By — Corinne Segal Corinne Segal Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/hamilton-cuts-guns-from-tony-performance Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter ‘Hamilton’ cuts guns from Tony performance Arts Jun 12, 2016 8:04 PM EDT “Hamilton” tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s rise to prominence during the Revolutionary War and death in a duel at the hands of Aaron Burr. But at the 70th Tony Awards on Sunday night, the rap musical did not use guns in its performance, which took place less than a day after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history happened at a gay nightclub in Orlando. “Hamilton” earned 16 Tony nominations in May, the most of any production in history. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama gave a videotaped statement that introduced the “Hamilton” performance. Obama said the show was not only “a smash hit, but a civics lesson our kids can’t get enough of.” The cast performed “Yorktown,” a number that normally calls for most ensemble members to wield prop guns. But in the wake of the Orlando shooting, guns were absent from the stage as cast members performed an adaptation of the show’s original choreography. Host James Corden expressed support for those affected by the shooting in Orlando, which killed 50 people at Pulse nightclub on a night meant to celebrate Orlando’s Latino LGBT community. “Your tragedy is our tragedy,” he said. “Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win. Together, we have to make sure of that.” Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who won Best Original Score for Hamilton, performed a sonnet in lieu of a speech that referenced the attack. “When senseless acts of tragedy remind us/that nothing here is promised/not one day,” he read. Read the full list of winners (in bold) below. This post will be updated. Best Play Eclipsed The Father The Humans King Charles III Best Musical Bright Star Hamilton School of Rock — The Musical Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Waitress Best Revival of a Play Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Blackbird Long Day’s Journey Into Night Noises Off Best Revival of a Musical The Color Purple Fiddler on the Roof She Loves Me Spring Awakening Best Book of a Musical Bright Star, Steve Martin Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda School of Rock—The Musical, Julian Fellowes Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, George C. Wolfe Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Bright Star, Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell / Lyrics: Edie Brickell Hamilton, Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda School of Rock—The Musical, Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Lyrics: Glenn Slater Waitress, Music & Lyrics: Sara Bareilles Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Gabriel Byrne, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Jeff Daniels, Blackbird Frank Langella, The Father Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III Mark Strong, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Laurie Metcalf, Misery Lupita Nyong’o, Eclipsed Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Michelle Williams, Blackbird Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Alex Brightman, School of Rock—The Musical Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof Zachary Levi, She Loves Me Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Laura Benanti, She Loves Me Carmen Cusack, Bright Star Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple Jessie Mueller, Waitress Phillipa Soo, Hamilton Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Reed Birney, The Humans Bill Camp, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible David Furr, Noises Off Richard Goulding, King Charles III Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Pascale Armand, Eclipsed Megan Hilty, Noises Off Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans Andrea Martin, Noises Off Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Daveed Diggs, Hamilton Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress Jonathan Groff, Hamilton Christopher Jackson, Hamilton Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me Jennifer Simard, Disaster! Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Best Scenic Design of a Play Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin Christopher Oram, Hughie Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge David Zinn, The Humans Best Scenic Design of a Musical Es Devlin & Finn Ross, American Psycho David Korins, Hamilton Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed David Rockwell, She Loves Me Best Costume Design of a Play Jane Greenwood, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Michael Krass, Noises Off Clint Ramos, Eclipsed Tom Scutt, King Charles III Best Costume Design of a Musical Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Paul Tazewell, Hamilton Best Lighting Design of a Play Natasha Katz, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Justin Townsend, The Humans Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Best Lighting Design of a Musical Howell Binkley, Hamilton Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening Justin Townsend, American Psycho Best Direction of a Play Rupert Goold, King Charles III Jonathan Kent, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Joe Mantello, The Humans Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Best Direction of a Musical Michael Arden, Spring Awakening John Doyle, The Color Purple Scott Ellis, She Loves Me Thomas Kail, Hamilton George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Best Choreography Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan Best Orchestrations August Eriksmoen, Bright Star Larry Hochman, She Loves Me Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed By — Corinne Segal Corinne Segal Corinne is the Senior Multimedia Web Editor for NewsHour Weekend. She serves on the advisory board for VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. @cesegal
