A STRANGE LOOP receives 2020 Pulitzer for Drama

[jacobsnchz14]

Additional finalists:

"Heroes of the Fourth Turning"

"Soft Power"

Congrats to all of these shows!

[Falsettolands]

Perfect!!!

[IdinaBellFoster]

A fabulous choice.

[imeldasturn]

is it the first time that two musicals are among the finalists?

[JBroadway]

imeldasturn said: "is it the first time that two musicals are among the finalists?"

No, Gospel at Colonus was a finalist in the year that Sunday in the Park with George won. 

 

I expressed my feelings in the other thread, but since there's a new thread:

I find myself pretty disappointed. I have a lot of respect for what A Strange Loop was attempting to achieve, but I thought it missed the mark in a number of ways. There were quite a few other works that I thought were far more deserving this year. But I'm not surprised by the news, since my opinion is obviously the minority. 

[Skip23]

Excellent!

 

One of my favorite productions of the year.

 

 

[HeyMrMusic]

Wow! Incredible.

A great shortlist too. I’m excited Soft Power was a finalist.

Two semi-autobiographical musicals by POCs in the bunch. And Jeanine Tesori’s second biographical musical as a finalist.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

I know this was the initial goal with the planned DC production, but they'd be smart to try and transfer the show to Broadway as part of a spring 2021 reopening. It would be a massive awards contender (musical, book, score actor), and the Pulitzer could help give it some recognition for a limited run!

[Kad]

Extremely surprising and thrilling news, and extremely deserving. Strange Loop was THE show of the season for me, and am thrilled for Michael R. Jackson, whose voice deserves to be elevated.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first musical to win the Prize without a Broadway production. Of Thee I Sing, South Pacific, Fiorello!, and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying all opened on Broadway, and A Chorus Line, Sunday in the Park with George, Rent*, Next to Normal, and Hamilton had all transferred to Broadway by the time they won.

*I'm not entirely certain of the timeline regarding Rent's win. The Prize is typically given in mid-April, and Rent had its first Broadway preview on April 16, 1996, and I'm unsure if the Prize announcement came before or after that date. Still, its Broadway production was already in motion by the time it was awarded.

[Broadway61004]

BroadwayGuy12 said: "Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first musical to win the Prize without a Broadway production. Of Thee I Sing,South Pacific,Fiorello!, andHow to Succeed in Business without Really Tryingall opened on Broadway, andA Chorus Line,Sunday in the Park with George,Rent*,Next to Normal, andHamiltonhad all transferred to Broadway by the time they won.

*I'm not entirely certain of the timeline regardingRent's win. The Prize is typically given in mid-April, andRenthad its first Broadway preview on April 16, 1996, and I'm unsure if the Prize announcement came before or after that date. Still, its Broadway production was already in motion by the time it was awarded."

The Pulitzers were announced on April 9th that year, so technically a week before Rent transferred to Broadway (and obviously awarded based off the off-Broadway script, although I believe no changes were made to the libretto when it transferred).  But as you say, obviously the transfer was well in the works by then.  This would in fact be the first time a musical won without a Broadway production confirmed.

[viagalactica6]

HALLELULUJAH!!!!!!

[imeldasturn]

Allegedly this is a pic of Adam Pascal, Taye Diggs and Jesse L. Martin of Rent being informed that the show had won the Pulitzer Prize (1996). If so they might have been mid-rehearsal for the Broadway opening.

[Alex Kulak2]

As far as I can tell, this is the first black musical theatre writer to win the Pulitzer!

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Anthony Rapp noted in his memoir that they were all in rehearsal at the Nederlander when they were informed of their win, and the excitement and joy in the building was incredible.

[viagalactica6]

You are probably correct. Interesting. I hadn't thought about that. I am so damn happy for Michael R. Jackson.

[ACL2006]

If we were in a normal situation, I would expect A Strange Loop & Soft Power to transfer to Broadway for next season.

[Ledaero]

ACL2006 said: "If we were in a normal situation, I would expect A Strange Loop & Soft Power to transfer to Broadway for next season."

I would think that this pandemic actual makes it quite optimal for them to hop in when everything reopens. There will be many open theaters and both shows can run on relatively low costs and don't need large attendance to stay afloat. 

[LightsOut90]

Ledaero said: "ACL2006 said: "If we were in a normal situation, I would expect A Strange Loop & Soft Power to transfer to Broadway for next season."

I would think that this pandemic actual makes it quite optimal for them to hop in when everything reopens. There will be many open theaters and both shows can run on relatively low costs and don't need large attendance to stay afloat."

Soft Power is a VERY expensive show to run, the orchestra alone...

[qolbinau]

If I want to get into Strange Loop or Soft Power would the cast recordings and synopsis work as a starting point? Anything we should be aware of that might make this difficult? (E.g., important staging, concepts, importance of dialogue etc)

[Kad]

The Strange Loop album is pretty representative of the show.

Soft Power, because of its concept, definitely needs a synopsis for it to make sense.

[BJR]

What a shock and a thrill. So deserved.

Without question, one of the most talked-about shows at any industry function this year. So, in retrospect, perhaps inevitable? But really, what a thrill. HEROES... was, as well, and I long assumed it would win. No comment on SP.

I hope this helps it re-navigate its way to Bway after all of this. I have a feeling it will. Thrilling.

[JBroadway]

qolbinau said: "If I want to get into Strange Loop or Soft Power would the cast recordings and synopsis work as a starting point? Anything we should be aware of that might make this difficult? (E.g., important staging, concepts, importance of dialogue etc)"

 

Kad is correct. Soft Power is structured in such a way that the cast album really can't communicate all that's going on. The cast album only captures the "story within a story" and not the actual overarching story itself. 

[qolbinau]

Thanks that's exactly the kind of background info I was wanted to know. 

[matt1982]

I'm glad to see Soft Power get some recognition.  A very ambitious, if not perfect, new musical that spoke to our America.