Alex Newell of Shucked Makes Monumental Tony Awards History
Alex Newell made history at the 76th annual Tony Awards this Sunday. In an unprecedented event, Newell became the first openly nonbinary Tony-awarded actor for the new Broadway musical Shucked.
This year’s Tony Awards was hosted by Ariana DeBose and made history as the first time that Broadway’s biggest award show ran unscripted. The WGA writers’ strike is still in full effect as the writers union urges their networks for higher pay. However, the show went on and proved to be a big night for nonbinary representation in theater.
Alex Newell made a splash by becoming the first nonbinary awarded actor in Tony Award history. Newell took home the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role for their role as Lulu in Shucked.
Soon after Newell’s win, nonbinary actor J. Harrison Ghee also received recognition for their performance. They were awarded Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for the role of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot.
These wins come as a monumental victory for the queer community. The gendered categories at the Tony Awards and other award shows have been a hot topic of debate for years. Newell and Ghee’s wins solidify that the hard work of nonbinary actors is being recognized in the industry. Yet, there is still progress to be made.
Alex Newell makes history as the first out non-binary performer to win a Tony:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 12, 2023
“Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here, as a queer, non-binary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts. To anyone who thinks they can’t do it… you can do anything you put your… pic.twitter.com/ZINfdCFMPJ
Earlier this year, nonbinary actor Justin David Sullivan decided to opt out of consideration for the Tony Awards. Sullivan felt as if they had no place within the gendered categories. In an interview with the New York Times, Sullivan stated, “I felt I had no choice but to abstain from being considered for a nomination this season. I hope that award shows across the industry will expand their reach to be able to honor and award people of all gender identities.”
the trans and gender non conforming actors sweeping in gendered categories at the tony’s YUP LETS SEE IT
— anneke || 2 🍂 (@anneketruus) June 12, 2023
While other awards shows such as the Grammy Awards are getting rid of their gendered categories, it may only be a matter of time until the Tony Awards follow suit or change how they structure them to be more inclusive.
A full list of this year’s Tony Award Winners is available on the Tony Awards website.
