Washington D.C., June 14: The 2016 Tony Awards was a night dedicated to the victims of the Orlando shooting as the show’s host James Corden, “Hamilton” star Lin-Manuel Miranda and actor Frank Langhella paid an emotional tribute to the victims during the show held at the Beacon Theatre in NY. It fell one short of the record 12 wins for “The Producers” in 2001.
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Leslie Odom, Jr. Took home the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Hamilton”, too.
Though the Awards belong to Hamilton, the night belonged to the victims in Orlando.
Perhaps the most emotional tribute came from Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer and writer of Broadway’s smash-hit musical, Hamilton. “Hate will never win”.
The Best Play has been awarded to “The Humans”, written by Stephen Karam, in the 70th Tony Awards 2016. “I’m heartbroken. I think everybody is feeling it, so we are at least all coming together to celebrate and not live in fear”, he said on the carpet. “Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle”. (An actor for nearly 42 years, he admitted that 35 of them were “pretty bad.”) Designer David Rockwell won his first Tony for “She Loves Me” – his 20th Broadway set design.
Other veteran actors also won prizes: Jessica Lange for best leading actress in a play for “Long Day’s Journey into Night”, and Frank Langella for his leading role in “The Father”. Both of these shows have proven that the concept of telling stories written by, starring and about people of color cannot only resonate with audiences, but it can also be incredibly successful.
Corden really hit the nail on the head when called the Tony Awards “the Oscars, but with diversity”. The Best Musical award was given to “Hamilton”.
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Fellow castmate Renée Elise Goldsberry picked up a Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony, happy to be part of a show that broke free from typecasting.
