'Hamilton' has huge night with 11 Tony Awards
Pop-culture phenomenon Hamilton snagged the lion’s share of Tony Awards and Jessica Lange added to her already-full trophy collection, but the annual celebration of Broadway’s best was as interested in honoring the victims of the Orlando shootings.
"This is a dream come true and it fills me with such happiness on a sad day like this," said Lange, the winner of Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes who accepted her first Tony for leading actress in a play for Long Day's Journey Into Night.
The ultra-popular musical Hamilton had a big night, winning 11 honors including best musical, leading actor for Leslie Odom Jr., featured actress for Renée Elise Goldsberry and featured actor for Daveed Diggs. It fell one short of The Producers' record 12 wins in 2001.
"When one of us wins, we all win because we are one," said Goldsberry, the Hamilton actress who plays Angelica Schuyler Church in Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway sensation.
Odom paid tribute to Miranda and his creation. "You’ve given us a new vision of what’s possible. I thank God for your mission and the calling of your life."
Added producer Jeffrey Seller: "Alexander Hamilton was a dreamer. ... I stand on this stage tonight and in this theater surrounded by dreamers."
The musical also won awards for best lighting design, costume design, orchestrations, choreography, director for Thomas Kail and original score and book for Miranda.
It was definitely a historical night for diversity: For the first time in the Tonys' 70 years, all four musical acting honors were awarded to people of color.
The Color Purple took best revival of a musical and leading actress for star Cynthia Erivo — who called her production "a story that everybody needs to hear" — and The Humans won four awards: best play, best scenic design, Reed Birney for featured actor in a play and Jayne Houdyshell for featured actress.
"Well, I’ve never been one to rush into things," Houdyshell said. "The fact that at the age of 62, 42 years into a career, this should come my way, all that means is the depth of my gratitude is really, really, really profound."
Tonys host James Corden began the night with a solemn opening mentioning Orlando. "Our hearts go out to all those affected by this atrocity," he said. "All we can say is you’re not on your own right now — your tragedy is our tragedy."
Frank Langella, who was named best leading actor in a play for The Father, urged those in the Florida city "to be strong, because I am standing in a room full of the most generous human beings on Earth and we will be with you every step of the way."
Miranda also touched on the tragedy as he accepted his award for original score.
"We chase the melodies that seem to find us until they’re finished songs and start to play when senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day," Miranda said. "This show is proof that history remembers we live through times when hate and fear seem stronger, we rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer."
Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge won two Tonys — best revival of a play and best director for Ivo Van Hove — while Eclipsed took costume design and Long Day’s Journey Into Night got lighting design, in addition to Lange's win.