Ragtime vs. The Lion King

[ceebeegee]

Proposition:

The Lion King definitely deserved the Tony for Best Musical that year, since (IMO) it was the better-directed, tighter, more theatrically overwhelming piece of musical theater. (When the audience started applauding during the "Circle of Life" number, I knew right then which show would win. That number works beautifully, I wept when I finally saw the show.)

However, Ragtime should've won the Pulitzer, since it's a great example of American playwriting and tells its story better (better score, better book) than TLK. (I have no idea what won the Pulitzer that year, just saying I think Ragtime should've gotten that award instead of the Tony).

Thoughts?

Comments

[dry-2olives.livejournal.com]

I think South Pacific absolutely deals with American life. It's about what happens when Americans go abroad and find their accepted morals and prejudices in conflict with those of a different culture. In 1949 you had a huge number of Americans who had returned from the war and their exposure to other cultures did affect their lives.