'Hamilton' biggest winner of 70th Tony Awards

The cast of "Hamilton" closes the show during the American Theatre Wing's 70th annual Tony Awards in New York, US, June 12, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

Hip-hop musical "Hamilton" on Sunday emerged as the winner of the 70th annual Tony Awards show, sweeping 11 titles including the best musical.

The stage biography of Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary of the United States, went into the night with 16 nominations that set a record in the Broadway history by surpassing "The Producers" and "Billy Elliot."

It claimed 11 awards, including original score, feature actor and actress in a musical, musical direction, orchestrations, and choreography, just one award fewer than the record 12 won by "The Producers."

Created by Tony Awards winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical officially premiered on Broadway in August 2015 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and became an instant hit with critical acclaim and unprecedented tickets demand.

In other categories, "The Humans" also cut a figure, winning four awards including the best play. "A View from the Bridge" walked away with best revival of a play and direction of a play. "The Color Purple" won the best revival of a musical and best leading actress in a musical.

This year's Tony Awards ceremony, held at the Beacon Theatre in uptown New York, saw a number of celebrity speeches paying tribute to the victims of the Orlando mass shooting.

"Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality, and gender is equal, embraced and loved. Hate will never win," the host James Corden said at the opening of the show.