Let's Get This Guy in Front of a Crowd! Fans Loved Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tremendously Moving Speech

This year's Tony Awards ceremony was dedicated to all those affected by the horrific tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and your top speech-makers paid their respects to the victims. Love and strength were the central messages of the fan favorite acceptance speeches on Broadway's biggest night in 2016. Check out your picks below!


1. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Original Score—59%
Lin-Manuel Miranda accepted his 2008 Tony for In the Heights and 2016 Grammy Award for Hamilton with a rap. For his first Tony of the night (he nabbed two, the other for Best Book), the star served up a sonnet. Like the muse for his game-changing musical, Miranda always wows with words, and this night was no exception. He started off by thanking his wife Vanessa Nadal; love was the central theme for Miranda, who touched on the attack in Orlando. “When senseless acts of tragedy remind us/That nothing here is promised, not one day," he said. "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.” 


2. Frank Langella, Leading Actor in a Play—12%
The 2016 Tonys marked Langella's fourth trip to the podium to accept the prestigious award. His masterful performance in The Father hits entirely too close to home, which he mentioned in his acceptance speech. "There really is no 'late' in an actor's career. There's just the journey, and there's just now. So it's rather ironic that I should be honored with this award for playing a man who's losing his now. Who's losing his reality, as my dear brother Andrew is at the moment," Langella said. He went on to mention the events in Orlando, as opposed to thanking specific individuals for his Tony: "I found some words that I think will mean more to you than a litany of names," he said. "When something bad happens, we have three choices: We let it define us. We let it destroy us. Or we let it strengthen us." Langella's words certainly gave strength during this difficult time. Bravo, Mr. Langella.


3. Renée Elise Goldsberry, Featured Actress in a Musical—9%
Renée Elise Goldsberry's first Tony nom was followed up with a win, and fans were beyond satisfied with her heartfelt speech. Though the Schuyler sister works it in Broadway's hottest ticket in town, she told the crowd that her most treasured blessing is her supportive family. "Hamilton has been one once-in-a-lifetime moment after another, and still the best moment of every day is going home at night to my husband. Alexis, I love you so much," she said. "I have spent the last 10 years of my life, what some would consider the life blood of a woman’s career just trying to have children, and I get to testify in front of all of you that the lord gave me Benjamin and Brielle and then he still gave me this." It's all well-deserved, Renée!