NYABJ’s Evening with Tony Winner Alex Newell

By: Jewel Benton

Tony winner Alex Newell took the 92NY stage Thursday evening for an hour and a half of powerhouse vocals, endearing banter, and poignant personal reflection. The 10-track setlist featured an exuberant range from the bold opener, “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” to tributes honoring the star’s inspirations, the late Nell Carter and Armelia McQueen, with songs from the Tony-winning Ain’t Misbehavin’. Newell also delivered a moving rendition of Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy” and a show-stopping take on “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls.

The latter holds deep meaning for the Massachusetts native, who dreams of one day playing Effie White.

“Everyone says, ‘Why Effie?’ And I say, well, it’s about someone who knows their worth and is told not to. And for a better part of my life—and my career really—it’s: ‘Oh, you’re so talented, but...’ ‘Oh, you’re so talented, but you need to...’ ‘You’re one-dimensional. You’re just the fat and sassy girl.’ I would love to spread my wings more,” the performer said.

One of the most inspiring moments of the evening came when Newell reflected on their time on The Glee Project, a competition series where performers vied for a guest role on Glee. Though Newell didn’t win, Glee creator and main director Ryan Murphy offered both them and another contestant, Lindsay Herman Pearce, guest appearances on two episodes and a duet on the show’s Christmas album.

A high schooler at the time, Newell’s mindset was to turn those two episodes into more, and they did just that. Their passion for musical theater, which began at age six, radiated in every performance. From nailing “Boogie Shoes” in the studio and on TV to pushing past their comfort zone to learn how to do splits, Newell quickly became a fan favorite among “Gleeks.” They went on to star in three seasons of Glee and landed roles on other hit series like Empire, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, and RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race, in which they won, and, of course, built a successful Broadway career.

Newell’s journey exemplifies confidence, drive, and work ethic. Their story represents many, regardless of profession, who are just waiting for an opportunity to showcase their abilities.

In 2023, Newell made history as one of the first two openly nonbinary performers to be nominated for and win a Tony Award, for their role as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for the play Shucked.