Entertainment
Who Are Alex Newell And J Harrison Ghee? First-Ever Non-Binary Winners Of Tony Award
Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee became the first non-binary actors to win the 76th Tony Awards on Sunday, making history as the Broadway community seizes the opportunity during the Hollywood writer’s strike that left the theater’s most excellent night without a script.
Alex Newell won the Tony for best performance in a Musical as Lulu in a featured part in “Shucked,” while J Harrison Ghee won for best performance by an actor in a musical for their work as Jerry/Daphne in the revival of “Some Like It Hot.”
It was the first time at the Tony Awards that non-binary actors won their prestigious award. Newell and Harrison Ghee were honored by the LGBTQ+ community and others for their victories.
The United Palace in Manhattan’s Washington Heights hosted Broadway’s glitziest night on Sunday.
The biggest stars in theaters were present at the great event where Newell and Harrison Ghee received their awards.
Alex Newell And J. Harrison Ghee: Making History At Tony Awards
Alex Newell thanked the whole crew and cast of “Shucked” for accompanying them on the journey to the Tony Awards.
They conveyed their most special thanks to their mother for loving them unconditionally and teaching them what strength is.
They added that their mother was the one who discovered their sexuality and supported them in the journey of being non-binary.
Newell thanked Broadway for giving them the honor and claimed that they shouldn’t be there if they weren’t a queer nonbinary fat Black lil baby from Massachusetts.
For those who said they couldn’t do it, Newell replied that they could do anything if they put their mind to what they wanted to do.
Harrison Ghee received the award after Newell’s. Ghee’s eyes were filled with tears while receiving the award and they said that the award is dedicated to all trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming humans. Ghee was much proud to be on the stage representing the LGBTQ+ community.
Ghee also dedicated the award they won at the event to their mother for making them realize that the gift they were blessed with was “less about them and more about the world.”
Since the Tonys Awards continue to use gender-specific performance categories, both Newell and Harrison Ghee were nominated in the Best Actor category.
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All About Alex Newell And J.Harrison Ghee
Alex Newell has been present in the acting industry since 2010. Their active involvement in the school choir, improv club, costume club, and other organizations developed the urge to be an actor.
TWO NONBINARY ACTORS HAVE WON #TonyAwards for best actor TONIGHT!!! Congratulations to ALEX NEWELL AND J. HARRISON GHEE pic.twitter.com/WdozBISknE
— kava – obx spoilers (@apocalipstickzz) June 12, 2023
Newell began their professional career by being a part of The Glee Project’s first season. In its third season, Newell appeared as a main character. The two seasons of the sitcom Team featured Newell regularly.
They are well-known for their performances as Mo on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Unique Adams on the Fx musical series Glee.
Additionally, Newell played the role of Asaka in the 2018 Broadway production of Once on This Island at the Circle in the Square Theater.
Besides acting, Newell proved as an incredible musician by releasing tracks with Blonde, The Knocks, and Bandit. Newell has released more than fourteen singles and eight albums.
J Harrison Ghee debuted as a lead vocalist and drag performer for Norwegian Cruise Line and the Tokyo DisneySea Resort before transitioning to Broadway. They went by the stage name Crystal Demure.
However, Ghee returned to New York in 2017 after spending several years traveling the globe, and they were almost immediately cast as Lola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots.
Apart from Chicago and Mrs. Doutfire, Ghee has starred in several musicals over the years.
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