Last night’s (June 12) 70th annual Tony Awards ceremony rejected the hate characterizing the weekend massacre of nearly 50 people at an LGBTQ club’s Latinx-themed night in Orlando. Performers of color won in all four major musical acting categories, while "Hamilton" won 11 awards out of a historic 16 nominations.
"We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer/And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside," said "Hamilton" creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda while accepting the award for "Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for rhe Theatre." Miranda’s remarks echoed host James Corden’s opening remarks: "Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved," he said. "Hate will never win.… Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and celebration of that principle."
For the first time in #TonyAwards history, all four musical acting awards have gone to people of color.
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
Miranda’s "Hamilton" co-stars Leslie Odom Jr. ("Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical"), Daveed Diggs ("Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical") and Renée Elise Goldsberry ("Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical") took home Tonys in three out of four major musical acting categories. The fourth, for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical," went to The Color Purple‘s Cynthia Erivo.
Click here for a full list of winners.