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‘Hamilton’ sets a record with 16 Tony nominations

NEW YORK - The megahit musical “Hamilton” has grabbed a record-breaking 16 Tony Award nominations, the biggest haul in Broadway history and another step in the show’s march into theatrical history.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop-flavored biography about the first U.S. treasury secretary on Tuesday broke the 15-nominations record held jointly by “The Producers” and “Billy Elliot.” “Hamilton” was nominated in virtually every category it could compete in, from acting to scenic design.

“I feel really grateful that they kind of spread the wealth. It’s hard to ask for more,” Miranda said. “This isn’t a book award. This isn’t like I wrote some novel by myself with an editor. Theater requires collaboration and I’m lucky to be working with some of the best people in their respective fields alive right now.”

Next month, “Hamilton” will fight for Broadway’s biggest crown - best new musical - with “Bright Star,” “School of Rock,” “Shuffle Along” and “Waitress.”

There were a few surprises, including Jennifer Hudson being overlooked in “The Color Purple” and only a costume design nomination for “Tuck Everlasting,” a well-received musical based on the 1975 book by Natalie Babbitt. Also, the hit show “On Your Feet!,” which follows the lives of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, earned just a choreography nod.

And “American Psycho,” an adaptation of the novel by Bret Easton Ellis about a materialistic serial killer, only captured nominations for scenic design and lighting. Its actors and songs by Duncan Sheik were snubbed.

“Waitress,” a musical with songs by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles that is adapted from a 2007 film about a waitress trapped in a small-town diner and a loveless marriage, earned four nominations.

“I’m so grateful to have found my way back toward the theater community. I grew up doing theater. It’s how I learned to listen to music,” said Bareilles. “This experience of working on ‘Waitress’ has so changed my life in personal ways and professional ways.”

“School of Rock,” the adaptation by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian Fellowes of the Jack Black-led movie about a wannabe rocker who enlists fifth-graders to form a rock group, earned four nominations, including best musical, book, original score and best leading man in Alex Brightman.

“It’s a funny season this one, isn’t it,” said Lloyd Webber from London. “As you know, it’s the ‘Hamil-Tonys.’ We’ve gotten everything we could have hoped for and that’s all we’ll get. But it’s lovely in this season of all seasons to get score and musical and book. We’re terribly pleased.”

AP