When a person win an award, typically the acceptance speech features a litany of names. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and writer behind Hamilton: An American Musical, strayed from convention by accepting the Tony Award for Best Original Score with a sonnet.
Vanity Fair reports that Miranda’s poem mentions the recent mass shooting tragedy in Florida. The video embedded above features Miranda’s emotional recitation. The text of the piece has been posted below.
My wife’s the reason anything gets done
She nudges me towards promise by degrees
She is a perfect symphony of one
Our son is her most beautiful reprise.
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.
This show is proof that history remembers
We lived through times when hate and fear seemed 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.
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music, love and pride.
The story for Hamilton: An American Musical was inspired by Ron Chernow’s 2004 Alexander Hamilton biography. The author actually served as the historical consultant for this theatrical show. It nabbed a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations. According to The New York Times, the show won a total of 11 awards in the following categories: Best Musical, Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Costume Design of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical. (via The Gothamist)