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Pulitzer Prize for Drama

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The Pulitzer Prizes
Joseph Pulitzer    •    
Pulitzer winners
Journalism:
Letters and drama:
Other prizes:

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918. From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than being the calendar year. The decision was made, however, that the 2007 Prize would consider works staged during an eligibility period of January 1 to December 31, 2006--thus bringing the schedule for the Drama Prize in line with those of the other prizes. The drama jury, which consists of one academic and four critics, attends plays in New York and in regional theaters. The Pulitzer board has the authority to overrule the jury's choice, however, as happened in 1986 when the jury chose the CIVIL warS to receive the prize, but due to the board's opposition no award was given. Also, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was selected for the 1963 Pulitzer Prize for Drama by that award's committee. However, the committee's selection was overruled by the award's advisory board, the trustees of Columbia University, because of the play's then-controversial use of profanity and sexual themes. Had he been awarded, he would be tied with Eugene O'Neill for the most Pulitzer Prizes for Drama (four).

Musicals as recipients

Only seven musicals have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama -- about one per decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. They are as follows: Of Thee I Sing (1932), South Pacific (1950), Fiorello! (1960), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962), A Chorus Line (1976), Sunday in the Park with George (1985), and Rent (1996). The award goes to the playwright, although production of the play is also taken into account. In the case of a musical being awarded the prize, the composer, lyricist and story author are generally the recipients.

Recipients by year

Multiple Winners

Only a few playwrights have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama more than once.

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Pulitzer Prize for Drama from Wíkipedia. ©2006 by Wíkipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. View a list of authors or edit this article.

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