Lin-Manuel Miranda Expresses Shock Over 16 Tony Award Nominations

The mega-hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, has been nominated for a record 16 Tony awards. The musical, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, also the lyricist and star of the production, has so far won many other awards--including a Pulitzer. However, Miranda shared great shock and awe looking ahead towards the Tony's. 

"Let's put this in perspective," says Miranda, 36, also the playwright and star of "In the Heights." "I've been lucky to have had years when having one nomination was an incredible thing. To have 16? That's almost too much to frigging process." 

Miranda himself is looking at 3 nominations, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. 

Hamilton accomplishes a great feat-- mixing musical theater and hip-hop and popular culture. Miranda hopes that Hamilton will lead the way for more hip-hop musicals. 

"There have been amazing musicals that have utilized hip-hop in the past - just as there were amazing musicals that utilized rock before Rent," Miranda said to USA TODAY. "What Rent did was end the conversation. Now we don't even question it when rock is used in musicals. Hopefully, Hamilton will do the same for hip-hop."

Nominations for Hamilton broke a record shared by The Producers in 2001 and Billy Elliot in 2009. Each production was nominated for 15 awards.  The Producers remains as the most decorated show of all time having won 12 Tony awards.