Lea Michele and Alex Newell.Photo:lea michele/instagram
lea michele/instagram
Lea MicheleandAlex Newellhad a lot to celebrate at the 2023Tony Awards.
“Thank you for seeing me Broadway,” Newell said.
To commemorate their victory, Newell’s formerGleecostar shared asweet selfie of the two backstageat New York City’s United Palace Theater. “Congratulations @thealexnewell !!!!,” wrote Michele.
“Mommy, I love you. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for loving me unconditionally, thank you for teaching me what strength is,” Newell said as they accepted the award.
Both Michele and Newell can be seen in costume for their respective Broadway shows. Newell, 30, who identifies both as nonbinary and gender fluid, won the prize for their show-stopping performance inShucked. They appeared in character as Lulu during the production’s medley of songs performed during the Tonys ceremony.
Michele, 36, was on hand toperform as Fanny Bricefrom her still-running revival ofFunny Girl. The production, originally starringBeanie Feldsteinin the role, launched on Broadway in April 2022 and was eligible for last year’s Tonys (earning one nomination).
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Michele, who starred in the original production ofSpring Awakeningin 2006, played Rachel Berry on the hit Fox musical comedyGleefrom 2009 until its finale in 2015. Newell, a runner-up on the audition showThe Glee Project, booked a two-episode arc as Unique Adams in the series’ third season before joining the main cast the following year.
Newell’s other credits include the Broadway revival ofOnce on This Islandand NBC’sZoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which earned them a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in 2021. Their historic Tony Awards victory followed equallyhistoric nominations, both for them and fellow nonbinary starJ. Harrison Ghee, who also won Sunday night, as best leading actor in a musical forSome Like It Hot.
“I have wanted this my entire life, and I thank each and every one of you in this room right now," said Newell in a joyful acceptance speech on the Tonys stage.
The day following their groundbreaking win, Newell shared anInstagram reelof them holding their spinning Tony Award with the caption, “PERIODTT!”
The broadcast was unscripted due to the entertainment industry’s ongoingWriters Guild of America strike.
source: people.com
