No drama good enough.

I've been following some interesting conversations in a Yahoo Playwrighting group, regarding the fact that the Pulitzer committee has decided not to award a prize this year in the Drama category.

There is a sense of indignation among playwrights that the Pulitzer committee has declared (by the virtue of not declaring) that there are no dramas worthy of their award. What does this mean?

Well, it could just mean that there weren't any plays good enough. It could mean that the judges (journalists) weren't qualified to make such an assessment. It could mean that by having the deadline moved up (apparently) the shorter time span eliminated some of the best plays from consideration. All of these are "possibilities" that have been discussed.

Any one of them is a rather sad possibility, particularly if true.

I do wonder if there truly aren't any plays out there right now that are worthy of receiving award honors. Can it be? Is theatre in such trouble that it can't even find a show worthy of winning a prestigious award?

No, I don't think so. I think that the world is filled with gifted playwrights. The problem, as I see it, is matching those playwrights with equally gifted producers and/or promoters who will see to it that the works of the playwright are polished and produced.

Producers today are looking for the quick buck, they are not interested in developing a relationship with an artist and working with him (or her) to bring out his(her) fullest potential.

No drama good enough? Nay, I say. No producer bold enough.