NEW YORK — TIME Magazine named Tony Award-winning actor and Lynn native Alex Newell Breakthrough Artist for their success both on stage and on screen as one of the two first non-binary actors to win a Tony.
In the spring, Newell, who attended KIPP Academy and graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School, won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for her role as Lulu in the hit musical “Shucked.” Before Broadway, Newell performed at the North Shore Music Theatre and Marblehead Little Theatre.
“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 do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to,” Newell said to an ovation upon winning best-featured actor in a musical.
Newell first approached the limelight with their role as Unique Adams on “Glee,” one of the first transgender characters on prime-time TV. They later played the gender-fluid DJ Mo in the series “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” which first aired in 2020 on NBC.
This Thanksgiving, Newell took the national spotlight when they performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In November, Newell’s mother, Brenda Newell, told The Item that her kid’s success can be chalked up to their hard work, passion, and training on the North Shore.
“Alex works hard at her craft. Hard work pays off. Not to mention, she absolutely loves what she does. One of my neighbors often talks about hearing Alex singing from her bedroom three houses down,” Brenda Newell wrote. “I guess all the involvement with (North Shore Music Theatre) just set her up for where she is now.”
Prior to receiving their Tony, Newell told TIME in May that they hope to have broken a boundary for other talented non-binary folks to achieve similar milestones.
“I created a lane for somebody after me to come and do exceptionally. I have created space and created conversation and made the ruckus to create active change,” Newell said.
