Long time no verse. In the past 3 months, more than could ever be summed up in a single blog post has happened in the theatre world. Here are a few brief and erratically selected tidbits for y'all to nibble:

Pulitzer goes to Next to Normal

For the first time since 1996 when RENT was honored, a musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Brian Yorkey & Tom Kitt might just have a hit on their hands, but don't go on thinking it will become the cult hit RENT became. I saw N2N on Broadway back in October, and I thought it was a pretty solid show. A Pulitzer, however, I did not foresee. The show deals with issues of modern middle-classiness, and more intangibly themes like regret and perseverance, which could provide for an interesting plot and character development. Maybe it was the fact that I knew (spoiler alert!) Gabe was dead the whole time, but it didn't move me in a way worthy of the highest honor an American play can receive. The music is great, and the story is mildly entertaining, but the only character I really cared about was Dan. I never really connected with Diana, and while her predicament was sad I felt it was her husband that bore a significant portion of the pain. Alice Ripley was absolutely perfect for the role, and sitting in the orchestra lottery seats impressed her insanity upon me if there were any doubts. J. Robert Spencer just exudes a sense of likableness, and I would be curious to see if Shrek breeds such a feeling (And yes, I realize he originated the role, but going green changes a man). I do love the music, and the more I listen to it the more the show grows on me, but I still stand firm in my conviction of it Pulitzery-unworthiness. On a related note, in November I finally saw In The Heights on Broadway, which was nominated for the prize in 2009. This is an amazing show. I should have reviewed it shortly after seeing it, and may delve deeper into it later, but suffice to say that to a college senior uncertain of his future ITH is incredibly relevant and worthier of the accolades bestowed upon N2N.

MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play awarded to Eclipsed

This honor is a part of the Helen Hayes Awards given to theaters in the DC Metro area. Danai Gurira penned the play, which focuses on the plight of Liberian women in the midst of the country's civil war. I had the honor to attend the world premier of Eclipsed back in September while interning with the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and it blew me away. Again, I should have offered a more thorough response to this performance last fall, but alas I did not. It is a gift to have the power to make an audience laugh and cry sincerely within a single work, and Gurira clearly is blessed with such a gift. The seriousness of the plot resonates around the idea that the women being oppressed feel violence is the only way to empower themselves. Gurira beautifully weaves humor and humanity into the piece, from earnest jokes about Bill Clinton to subtle critiques of materialism, and the result is much deserving of the MacArthur Award.

Tonys

So the Tony noms are out. I am disappointed that Hugh Jackman was not nominated for best actor, as he was spectacular in A Steady Rain (yet another show seen and not reviewed. Dang.). The "Leading Actor in a Play" category is mad deep, with Jude Law, Alfred Molina, Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, and Christopher Walken. There isn't too much that catches my eye in terms of best musical, but Memphis seems like the only one with a plot. All of the shows are based off of something; an album, a musician, a controversial dj, and a jam session. In other words, nothing terribly original. Memphis features lyrics from Joe DiPietro, and I do enjoy the cleverness that is I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Also, though it could be cheesy or surface level-y, the themes of race are still very relevant. My bet is on American Idiot, which would be fine as long as Billie Joe doesn't suffer the same fate as Bret Michaels. I think I'll be pulling for Memphis for new musical, and possibly A Little Night Music for revival. Besides Ragtime, I think that's one category that's up for grabs.

Well now that my musings were all jumbled, does anyone else have thoughts on the Tonys or anything else?