As widely expected, “Hamilton,” already one of the most honored of musicals, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama on April 18. This bio-musical about the Founding Father and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury checks almost all the boxes for the prize: “For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.” True, the musical is based on Ron Chernow’s biography. But few would argue with its originality. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and stars in the Broadway phenomena, had the vision to interpret the 800 page-plus tome with the kinetic vivacity of hip-hop, rap, and pop, delivered by a pitch-perfect multi-cultural cast directed by Tommy Kail.One gathers that the Pulitzer decision was swift and unanimous among the jury, which included playwright Ayad Akhtar (“Disgraced”), professor Stephanie Arnold (Lewis & Clark College), and drama critics Linda Winer (Newsday), Anne Marie Walsh (San Diego Union Tribune), and Peter Marks (The Washington Post), who also chaired the committee.Miranda, a MacArthur “Genius” grant winner, has said that each day gets “a little more surreal than the next,” as the awards continue to pour in for a show that he began writing in 2008. When apprised that there was now a Pulitzer to put on his mantle, he said, “This award is for everyone who has been part of ‘Hamilton’’s six plus year journey. To be the ninth musical to ever win the Pulitzer Prize for drama in its 100-year history is truly humbling for all of us.”The “Hamilton” Pulitzer joins an honor roll of musicals, which include “South Pacific,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Rent,” and “Next to Normal,” the 2010 winner. What is most striking about “Hamilton” is the breadth of support that it has received from both sides of the political spectrum, earning praise from the likes of conservative columnist David Brooks as well as being featured repeatedly in The New York Times, including a recent front-page article about the slight liberties taken by the musical and another one speculating that the high-profile show may have saved Hamilton’s position on the United States currency: “Success of ‘Hamilton’ May Have Saved Hamilton on the $10 Bill” read the headline.The only downside to all this effusive praise and attention is that it is sucking all the oxygen out of the room and leaving other shows which are part of this Broadway season gasping for air. Indeed, the runners-up for the Pulitzer this year were most worthy: Stephen Karam’s “The Humans,” a brilliant and acclaimed drama currently at the Helen Hayes on Broadway; and Branden Jacob-Jenkins’s “Gloria,” a topical thriller on gun violence in the workplace, which played the Vineyard Theatre last year. Miranda knows what it’s like to be in the position of Karam and Jacob-Jenkins. His musical “In the Heights,” was a runner-up for the Pulitzer in 2009, which went to Lynne Nottage’s “Ruined.” His consolation prize was for the musical to collect four Tony Awards later in the season, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Karam, as the author of “The Humans,” may well be on the podium this year when the Tony for Best Play is announced.The excitement surrounding “Hamilton” is so feverish that it has become something of a must-see for almost any politician travelling to New York. Lin-Manuel has been hosted at the White House and President Obama and his family have taken in the show repeatedly. And when Bernie Sanders recently attended the show with his wife, Jane, the Clinton campaign quickly pointed out that Hillary Clinton had already seen the show months ago when it was in a sold-out run at the Public Theater off-Broadway.
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