The Playgoer: Pulitzer Race is On!

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Thursday, April 08, 2010

Pulitzer Race is On!

The Pulitzers will be announced Monda, and NYT's Patrick Healy has the early handicapping on the Drama award.  Seems like Horton Foote's Orphan's Home cycle is the sentimental favorite--as well as one play that could surely use the bump right now, as it looks for a Broadway transfer.

On the other hand, it has to get around the technicality of not being an entirely "new" play.

Otherwise, recall that the official criteria are: "a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life."

I wonder if Kushner's new play would qualify, having had its premiere at the Guthrie last summer, even if in what the playwright considers unfinished form.

Otherwise, not a lot of obvious big contenders out there this year.  There's a Margolies (Time Stands Still) and a Mamet (Race) but neither caused major ecstasy and those guys have had their share.  Three lesser knowns who are surely in the running: Sarah Ruhl (In the Next Room), Melissa Gibson (This), and Annie Baker (Circle Mirror Transformation).

Another dark horse could be Red, believe it or not.  What's that, you say, an English play?  No, John Logan is actually an American who happened to get his play about American Mark Rothko premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse with a British cast who is now doing it on Broadway.  Is it a good play? That's another story.

More outside contenders would include Next Fall (currently struggling on Broadway), David Ives' mini-hit Venus in Fur, and previous winner Tracy Letts' underwhelming Superior Donuts.

And for a real long shot why not bet on Richard Foreman's Idiot Savant.  Certainly deals with "American life."

What else is likely?  What else would you like to see win?  Certainly not a lot of Broadway contenders this year...(making for a dull Tonys)

4 comments:

Playgoer said...

Silly me--of course musicals are eligible too.

"American Idiot," anyone?

The kids seem to like it at least.

Ken said...

I would love it if "Circle Mirror Transofrmation" got it, but I don't expect that. However, Annie Baker shouldn't be too disappointed; there's nothing wrong with having "Pulitzer Finalist" on your resume. I, in fact, haven't bothered to wait for my turn and have already put it on mine.

Frank said...

So will it be another year in which plays which have not had a NY production are shut out, despite what the Pulitzer rules says?

Playgoer said...

We'll know very shortly. Announcement is at 3pm today 4/12.

Be there! (or here...)