Drama students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, delivered a heartfelt performance of "Seasons of Love" from "Rent" at the Tony Awards on Sunday, nearly four months after a mass shooting at their school left 17 dead.

>> Click here to watch the full performance

The performance, which drew tears and a standing ovation, came after the school's drama director, Melody Herzfeld, received the 2018 Excellence in Theatre Education Award. According to The Associated Press, Herzfeld "saved 65 lives by barricading students into a small classroom closet" during the Feb. 14 massacre.

>> Read more trending news

"All the goodness and tragedy that has brought me to this point will always be embraced," she said.

>> Click here to watch her speech

Celebrities and other viewers took to social media to praise the students and Herzfeld.

Read more here or here.

Tony Awards Fast Facts

About the Author

Keep Reading

The metro Atlanta area is home to plenty of mini golf courses, including Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf in Duluth, that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf/Leah Langley Photography

Featured

In 2022, Georgia Power projected its winter peak electricity demand would grow by about 400 megawatts by 2031. Since then, Georgia has experienced a boom of data centers, which require a large load of electricty to run, and Georgia Power's recent forecast shows peak demand growing by 20 times the 400-megawatt estimate from just three years ago. (Illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC