productions before 2017?"

It did have a production at La Jolla in 2016 so I'm not so sure...

[americanboy99]

Some thoughts:

MILES FOR MARY 

PASS OVER 

BULL IN A CHINA SHOP

[JBroadway]

I found Mary Jane exceedingly unremarkable. I'd be very disappointed if it won. 

I'd love to see it go to Pipeline or Miles For Mary. Or maybe The Antipodes or Charm. 

I wonder if KPOP would be cosndiered, given that it does focus on the experience of Koreans in America, and the westernization of the music genre. 

If they do indeed accept plays that premiered since the new year, I think The Low Road would be an ideal candidate, on paper at least. It's ambitious and relevant, it's very decidedly about America, and it's by a playwright who has already won. Whether or not the committee actually thinks it is deserving of the award is an entirely different question though. 

 

[pointilismlight]

I think Low Road is a real contender - especially after that review!

[Alex Kulak2]

I think Steven Levenson's If I Forget is eligible for this year's prize.

[BroadwayBeebe]

Alex Kulak2 said: "I think Steven Levenson'sIf I Forgetis eligible for this year's prize."

I would be really happy if this was considered. I thought this was one of the best things I saw in 2017 and I was hoping that it would transfer in at some point.