Hamilton Wins 11 Tony Awards

Hamilton, written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02, Hon. ’15 and directed by Thomas Kail ’99, won 11 Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Kail), Best Actor in a Musical, Best Book (Miranda), Best Original Score (Miranda), Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Costume Design of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations, at the 70^th Annual Tony Awards ceremony held at the Beacon Theater in New York on June 12.

The award-winning musical, which tells the story of the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, received a record-breaking 16 total nominations.

Miranda accepted Hamilton‘s first award, for best original score, by reciting a sonnet dedicated to his wife and paying tribute to the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida. “When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised. Not one day. 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 is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside…”

Kail, in accepting the award for best direction of a musical, thanked Miranda, saying, “When I don’t have the words you do. When I don’t know where to go, I look on the page and it’s always there.”

See more coverage of the Tony Award, Hamilton’s wins, and Miranda’s sonnet on NPR and The New York Times.

In April, Miranda won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Hamilton.

In February, Hamilton won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

Read a Wesleyan magazine interview with Miranda and Kail on Hamilton.

Read a News @ Wesleyan story about Miranda being named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.

Watch Miranda’s 2015 Wesleyan Commencement address.

See coverage of Wesleyan’s Hamilton benefit, which raised $1.6 million for financial aid, in October 2015.