Black actors sweep the four Tony Awards for musical acting

The fourth, for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical”, went to The Color Purple’s Cynthia Erivo. “If you know anything about me you know I’ve spent the last 10 years just trying to have children”, she said. “I want to cut to 20 years from now, when you’re like ‘Lin, when will you stop playing Hamilton'”.

Host James Corden, his back to the audience, spoke to viewers when he dedicated the night to celebrating the diversity of Broadway. “Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this tragedy”.

“All we can say is you are not on your own right now”.

“Hate will never win. The great thing about this community is that we do it all together”.

A song from the cast of “Hamilton” that usually calls for muskets was performed without guns in deference to the victims in Orlando, and lyrics from the show took on new meaning in light of what happened.

“My wife’s the reason anything gets done”, Miranda began his piece onstage while accepting the award for Best Original Score for his work on broadway hit Hamilton.

Other winners included Ivo van Hove, best director of a play for “A View from the Bridge”, which also won best revival of a play. “Today in Orlando we had a ugly dose of reality”. The two-time Academy Award victor said: “This is a dream come true and it fills me with such happiness, even on such a sad day as this”.

The Tony Awards also tweeted Sunday evening nominees and attendees would be wearing silver ribbons, created by Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long, at the ceremony. Hamilton will receive its London premiere in October 2017. Despite this winning streak, it did not break any records. The performers and honorees didn’t shy away from speaking about the shocking events of the day, but the overall mood was one of celebration.

Aside from the cast’s performance, Miranda’s acceptance speech for Best Score of a Musical proves that he’s maybe one of the most endearing newly famous folks, ever.

Jayne Houdyshell, a mainstay of the NY stage, at 62 won her first Tony for “The Humans”. You are magnificent. Thank you so much for lifting me up when I’m exhausted, for holding my hands when I’m happy. For holding my hands when I’m happy.

Hosted by James Corden, Sunday’s 70th annual Tony Awards broadcast earned its biggest viewing audience in 15 years, according to Nielsen Research ratings.