'Hamilton' Will Remove Rifles From Tony Awards Performance Tonight

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP)-- The shooting at an Orlando nightclub has prompted the cast of "Hamilton'' to drop their Revolutionary War muskets during their performance Sunday at the Tony Awards.

A gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun opened fire inside a crowded Florida gay nightclub early Sunday before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. The attack left at least 50 people dead, making it the worst mass shooting in American history.

The musical about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton will instead pantomime the use of the rifles, according to a show's spokesman.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and creator of "Hamilton'' tweeted a rainbow-colored heart with "Orlando'' written beneath it.

Rory O'Malley, who plays King George in the show, tweeted: "The theatre is our church and we all need church tonight.''

Sunday evening's Tony Awards have been dedicated to those affected by the nightclub shooting.

In a statement Sunday, the Tony Awards said "our hearts are heavy for the unimaginable tragedy.'' The awards, it said, will be dedicated to the friends and family of those affected by the most deadly mass shooting in U.S. history.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has claimed responsibility for the shooting, CBS News reports. The terror group's news organization, Aamaq Agency, said the attack was "carried out by an Islamic State fighter."

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