Hamilton Wins the 2016 Pulitzer Prize; Is the World Wide Enough for Lin-Manuel Miranda's Trophy Room?

How were they gonna say no to this? Hamilton, written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, has been awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The musical juggernaut was chosen over finalists Gloria, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Stephen Karam’s The Humans.

Miranda will receive a prize of $10,000. Though this marks his first Pulitzer, he and Quiara Alegría Hudes were finalists for In the Heights in 2009. The award went to Lynn Nottage for Ruined that year.

Eight other musicals have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in the awards’ history. Hamilton joins Next to Normal, Rent, Sunday in the Park with George, A Chorus Line, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Fiorello!, South Pacific and Of Thee I Sing.

Hamilton premiered at the Public Theater on January 20, 2015 and has gone on to gain myriad accolades. The off-Broadway run won Drama Desks, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Lucille Lortel Awards and more. Since transferring to Broadway, the show won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album and the Edward M. Kennedy Prize. Expect the list to grow through the 70th annual Tony Awards on June 12.

The show’s influence extends past the theater district. Last September, Miranda received a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant for “bringing the traditional Broadway musical into the 21st century.” Hamilton is also credited for helping keep the ten-dollar Founding Father on U.S. currency and has also spearheaded outreach campaigns for students, including a visit to the White House.

In addition to Miranda, the current cast features Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Daveed Diggs, Anthony Ramos, Okieriete Onaodowan, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Rory O’Malley, who recently took over for Broadway’s original King George, Jonathan Groff.