Shucked's Alex Newell Makes Tony Awards History as First Non-Binary Performer to Win for Featured Actor in a Musical

Alex Newell has made history!

The 30-year-old actor picked up the award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 11) at the United Palace Theatre in New York City’s Washington Heights.

Alex is the first non-binary actor to win in the category, picking up the prize for their acclaimed performance in the new musical Shucked.

The new show is billed as a “hilarious and audacious farm-to-fable musical about the one thing Americans everywhere can’t get enough of: corn.” Alex has a show-stopping song in the show that gets standing ovations every night!

Head inside to watch Alex’s touching speech…

“I have wanted this my entire life,” Alex said during their speech. “Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer, non-binary, fat, Black, little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in the face that you can do anything you put your mind to.”

FYI: Alex is wearing Christian Siriano.

Make sure to check out the full list of performers and presenters who will appear during the show and also take a look at the nominees, full of Broadway’s best!