In New York City, an unscripted Tony Awards took place Sunday evening as the Writers Guild of America strike continues. Host Ariana DeBose kicked off the ceremony by leafing through a blank script before launching into a dance number consisting of a wordless medley of Broadway hits. She went on to express solidarity with striking entertainment writers.
History was made as two nonbinary performers took home awards for the first time. J. Harrison Ghee won best actor in a musical for “Some Like It Hot.” An emotional Alex Newell took to the stage after winning for their role in the musical “Shucked.”
Alex Newell: “Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here, as a queer, nonbinary, 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 your face, that you can do anything you put your mind to.”