NEW YORK, June 12 (UPI) -- British comedian James Corden opened Sunday's 70th annual Tony Awards ceremony with a heartfelt message about the weekend's mass shooting at a prominent gay nightclub in Orlando, which left 50 patrons dead and dozens injured.
Standing alone on the stage at New York's Beacon Theatre, with the audience seated behind him, the gala's host said in a voice that quivered at times: "Good evening. All around the world, people are trying to come to terms with the horrific events that took place in Orlando this morning.