Alex Newell was named the winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical June 11 at the 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace in Washington Heights, becoming the first openly non-binary actor to win a Tony Award.
Newell's win follows last year's historic win for Toby Marlow, who became the first openly non-binary person to win a Tony Award in any category, winning Best Original Score along with Lucy Moss for SIX The Musical.
“I’m not gonna hold y’all cause it hot in here," said Newell accepting the award. "I have wanted this my entire life. Mommy, I love you. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for loving me unconditionally, thank you for teaching me what strength is…I should not be up here as a queer non-binary fat little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone who thinks they can't do it—you can do anything you put your mind to.”
Others in the Best Featured Actor in a Musical category included Kevin Cahoon in Shucked; Justin Cooley in Kimberly Akimbo; Kevin Del Aguila in Some Like It Hot; and Jordan Donica in Lerner & Loewe's Camelot.
This is Newell's first Tony nomination. Their other Broadway credit is Once on This Island.
READ: Alex Newell Is Ready to Break Down the Gender Barrier
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Cast of Shucked
Kevin Cahoon and cast of Shucked
Ashley D. Kelley and Grey Henson in Shucked
Alex Newell and cast in Shucked
Cast of Shucked
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