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]

How to Succeed... is, in a broad sense, based on Shepherd Mead's book, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Mead's book is a humorous spoof of self-help books and the musical is an original story of how Finch uses the book to advance his career.