While we’ll never know what the 2016 awards season for Broadway would have looked like otherwise, we can hope that the excitement over Hamilton directs potential audiences to many of these other shows as well – the ones that haven’t already closed yet, that is. It would need 12 wins to tie “The Producers” for the most Tony wins of all time.
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“The Producers” and “Billy Elliot” share the record for the most Tony nominations, with 15 each.
Hamilton began as an off-Broadway production, but after praise by everyone from the Obamas to Beyonce, it quickly became the hottest ticked on Broadway, selling out shows months in advance.
The musical sensation also just received a nod from the Pulitzer Prize, winning best drama for the centennial of the prize on April 18.
Honestly, we’re kind of surprised Miranda didn’t get nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award, too, even though he’s only 36.
Hamilton uses rapped lyrics and a multiethnic cast to tell the story of United States Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, and the origins of the U.S.
“Hamilton” will compete for Broadway’s biggest crown – best new musical – with “Bright Star”, “School of Rock”, “Shuffle Along” and “Waitress”. West High School grad Antoine Smith is in the revival of “The Color Purple” and that show was nominated for four medallions, including Best Revival of a Musical.
They will face off against Laurie Metcalf in a stage adaptation of Stephen King s thriller “Misery”, British actress Sophie Okenedo in “The Crucible” and Michelle Williams in “Blackbird”.
Joan Marcus/The Roundabout Theatre Company “The Humans”, pictured, will compete for best play with “Eclipsed”, “The Father” and “King Charles III”. Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell were nominated for best actor and best actress in a featured role in a play.
The Crucible, A View From the Bridge, Blackbird, Long Day’s Journey into Night, and Noises Off are all shortlisted for Best Revival of a Play, while the musical equivalent is between The Color Purple, Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, and Spring Awakening.
Other interesting acting nominations include Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne as best actress and actor in a play, for “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, and Oscar victor Lupita Nyong’o, a best actress nominee for “Eclipsed”. In addition to Erivo and Soo, the nominees are Laura Benanti for “She Loves Me”, Carmen Cusack for “Bright Star” and Jessie Mueller in “Waitress”.
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The 70th Annual Tony Awards ceremony will be held June 12 at the Beacon Theatre in uptown NY with host James Corden of “The Late Late Show”.
