Record-Breaking 16 Tony Nominations For Hamilton

The 2016 Tony Awards nominations were announced moments ago, with the huge smash Hamilton receiving a record-breaking 16 nods. The record was previously held by The Producers and Billy Elliot, both of which earned 15 nominations in their debut years. See the full list of 2016 nominees below. From the New York Times:



On Tuesday, the show was singled out in every category of theatermaking: acting, writing, directing, design. In a few categories, including lead actor and featured actor in a musical, performers from “Hamilton” will face off against one another.

The popularity of “Hamilton,” intensified by social media, late-night television, music downloads and now a fast-selling behind-the-scenes book, is so great that it is expected to boost viewership of this year’s Tony Awards, which are to be broadcast from the Beacon Theater on June 12.

“Hamilton” is the enormous favorite to win the most coveted Tony Award, the prize for best new musical. The other shows nominated in that category Tuesday were “Bright Star,” “School of Rock – The Musical,” “Shuffle Along, or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed” and “Waitress.” Those shows will now market themselves as best-musical nominees, knowing that a win is highly unlikely, but hoping for a box office increase from the nomination.