The first fifty years of the Pulitzer Prize, 1917 to 1967, were among the most momentous in American history; it was a time full of radical change and growth. The forty-two winning plays of this period frame these shifts and society's complex responses to them. Though varied in style from satirical to tragic, from realistic to fantastic, they possess a common power and accomplish the same feat -- they masterfully reflect universal themes and explore the most important, ongoing colossal human questions.

        The Pulitzer Prize Plays is divided into five parts-- "Family Life," "Social Protest," "Political Heroes," "Mortality and Survival in a Materialistic Society," and "The Spiritual Condition of Humankind" and features discussion of such classic plays as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Harvey, The Diary of Anne Frank, South Pacific, and Death of A Salesman. Additional highlights include a concise biography of Joseph Pulitzer along with a history of the development of the prize, original cast listings for each play, and a complete chronology of the plays and jurors. Unprecedented, evocative, and inspiring, this book will deepen your appreciation of drama and your insight into American life.

        A collection of these American prize winning dramatic masterpieces -- the most acclaimed American dramas -- reflect life in America in the 19th and 20th centuries.

       As Democracy in America (1830) by the French social historian Alex De Tocqueville reflects American life in the early part of the 19th century, the forty-two Pulitzer Prize Plays (1917-1967) reflect in virtual living documents, nearly every aspect of American life in the 19th and 20th centuries.

       The library of Pulitzer Prize Plays represents the authentic portrait of America and American Democracy, as a "Great Nation deserves Great Art."

       Drama is an educational experience reflecting the life experience of America. These greatest, prize-winning American plays are worthy of a unique Pulitzer Theatre, even as vital a monument as The Lincoln Memorial in Washington. That National Theatre for America would be a showcase for America, devoted to their constant repertory production even as the Shakespeare canon of 37 plays is played in Britain's Stratford-upon-Avon.

       The Pulitzer Prize Plays can be found at Barnes & Noble, Borders and at many other bookstores specializing in the theater arts. It may also be ordered from this page link at Amazon.com.

SOME REVIEWS OF FIRESTONE'S BOOK
"THE PULITZER PRIZE PLAYS"

       Norman Corwin has won the distinguished One World Award, two Peabody Medals, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a duPont-Columbia Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award for writing the screenplay Lust for Life. He has many other citations for his lifetime career in radio, publishing, and in the theater. In his July 2009 review of the book, this noted American writer, screenwriter, producer, essayist and teacher wrote:

       "Paul A. Firestone . . . has written a marvelous compendium of the first 50 years of Pulitzer Prize Play Awards. It belongs in every library of every student of drama and established playwright in the country, every writer, every member of the Dramatists Guild, Writers Guild, Directors Guild, actor society, and producers enclaves in the country . . . It's a book which belongs in every reference library in the world."

Read Mr. Corwin's complete review here.

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          Dr. Dale V. Atkins is a practicing psychologist in the greater metropolitan area of New York City. A world-renowned lecturer, she is a frequent media, guest-expert commentator on NBC's Today Show. She has authored many articles and books on psychological subjects dealing with Parenting, Healthy Relationships and Managing Stress. Sanity Savers is her latest. An excerpt from Dr. Atkins' August 5, 2009 review of The Pulitzer Prize Plays is below:

          "The Pulitzer Prize Plays: . . . much more than a dramatic reflection of American Life. A series of in-depth portraits of the psychological underpinnings of character development and relationship analysis . . . Reading [Firestone's] work encouraged me to re-read some of the plays I had read or seen years ago, as well as to discover some of the plays I had neither read nor seen. [His] insights encouraged me to look at these works through an 'enhanced' set of eyes. A wonderful book . . . both gratifying and stimulating."

Read Dr. Atkins' complete review here.

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          Daryl Roth, the prolific theatrical producer On and Off Broadway, has a theatre named after her offering innovative, dramatic productions. She is a candidate for the Guinness Book of World Records, having produced six Pulitzer Prize winning plays to her credit, among them: Wit (1998); Proof (2000); and Anna in the Tropics (2003). This is an excerpt from her review:

          "The Pulitzer Prize Plays was a delight to read . . . Personally, as a theatrical producer, I found tremendous value in Dr. Firestone's book. His intelligent classifications help to define and interpret the significance of each of the first fifty years of Pulitzer Prize Plays. It wisely analyzes the winners based on their themes and the essays introducing each play enlighten the reader . . . 'The Pulitzer Prize Plays' is an important contribution to our theatrical culture."

Read Ms. Roth's complete review here.

ORDER THE BOOK HERE.

Standing L to R: Paul Firestone with Diane Levinson, Aaron Lefkove and Marybeth Keating of Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group at the American Alliance for Theatre & Education convention at the New York Mariott Marquis Hotel August 9, '09. Seated: Robert Blumenfeld, a Limelight Editions' four-book author.

At Firestone's own book signing on August 10th, he spoke with and autographed copies of his book. Here he is seen speaking with one of the many members of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education who attended the conference, that ran from August 6th through August 11th, 2009.

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Read The Pulitzer Prize Play's Table of Contents.
Read excerpts from The Pulitzer Prize Play's Introduction.
Visit this page to see a PDF copy of Firestone's Curriculum Vitae.
Visit this page to read about Firestone's inventions.

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