Following what is now considered the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the producers of the 2016 Tony Awards have issued a statement, saying that this year’s ceremony will be dedicated to the victims of the attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Sunday morning. “Our hearts are heavy for the unimaginable tragedy that happened last night in Orlando,” the awards show posted on their Twitter account. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected. The Tony Awards dedicate tonight’s ceremony to them.” CBS will air the show live from the Beacon Theater in New York City this evening.
Update: The cast of Hamilton, leading the Tonys with 16 nominations, will drop the use of muskets from their performance. Scheduled near the end of the ceremony, the cast is set to perform two battle songs, “History Has Its Eyes on You” and “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down).”
