Pulitzer Prize for Drama

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of several prestigious awards administered by Columbia University for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It is awarded to a distinguished play or musical by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life. Although plays have dominated the award winners since its inauguration, ten musicals have received the prize so far. This guide will explore the history of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and its cultural reputation.

Terminology

• Civil War: A civil war in the United States fought between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865.
• Endowment: The action of endowing something or someone, e.g. money or prestige.
• Off-Broadway: Denoting or taking place in a New York City theatre that is smaller than those in the Broadway theatre district and typically stages less expensive/commercial productions.

Recipients of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama

• 2024: Primary Trust
• 2023: English
• 2022: Fat Ham
• 2021: The Hot Wing King
• 2020: A Strange Loop
• 2019: Fairview
• 2018: Cost of Living
• 2017: Sweat
• 2016: Hamilton
• 2015: Between Riverside and Crazy
• 2014: The Flick
• 2013: Disgraced
• 2012: Water by the Spoonful
• 2011: Clybourne Park
• 2010: Next to Normal
• 2009: Ruined
• 2008: August: Osage County
• 2007: Rabbit Hole
• 2006: No Award
• 2005: Doubt
• 2004: I Am My Own Wife
• 2003: Anna in the Tropics
• 2002: Topdog/Underdog
• 2001: Proof
• 2000: Dinner With Friends
• 1999: Wit
• 1998: How I Learned to Drive
• 1997: No Award
• 1996: Rent
• 1995: The Young Man From Atlanta
• 1994: Three Tall Women
• 1993: Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
• 1992: The Kentucky Cycle
• 1991: Lost in Yonkers
• 1990: The Piano Lesson
• 1989: The Heidi Chronicles
• 1988: Driving Miss Daisy
• 1987: Fences
• 1986: No Award
• 1985: Sunday in the Park With George
• 1984: Glengarry Glen Ross
• 1983: ‘night, Mother
• 1982: A Soldier’s Play
• 1981: Crimes of the Heart
• 1980: Talley’s Folly
• 1979: Buried Child
• 1978: The Gin Game
• 1977: The Shadow Box
• 1976: A Chorus Line
• 1975: Seascape
• 1974: No Award
• 1973: That Championship Season
• 1972: No Award
• 1971: The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds
• 1970: No Place to Be Somebody
• 1969: The Great White Hope
• 1968: No Award
• 1967: A Delicate Balance
• 1966: No Award
• 1965: The Subject Was Roses
• 1964: No Award
• 1963: No Award
• 1962: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
• 1961: All the Way Home
• 1960: Fiorello!
• 1959: J.B.
• 1958: Look Homeward, Angel
• 1957: Long Day’s Journey Into Night
• 1956: The Diary of Anne Frank
• 1955: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• 1954: The Teahouse of the August Moon
• 1953: Picnic
• 1952: The Shrike
• 1951: No Award
• 1950: South Pacific
• 1949: Death of a Salesman
• 1948: A Streetcar Named Desire
• 1947: No Award
• 1946: State of the Union
• 1945: Harvey
• 1944: No Award
• 1943: The Skin of Our Teeth
• 1942: No Award
• 1941: There Shall Be No Night
• 1940: The Time of Your Life
• 1939: Abe Lincoln in Illinois
• 1938: Our Town
• 1937: You Can’t Take It With You
• 1936: Idiots Delight
• 1935: The Old Maid
• 1934: Men in White
• 1933: Both Your Houses
• 1932: Of Thee I Sing
• 1931: Alison’s House
• 1930: The Green Pastures
• 1929: Street Scene
• 1928: Strange Interlude
• 1927: In Abraham’s Bosom
• 1926: Craig’s Wife
• 1925: They Knew What They Wanted
• 1924: Hell-Bent Fer Heaven
• 1923: Icebound
• 1922: Anna Christie
• 1921: Miss Lulu Bett
• 1920: Beyond the Horizon
• 1919: No Award
• 1918: Why Marry?
• 1917: No Award