In support of the Drama community, whose ability to produce work in its usual capacity has been diminished by the COVID pandemic, the Pulitzer Prize Board has amended eligibility rules in the category for the 2021 Prize cycle, which recognizes work produced during the 2020 calendar year.
“The spread of the COVID virus has closed theaters but has in no way dampened the creativity of the nation's playwrights. In this year, of all years, we wanted to honor the work that is being done. The shows are going on, even if the audience is remote,” said Pulitzer co-chairs Stephen Engelberg, Editor-in-Chief, ProPublica, and Aminda Marqués Gonzalez, President, Publisher and Executive Editor, Miami Herald.
As always, eligible works include full-length dramas by American authors that opened in the United States between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. For the 2021 award, eligible entries may also include plays that were scheduled to be produced in theatres in calendar 2020 but postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic, as well as plays produced and performed in places other than theaters, including online, outside or in site-specific venues, during the year.
Scheduled plays that went unproduced should include with the entry some confirmation of their cancellation or postponement along with the play script. For full-length dramatic works produced and performed in spaces other than theaters during calendar 2020, a script and production details will still be required.
Creators of dramatic works can determine when it is ready for award consideration, as it may be submitted only once. Previously submitted works and revivals are not eligible.
All other criteria for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama will remain the same.
Entry sites for the Drama and Music categories opened today, and will remain open through December 31, 2020.
For the Pulitzer Prize in Music, works that receive their U.S. premiere between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 are eligible. As always, either a public performance or the public release of a recording may constitute a premiere.
Full details on the eligibility rules for the 2021 Prize cycle are available on the Drama and Music guidelines pages.
The deadline for entries is December 31, 2020. Entries shall be submitted online. The entry site is available here.
A list of all past Pulitzer Prize winners in Drama is available here.
A list of all past Pulitzer Prize winners in Music is available here.
RELATED:
Pulitzer Prizes To Accept Digital Book Submissions for 2021 Awards
News
September 10, 2020