Breaking Barriers and Making Waves: Get to Know Alex Newell, 2023 Tony-Nominated Star of 'Shucked'

Alex Newell has made history by becoming the first nonbinary performer to win a Tony Award. During their acceptance speech, they expressed that they should not be on that stage as a queer, nonbinary, fat, black, little baby from Massachusetts, and encouraged anyone who thinks they can't achieve their dreams to believe in themselves and their ability to accomplish anything they set their minds to.

The lead role of Lulu in the new musical comedy Shucked is played by a talented Broadway star, aged 30. Following its run in Salt Lake City, the musical opened in New York City in April 2022. On May 2, when nominations for the 76th annual Tony Awards were announced, the performer became the first gender nonconforming individual to receive a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical category. In an interview with Variety published one week before the announcement, the performer explained their decision to select this category, stating that they based their choice on the English language. They expressed their dislike for the traditional labels of 'actor' and 'actress', as they believe that the craft of acting is genderless and that everyone who practices it should be referred to as an actor.

According to Newell, separating actors and actresses gives more performers a chance to win awards, which creates more opportunities for those who do not fit into those categories. By choosing the category of actor, Newell hopes to bring attention to the art of acting and encourage the industry to make changes. While recognizing the admirable actions of nonbinary stars who have withdrawn from awards consideration as a form of protest, Newell believes the industry needs to move faster in making changes.

This isn't Newell's first time on Broadway, but they've never been nominated for a Tony before. In March, they spoke to Playbill about their first time on Broadway, which was met with disappointment. The 2017 revival of Once on This Island received nods in all major categories except for best actor, and Newell was told that they were just too different to be categorized. Despite the snub, Newell remained determined to succeed in their craft. After the recent Tony nominations announcement, Newell expressed their excitement and gratitude via Instagram, sharing their experience of attending the Met Gala the night before and then waking up to the news of their nomination. They also thanked their team and captured the moment with a photo.

Playing the role of Lulu, the determined whiskey distiller in Shucked, Newell delivers a captivating performance each night with their rendition of "Independently Owned," often eliciting a standing ovation from the audience midway through the first act. Despite the overwhelming applause, Newell admits to occasionally being unaware of it all. During a recent show, a fan sitting directly behind the conductor couldn't contain their excitement, shouting out praises to Newell that were louder than their own microphone. This humorous moment proved to be a bit challenging, but ultimately added to the overall experience of the show.

Scroll down to learn more about Newell ahead of the 2023 Tonys in June:

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Who Is Alex Newell? 5 Things to Know About 'Shucked' Star Making History With 2023 Tony Nomination

Alex Newell has made history by winning the 2023 Tony Award as the first nonbinary performer. During their acceptance speech, they emphasized on their identity as a queer, nonbinary, fat, black, little baby from Massachusetts, and encouraged others to believe in themselves and their abilities.

During an interview with Variety published one week before the Tony Awards nominations were announced, the 30-year-old Broadway star who portrays Lulu in the new musical comedy Shucked, reflected on how they chose which category to be recognized in. They stated that they went based off the English language and that the standard has always been a male is an actor and a female is an actress, which they don't like. They emphasized that when they say they're an actor, they mean that it's their profession, the craft they studied and the craft they're doing, and that everyone who does acting is an actor, regardless of gender.

Newell appreciates the separation between actor and actress as it gives more performers a chance to take home a trophy. They hope that choosing actor will spark a redefinition of the word in the art of acting and create more opportunities for those who don't fit into binary categories. While they admire nonbinary stars who have withdrawn from awards consideration as a form of protest, they urge the industry to move faster in making a change.

After experiencing being snubbed in their first Broadway venture, Newell is overjoyed to have been nominated for a Tony for the first time. In March, they spoke to Playbill about the disappointment they faced with the 2017 revival of Once on This Island, which received nods in all major categories except best actor. Everywhere they went, Newell was constantly reminded of the snub. The reasoning given was that they were "just so different" and difficult to categorize. However, after receiving the exciting news of their Tony nomination, Newell celebrated the milestone on Instagram, expressing their gratitude for their team and the iconic dress they wore to the Met Gala.

Playing the role of Lulu, a determined whiskey distiller, Newell delivers a captivating rendition of "Independently Owned" each night, often receiving a well-deserved standing ovation just halfway through the first act. Despite the overwhelming audience response, Newell humbly admits to occasionally missing the fervor of their fans. In fact, during a recent performance, one enthusiastic audience member sitting directly behind the conductor was heard cheering, "Yes, Alex! You better work! You better sing!" Newell reflects on the humorous moment, acknowledging the challenge of competing with such exuberant support.

Scroll down to learn more about Newell ahead of the 2023 Tonys in June:

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1. What Are Alex Newell's Pronouns?

The Massachusetts native identifies as gender nonconforming and uses all pronouns. 

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2. What Was Alex Newell's 1st Broadway Performance?

In 2017, Newell graced the Broadway stage in the role of Asaka for Once on This Island. The show's success resulted in it being awarded the Best Revival of a Musical at the 2018 Tony Awards, while the accompanying soundtrack received a nomination for the Best Musical Theater Album at the 2019 Grammys.

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3. Has Alex Newell Been on TV?

On The Glee Project, Newell stood out among the 12 contestants and earned the title of first runner-up. This led to their role as Wade "Unique" Adams on the popular Fox musical, where they became a regular cast member during season 5 in 2013. Newell's talent and charm continued to shine in their portrayal of Mo on NBC's Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, a show that aired from 2020 to 2021.

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4. Has Alex Newell Released Their Own Music?

Newell released their debut EP, Power, in 2016 after previously collaborating with Clean Bandit, The Knocks, BloodPop and more.

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5. Who Are Alex Newell's Influences?

The R&B artist has drawn inspiration from a variety of divas such as Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, and Diana Ross, among others. However, for the creation of Shucked, they turned to the legendary Dolly Parton for musical inspiration.

"A little tiny waist with a big ol' chest and big hair. It's the quintessential country that I wanted [for Lulu]," she told Variety in April.