‘Hamilton’ takes 11 Tony Awards as theatreland pays tribute to Orlando victims

The hip-hop musical Hamilton dominated this year’s Tony Awards as Broadway paid tribute to the victims of the deadly mass shooting in Florida which claimed at least 50 lives. The critically-acclaimed production, which tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, won 11 awards including best musical after receiving a record 16 nominations. Briton Cynthia Erivo won best performance by a lead actress in a musical for her role as Celie Harris in The Color Purple. Host James Corden opened the show with a message to those affected by the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

I promised myself I wouldn’t cry because my make-up artist would be really mad at me. Thank-you, American Theatre Wing for making a London girl very, very happy.

Cynthia Erivo

“Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this atrocity,” he said. “All we can say is you’re not on your own right now. You’re tragedy is our tragedy.“ The attack in Florida prompted the cast of Hamilton to drop their Revolutionary War muskets for their performance at the awards, a spokesman for the musical said. Speaking before the ceremony in New York, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and creator of Hamilton, said the shooting was “heavy in my heart and heavy in my mind”.

Hate will never win. Together we have to make sure of that. Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle.

Host James Corden

Tony Awards