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Honoring the Stage of Excellence

• Introduction:

The Pulitzer Prizes are a series of annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City. Each year, a total of 23 Pulitzer Prizes are awarded in 21 categories for achievements in American journalism, the arts, and literature, including 14 in journalism, 6 in letters, and 1 in music. The awards are given on the recommendation of a committee of judges appointed by the university (the Pulitzer Prize Board). The Pulitzer Prizes were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer. They are annual awards that honor outstanding achievements primarily in journalism and literature but also include photography, cartooning, drama, and music.

• Background:

Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer donated some of the money to establish the Pulitzer Prizes, a $250,000 prize and scholarship for outstanding public service and achievement in American journalism, letters, and music. The awards, established in 1917, are presented each May. Each winner of the award receives a certificate and $15,000 in cash. In the public service category alone, a gold medal is awarded. The awards include four in journalism, four in letters and drama, one in education, and four traveling scholarships. The first Pulitzer Prizes were announced on June 4, 1917, after Joseph Pulitzer's death, and have been presented each May since then. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, Colonel Robert R. Under McCormick's control, the Pulitzer Prizes lost their significance as a "society of mutual appreciation," as the newspaper refused to compete for the award until 1961.

• List of Pulitzer Prize Winners for Drama:

 

• 1918: Why Mary? By Jesse Lynch Williams.
• 1919: No Award.
• 1920: Beyond the Horizon, by Eugene O'Neill.
• 1921: Miss Lulu Bett, by Jonah Gale.
• 1922: Anna Christie, by Eugene O'Neill.
• 1923: Icebound, by Owen Davis.
• 1924: Hell-Bent for Heaven, by Hatcher Hughes.
• 1925: They Know What They Wanted, by Sidney Howard.
• 1926: Craig's Wife, by George Kelly.
• 1927: In Abraham's Bosom, by Paul Green.
• 1928: Strange Interlude, by Eugene O'Neill.
• 1929: Street Scene, by Elmer L. Rice.
• 1930: The Green Pastures, by Mark Connelly.
• 1931: Allison's House, by Susan Glaspell.
• 1932: Of Thee I Sing, by George S. Kaufman (writer), Maury Riskind (writer) and Ira Gershwin (lyricist).
• 1933: Both Your Houses, by Maxwell Anderson.
• 1934: Men in White, by Sidney Kingsley.
• 1935: The Old Maid, by Joe Akins.
• 1936:

1. Idiot's Delight, by Robert E. Sherwood.
2. You Can't Take It With You, by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman.

• 1938: Our Town, by Thornton Wilder.
• 1939: Abbey Lincoln in Illinois, by Robert E. Sherwood.
• 1940: The Time of Your Life, by William Saroyan.
• 1941: There Shall Be No Night, by Robert E. Sherwood.
• 1943: The Skin of Our Teeth, by Thornton Wilder.
• 1945: Harvey, by Mary Chase.
• 1946: State of the Union, by Russell Krauss and Howard Lindsay.
• 1948: A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams.
• 1949: Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller.
• 1950: South Pacific, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and writing by Joshua Logan.
• 1952: The Shrike, by Joseph Cram.
• 1953: Picnic, by William Inger.
• 1954: The Teahouse of the August Moon, by John Patrick.
• 1955: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams.
• 1956: The Diary of Anne Frank, by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich.
• 1957: Long Day's Journey Into Night, by Eugene O'Neill.
• 1958: Look Homeward, Look of an Angel, by Katie Frings.
• 1959: J.B. Archibald, by McLeish.
• 1960: Fiorello!, by Jerome Weidman (writer), George Abbott (writer), Jerry Bock (composer), and Sheldon Harnick (lyricist).
• 1961: All the Way Home, Tad Mosel.
• 1962: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Frank Loeser (composer/lyricist) and Abbey Burroughs (author).
• 1965: The Subject Oz Roses, Frank D. Gilroy.
• 1967: A Delicate Balance, Edward Albee.
• 1969: The Great White Hope, Howard Sackler.
• 1970: No Place to Be Somebody, Charles Gordon.
• 1971: The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Paul Zindel.
• 1973: That Championship Season, Jason Miller.
• 1975: Seascape, Edward Albee.
• 1976: A Chorus Line by Michael Bennett (choreographer/director), James Kirkwood (writer), Nicholas Dante (writer), Marvin Hamlisch (composer), and Edward Kleban (lyricist)
• 1977: The Shadow Box, Michael Christopher.
• 1978: The Gin Game, Donald L. Coburn.
• 1979: Birdie, Sam Shepard.
• 1980: Talley's Folly, Lanford Wilson.
• 1981: Crimes of the Heart, Beth Henley.
• 1982: A Soldier's Play, Charles Fuller.
• 1983: Night, Mother, Marsha Norman.
• 1984: Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet.
• 1985: Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist) and James Lappin (writer).
• 1986: No Award.
• 1987: Fences, August Wilson.
• 1988: Driving Miss Daisy, Alfred Uhry.
• 1989: The Heidi Chronicles, Wendy Wasserstein.
• 1990: The Piano Lesson, August Wilson.
• 1991: Lost in Yonkers, Neil Simon.
• 1992: The Kentucky Cycle, Robert Schenkkan.
• 1993: Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Tony Kushner.
• 1994: Three Tall Women, Edward Albee.
• 1995: The Young Man from Atlanta, Horton Ft.
• 1996: Rent, Jonathan Larson.
• 1997: No Award.
• 1998: How I Learned to Drive, Paula Vogel.
• 1999: The Wit, Margaret Edson.
• 2000: Dinner with Friends, Donald Margulies.
• 2001: Proof, David Auburn.
• 2002: Topdog/Underdog, Suzanne-Lori Parks.
• 2003: Anna in the Tropics, Nilo Cruz.
• 2004: I Am My Own Wife, Dog Wright.
• 2005: Doubt: A Parable, John Patrick Shanley.
• 2006: No Award.
• 2007: Rabbit Hole, David Lindsay-Abaire.
• 2008: August: Osage County, Tracy Letts.
• 2009: The Ruined, Lynn Nottage.
• 2010: Ordinary, Tom Kitt (composer) and Brian Yorkey (writer/lyricist).
• 2011: Claiborne Park, Bruce Norris.
• 2012: Water by the Spoonful Quira, Alegria Hoods.
• 2013: The Disgraced, Ayad Akhtar.
• 2014: The Flick, Annie Baker.
• 2015: Between Riverside and Crazy, Stephen Adly Girgis.
• 2016: Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
• 2017: Sweet, Lynn Nottage.
• 2018: Cost of Living, Martina Mazok.
• 2019: Fairview Jackie, Sibley Drury.
• 2020: A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson.
• 2021: The Hot Wing King, Katori Hall.
• 2022: Fat Ham, James Ijames.
• 2023: English, Sanaz Tucci.
• 2024: Primary Trust, Ebony Booth.

 

• Conclusion:

The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most prestigious honors in American theater. The Pulitzer Prize is given to playwrights whose work transcends artistic boundaries, sparks social dialogue, and has a lasting impact on audiences by challenging conventional wisdom and reflecting on the human experience. Over the years, the award has highlighted theater as a medium for change, introspection, and artistic genius. By announcing new winners each year, the award helps to maintain theater as an essential force in shaping culture and society.