The Pulitzer Project

About the project

Joseph Pulitzer, titan of American print media at the end of the 19^th century, conceived of the Pulitzer Prize as one arm of his sizable will.  As a pioneer in the field of journalism and as the first advocate for university-level training for journalists, Pulitzer established his namesake prizes to incentivize excellence with four awards in journalism, four in books and drama, one for education, and five traveling scholarships.  Thanks in large part to the flexibility that Pulitzer wrote into his will, the governing board of these awards have the power to adapt and evolve through further recognition of other fields, broadening their scope, and adjusting selection criteria.   

The Pulitzer Prize in Drama has been awarded “For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.”  Tucked within these laureates, however, are a distinct class of works.  Since 1918, the Pulitzer Prize in Drama has been awarded to only ten musicals.  To understand the significance of their inclusion amongst a sea of plays means seeking to understand, dissect, and reassemble the basic criteria:  American life.   

Whether presenting itself through satire, Old World-operatic forms, or two-act book musicals, whether using the language of rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, or dance, and whether those stories follow painters, politicians, or playwrights, each one attempts to teach their audiences—carefully.    

But what are the lessons?  Through writing, performing, and teaching, this scholarly exploration, The Pulitzer Project, investigates three possibilities:

What is it to be an American? 

What is the cost to being an American? 

What do these works say about leaving one’s mark on America? 

About the author

Bradley J. Behrmann is a Professional Musical Theatre Nerd who splits his time between New York City, San Diego, St. Louis, and Amarillo.  Hailing from Belleville, IL, he earned a B.Mus. in Music Education and a B.A. in English from Lawrence University and a MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University.  A lifelong teacher and theatre maker, he has appeared on Off-Broadway and regional stages, has taught music and journalism at Notre Dame High School-St. Louis, has served as a teaching artist at the Milwaukee Rep and La Jolla Playhouse, and was appointed Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at West Texas A&M University where he has taught since 2018.