Nonbinary Performers Break Barriers on Broadway with Gender-Fluid Casting

Tony Awards 2023: A Historic Night for Nonbinary Performers

The Win for J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell

In a historic Tony Awards night in 2023, J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell made history by winning in their respective categories of Best Leading Actor and Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Both performers identify as nonbinary, and this was the first time nonbinary actors won awards for lead and featured performances. Ghee became the first out nonbinary actor to win Tony for best leading actor in a musical for their portrayal of a gender-questioning musician in “Some Like It Hot.” Newell also made history as the first out nonbinary performer to win a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for their role in “Shucked.”

The Significance of Their Wins

The wins of Ghee and Newell are significant, considering how gender identity has become a central issue in America’s ongoing culture wars. Numerous states have recently passed legislation pertaining to LGBTQ-related issues, particularly on gender-affirming medical care for transgender children and teenagers, bathroom access, and sports participation, among others. The Tony Awards only have gendered categories for performers, so Ghee and Newell agreed to be eligible for awards as actors instead of competing in a particular gendered category. Another nonbinary performer, Justin David Sullivan of “& Juliet” also identifies as nonbinary but opted not to compete in a gendered category.

Removing Gender Barriers in Broadway

Ghee hopes their win could start conversations about removing gender from the equation entirely in the industry. “We should free ourselves beyond so many labels and let the work speak for itself,” they said in an interview with The New York Times. Several nonbinary performers who came out as nonbinary after winning Tonys have previously won in gendered categories at the awards. But Ghee’s win might bring attention to this issue and prompt discussions within the industry to create more space for nonbinary performers.

Philosophical Discussion on Gender-Fluid Performance

Ghee’s performance in “Some Like It Hot” reflects the evolving views on gender identity since the movie’s release in 1959. In the musical, Ghee’s character, Jerry, becomes Daphne as a product of self-discovery and not just disguise, making the performance more complex than the original. This underscores the importance of evolving understandings of gender identity, which are crucial to modern culture.

Editorial and Advice

Ghee and Newell’s wins illuminate the importance of building inclusivity in cultural spaces and media industries by recognizing the diversity of identities. It is vital to expand representation to create more welcoming spaces. This issue is notably relevant in Broadway, which has traditionally been exclusive towards marginalized identities. Broadway must diversify and create more opportunities for nonbinary actors to ensure that they are not underrepresented and unrecognized. By recognizing the talent of performers like Ghee and Newell, it opens avenues of representation and inspires a more gender-inclusive environment.