“Hamilton” tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s rise to prominence during the Revolutionary War and death in a duel at the hands of Aaron Burr. But at the 70th Tony Awards on Sunday night, the rap musical did not use guns in its performance, which took place less than a day after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history happened at a gay nightclub in Orlando. “Hamilton” earned 16 Tony nominations in May, the most of any production in history. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama gave a videotaped statement that introduced the “Hamilton” performance. Obama said the show was not only “a smash hit, but a civics lesson our kids can’t get enough of.” The cast performed “Yorktown,” a number that normally calls for most ensemble members to wield prop guns. But in the wake of the Orlando shooting, guns were absent from the stage as cast members performed an adaptation of the show’s original choreography. Host James Corden expressed support for those affected by the shooting in Orlando, which killed 50 people at Pulse nightclub on a night meant to celebrate Orlando’s Latino LGBT community. “Your tragedy is our tragedy,” he said. “Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win. Together, we have to make sure of that.” Actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who won Best Original Score for Hamilton, performed a sonnet in lieu of a speech that referenced the attack. “When senseless acts of tragedy remind us/that nothing here is promised/not one day,” he read. Read the full list of winners (in bold) below. This post will be updated. Best Play Eclipsed The Father The Humans King Charles III Best Musical Bright Star Hamilton School of Rock — The Musical Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Waitress Best Revival of a Play Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Blackbird Long Day’s Journey Into Night Noises Off Best Revival of a Musical The Color Purple Fiddler on the Roof She Loves Me Spring Awakening Best Book of a Musical Bright Star, Steve Martin Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda School of Rock—The Musical, Julian Fellowes Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, George C. Wolfe Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Bright Star, Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell / Lyrics: Edie Brickell Hamilton, Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda School of Rock—The Musical, Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Lyrics: Glenn Slater Waitress, Music & Lyrics: Sara Bareilles Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Gabriel Byrne, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Jeff Daniels, Blackbird Frank Langella, The Father Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III Mark Strong, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Laurie Metcalf, Misery Lupita Nyong’o, Eclipsed Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Michelle Williams, Blackbird Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Alex Brightman, School of Rock—The Musical Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof Zachary Levi, She Loves Me Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Laura Benanti, She Loves Me Carmen Cusack, Bright Star Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple Jessie Mueller, Waitress Phillipa Soo, Hamilton Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Reed Birney, The Humans Bill Camp, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible David Furr, Noises Off Richard Goulding, King Charles III Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Pascale Armand, Eclipsed Megan Hilty, Noises Off Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans Andrea Martin, Noises Off Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Daveed Diggs, Hamilton Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress Jonathan Groff, Hamilton Christopher Jackson, Hamilton Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me Jennifer Simard, Disaster! Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Best Scenic Design of a Play Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin Christopher Oram, Hughie Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge David Zinn, The Humans Best Scenic Design of a Musical Es Devlin & Finn Ross, American Psycho David Korins, Hamilton Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed David Rockwell, She Loves Me Best Costume Design of a Play Jane Greenwood, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Michael Krass, Noises Off Clint Ramos, Eclipsed Tom Scutt, King Charles III Best Costume Design of a Musical Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Paul Tazewell, Hamilton Best Lighting Design of a Play Natasha Katz, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Justin Townsend, The Humans Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Best Lighting Design of a Musical Howell Binkley, Hamilton Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening Justin Townsend, American Psycho Best Direction of a Play Rupert Goold, King Charles III Jonathan Kent, Long Day’s Journey Into Night Joe Mantello, The Humans Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge Best Direction of a Musical Michael Arden, Spring Awakening John Doyle, The Color Purple Scott Ellis, She Loves Me Thomas Kail, Hamilton George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Best Choreography Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan Best Orchestrations August Eriksmoen, Bright Star Larry Hochman, She Loves Me Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed