One of the lone bright spots of a horrific Sunday was Hamilton‘s dominance at the Tony Awards. The hip-hop musical — an adaptation of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s biography — was by far the night’s biggest winner, taking home 11 Tonys, just one award shy of matching The Producers’ record for most wins. The winnings included Best Musical, Best Lead Actor (for Leslie Odom Jr.), Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score.
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t only express gratitude in his speeches. He paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting with an emotionally affecting poem when he accepted the Best Original Score award.
“When senseless acts of tragedy reminds us that nothing here is promised — not one day,” Miranda recited. “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. And love is love is love is love is love, and love cannot be killed or swept aside. Fill the world with music, love and pride.”
Check out the speech below.
This sonnet is gonna make me cry for awhile:https://t.co/YEdQWGhwoh@Lin_Manuel #Hamilton #TonyAwards #OrlandoShooting
— Jamie Gump (@JamieGump) June 13, 2016