Congratulations to Hamilton, the hit Broadway musical based on the 2004 Ron Chernow biography of Alexander Hamilton (Penguin) that won 11 Tony Awards last night, including best new musical. The 11 wins were one shy of the record of awards for a single show, 12 by The Producers in 2001.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of Hamilton, won best book of a musical and best original score. (Miranda is co-author, with Jeremy McCarter, of Hamilton: The Revolution (Grand Central), about Hamilton and the show, and includes the libretto.) Leslie Odom, Jr., won best actor in a leading role, musical; Daveed Diggs won best actor in a featured role, musical; and Renée Elise Goldsberry won best actress in a featured role, musical. The other Hamilton winners were Paul Tazewell for best costume design, musical; Howell Binkley for best lighting design, musical; Thomas Kail, for best direction, musical, Andy Blankenbuehler for best choreography; and Alex Lacamoire for best orchestrations.
The Color Purple, based on the 1982 Alice Walker novel, won best musical revival, and Cynthia Erivo won best actress in a leading role, musical, for The Color Purple.