MANILA, Philippines – Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda recited a sonnet on Sunday, June 12, as his acceptance speech at the 2016 Tony Awards, where Hamilton won Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics).
Lin-Manuel's sonnet was dedicated to his wife Vanessa and to the victims of the Orlando shooting, where 50 people died.
Hamilton took home a big number of awards including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Leslie Odom Jr. (FULL LIST: Winners, Tony Awards 2016)
"I'm not freestyling, I'm too old. I wrote you a sonnet instead," Lin-Manuel began.
Part of his sonnet goes: "We chase the melodies that seem to find us until they’re finished songs and start to play,” Lin-Manuel said. "When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day.”
He continued: “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 remembrance that hope and love last longer."
Lin-Manuel then became emotional as he recited: “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”
Read the full sonnet here.
A big part of the awards night was dedicated to the victims of the Orlando tragedy after a gunman identified as Omar Mateen killed 50 people inside a gay nightclub. The mass shooting was, by far, the worst in the US.– Rappler.com