Gypsy was not considered at all. I thought that was clear in my earlier post, but then you included it on your list above. The judges strongly recommended Toys in the Attic. They were overruled by the advisory board, perhaps because Toys was a rather unpleasant play. I don't think it was any residue from Hellman's HUAC appearance.
Others that the judges mentioned in their letter to the board included The Andersonville Trial, The Miracle Worker, The Prodigal, and A Thurber Carnival. Those were mentioned primarily to make it clear that others had been considered, but their very strong recommendation was Toys. One that was not on their list or even considered was Fiorello!, which the board decided should win. The judges, John Mason Brown and John Gassner, were pretty pissed off, but they swallowed their anger and did not make public statement. When the board overruled them about Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, they spoke out. |
