Heroic Florida drama teacher honored at Tony Awards

View of the stage at the 72nd annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 10, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK — A heroic drama teacher who nurtured many of the young people demanding change following the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida, has been honored at the Tony Award stage.

Melody Herzfeld, the one-woman drama department at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was cheered by the crowd at Radio City Music Hall.

Herzfeld saved 65 lives by barricading students into a small classroom closet on Valentine’s Day when police said a former student went on a school rampage, killing 17 people.

She then later encouraged many of her pupils to lead the nationwide movement for gun reform, including organizing the March For Our Lives demonstration and charity single “Shine.”

Members of Herzfeld’s drama department then took the stage to sing “Seasons of Love” from “Rent.”

The 72nd annual Tony Awards was held at Radio City Music Hall here on Sunday, June 10, 2018. /kga