Not Just Any Stage: Tony Awards is a Microphone for Issues that Affect All

Sunday, June 11th marked the 76th annual Tony Awards—celebrating more than just the past year’s musicals and plays.

The theater industry has always been known as a safe place for diversity and breathed life into the stories of others, fictional and factual. Yet now, with so much going on in America and the media, members of the community are using their voices to advocate for social issues.

Not only was Sunday night full of wins for musical and play cast members; but issues like trans rights, body inclusivity, anti-semitism, persecuted minorities, and the recent WGA strike took center stage as actors used their time to speak on the important issues.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

J. Harrison Ghee won best leading actor in a musical for the role of Jerry and Daphne in “Some Like It Hot,” a musical adaptation of the 1959 hit movie, starring Marilyn Monroe. Ghee’s achievement made them one of the first nonbinary actors to win a Tony. In an ode to this accomplishment, they used their screen time to speak on matters close to their heart and express their passion for those who identify in the LGBTQA+ community, like Ghee.

They stated, “For every trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming human who ever was told you couldn’t be seen, this is for you.”

Best Performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical

Alex Newell also made history Sunday night, as they are the only other nonbinary Tony Award winner alongside J. Harrison Ghee. Newell was awarded for their supportive role in “Shucked,” the comedy musical about fighting for what you love and hometown pride.

Similar to Ghee, they used their spotlight to prove that anyone can follow their dreams while staying true to their identity. Newell exclaimed, “Broadway, I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts.” Newell continued by encouraging others, “And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face and tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to.”

Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical

Bonnie Milligan took home best leading actress in a musical for her performance in “Kimberly Akimbo,” a musical about a Jersey teen with a genetic condition that causes her to age 4.5 times faster whilst dealing with family issues and her first crush.

Milligan expressed her passion for the musical in her acceptance speech, but she also highlighted the importance of body inclusivity on Broadway.

“I want to tell everybody that doesn't look like what the world is telling you should look like,” Milligan stated. “Whether you're not pretty enough, you're not fit enough, your identity is not right, who you love isn't right—that doesn't matter because guess what, it's right, and you belong.”

best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play

Brandon Uranowitz stars in “Leopoldstadt” as Nathan and Ludwig, which won him best performance in a play for telling the story of an upper-class Jewish Austrian family in the late 19th century. Uranowitz explains how this play has allowed him to embrace his Jewish identity and be complete as a person and artist.

Uranowitz finished his stage time by demanding parents all across America that, “When your child tells you who they are, believe them.” He continues by saying, “An authentic life is a limitless life.”

best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play

Miriam Silverman was awarded for best performance by an actress in a play for her role of Mavis Parodus Bryson in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.” The play centers around a married couple and their friends living in Greenwich Village circa 1964, focusing on how their dreams and ideals aren’t all that realistic. Silverman kept her screen time short and to the point, thanking her parents and segwaying into the current WGA strike that many actors are standing up for.

Silverman finished by saying, “My parents raised me to believe in the power of labor and workers being compensated and treated fairly. We stand with the WGA in solidarity.”

best direction of a musical

Michael Arden, the director of “Parade,” arguably gave the best speech of the evening. The musical centers on the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man from Atlanta, GA who is wrongfully convicted of murdering a 13-year-old girl and later is put on trial and lynched by town citizens. Due to the central theme of putting a higher value on others due to status and the need for justice, Arden makes the point in his speech that “This is a belief that is the core of antisemitism, of white supremacy, of homophobia, of transphobia and intolerance of any kind. We must come together.”

He continues speaking directly to members of the LGBTQA+ community and encouraging them to stand tall because of the support they have within the Broadway community. “To our beautiful trans, nonbinary queer youth: know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful. Everyone in this room sees you and needs you, and we will fight alongside you and we will win,” Arden says.

There were many issues brought to the stage this past Sunday evening, and with the spotlight lasting for three short minutes, each winner chose to use their time for good. The Broadway community may be well aquainted with diversity—but this year’s Tony winners changed the narrative and gave the microphone to issues that matter.