Alex Newell | |
|---|---|
.png) Newell in 2023 | |
| Born | Alex Eugene Newell (1992-08-20)August 20, 1992 (age 32) Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2009–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Labels | Big Beat Records |
| Website | www |
Musical artist | |
Alex Eugene Newell (born August 20, 1992) is an American actor and singer. They[a] are known for their role asUnique Adams on theFox musical seriesGlee and Mo onZoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Newell also starred asAsaka in theBroadway revival ofOnce on This Island at theCircle in the Square Theatre in 2018.[1] For their role inShucked, they won the 2023Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Newell andJ. Harrison Ghee were the first openly non-binary actors to be nominated for and win aTony Award.[2][3][4]
As a singer, Newell has released tracks withClean Bandit,Blonde, andThe Knocks.[5]
Alex Newell was born on August 20, 1992, inLynn, Massachusetts.[6][7] Their father, a deacon, died ofcancer when they were six years old, at which point their mother raised them as asingle parent.[8]
After four complete years of education in the first class ofKipp Lynn Academy, Newell moved on to and graduated fromBishop Fenwick High School in 2012,[9] where they were involved in their school's choir,improv club, andcostume club; they were also a member of their church choir at Zion Baptist Church in Lynn, Massachusetts while later also directing the youth choir.[6] They never had any formal voice lessons before landing their part onGlee.[10] They have citedDonna Summer,Sylvester,Diana Ross,Aretha Franklin,Chaka Khan, andBeyoncé as their influences.[11]
Newell was among 34,000 to submit an audition video in 2011 for the first season ofOxygen'sThe Glee Project.[10] Newell's self-taped audition earned them over one millionMySpace views as well as a spot among the 12 participants who competed for a seven-episode arc onGlee. During the arc, they asserted themself as anout gay man.[12] Eventually, they became the series’ first runner-up.[13] Nevertheless, the producers were so impressed that they decided to bring them onGlee for two episodes.[14] Newell first appeared onGlee in thethird season episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver". They were cast in the role ofWade "Unique" Adams, atransgender teenager who was assigned male at birth. The shy, outcast Wade expressed their female identity through music as the bold, brave alter ego, Unique. Wade broke ground by being one of the most visible transgender characters on television and one of the first on a networkprime time show.[15] Newell's performance was described as "bold",[16] with "remarkable restraint and powerful vocals."[17]
On his nightly showThe O'Reilly Factor,Bill O'Reilly expressed concern that children watching the show unsupervised might be encouraged to experiment with what he termed "alternative lifestyles," which he said the show glorified.[18] Newell commented, "My mother said, 'If Bill O'Reilly said something about you, you are doing something right.' He just showed the public and conservative viewers me. There are more people seeing me now... There are people like Wade and Unique, and [they're] being themselves. If kids want to go and do that, that is them expressing who they are."[9] They later appeared in two more episodes and completed their story arc that season.
Newell was accepted into theBerklee College of Music for fall 2012, but decided instead to move to Los Angeles to be onGlee when they were asked to rejoin the cast for the show'sfourth season.[9] Unique returned as aGlee recurring cast member in the fourth season premiere, "The New Rachel". Newell, along with the rest of the cast, received a nomination for aScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2012, but lost toModern Family at the19th Screen Actors Guild Awards. For thefifth season, Newell was promoted to main cast because of the character Unique's popularity.[19][20] In thesixth and final season, Newell was not a part of the regular cast, but did appear as a recurring guest star. A highlight of the sixth season was Newell singing "I Know Where I've Been" fromHairspray with the Transpersons Choir of 200 performers in the episode "Transitioning".[11]
Over the years, Newell sang at numerous events, such as theCoachella Festival, but also at manyLGBT events and pride festivals. They also performed at theGovernors Ball Music Festival andBBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.[21][15][22][23]
Newell announced in October 2013 that they had been signed byBig Beat Records and that they were going to release Newell's debut album. It was also revealed that it was going to be produced byAdam Anders.[24] Their debut single, a cover ofSigma's "Nobody to Love", was released on June 3, 2014.[25]
In 2015, Newell embarked on a series of cover songs and collaborations. In March, they alongside Sean Bass provided feature vocals for the re-issued version of "Stronger", a song byClean Bandit for their re-release of their albumNew Eyes.[26] Later in the same month, they produced adisco-house stylization ofRobin S.'s single "Show Me Love" together with Russian DJ Matvey Emerson.[27] Over the summer, they worked with the Britishelectro duoBlonde by featuring vocals in their single "All Cried Out". They then began to collaborate with the US electro duothe Knocks on the song "Collect My Love", "a soaring disco standout" where they reached "staggering heights."[28] The song, from the EPSo Classic, was included in The Knocks' debut album55, released in March 2016. Finally, for Christmas, Newell released a cover of the song "O Come All Ye Faithful".
Their original song "This Ain't Over", released in January 2016, was warmly welcomed by the media.Out commented: "The vibrantdance-pop track flawlessly revives disco if only for a few short minutes. Without the gimmicks of manufactured radiopop, Newell manages to serveThis Ain't Over with pure talent."Spin said: "Newell's unassailable voice is in full force on 'This Ain't Over,' shining out like a triumphant beacon over a thumping, glamorous dance-pop soundscape."[28]Vulture concluded: "This is just diva vocal acrobatics flexed with the swag of a queen."[29]
"This Ain't Over" was announced as the first track off their debutextended play calledPower, featuring production from the pop artistsDiane Warren,Nile Rodgers,MNEK andDJ Cassidy.[13] The EP was released on February 19, 2016 viaBig Beat.[28]
Newell supported fellowGlee alumAdam Lambert onThe Original High Tour from February 23[30] until the April 2 finale atLos Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre in 2016.[13] After the tour, Newell recorded a new single in collaboration withPower producers DJ Cassidy and Nile Rodgers, entitled "Kill the Lights", released on April 8, 2016, throughAtlantic Records. It was expected to be one of a few tracks that Newell was making as part of theHBO TV seriesVinyl. It was later revealed that the song had been recorded the previous year when Newell was working with Clean Bandit, Blonde and the Knocks, and inspired the producers to work with them on their debut extended play. Later that same month, the song was released again, featuring vocals fromJess Glynne.
In 2017, Newell made theirBroadway debut playing the role ofAsaka in the revival ofOnce on This Island.[31]
In 2019, Newell was cast inNBC's musical dramedyZoey's Extraordinary Playlist in the role of Mo, agenderfluid DJ and the protagonist Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy)'s next-door neighbor.[32] In June 2021, the series was canceled by NBC after two seasons. In December 2021,The Roku Channel released a two-hour holiday film,Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas, concluding the story of the NBC series. Newell reprised their role of Mo for the film.
In 2023, Newell premiered in the role of Lulu in the musical comedyShucked on Broadway in theNederlander Theatre. The show opened April 4, 2023, and ran through January 14, 2024. In June 2023, they won aTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for their performance in the role at the76th Tony Awards.[33][34][35] They andJ. Harrison Ghee forSome Like It Hot were the first openly non-binary actors to be nominated for and win aTony Award.[2][3][4]
In 2024, Newell performed their solo concert debut atCadogan Hall in London, UK on September 1, 2024 for two performances.[36] These concerts featured a guest appearance fromMarisha Wallace.[37]
Newell played the title role in NBC's comedy pilotImaginary Friend,[38] which was expected to air in 2016.[39] It was passed on and no other network picked it up so it did not air.[40] They contributed with music to the HBO TV seriesVinyl on a track also featuring DJ Cassidy and Jess Glynne.[41]
They are committed to helping other LGBT youth and regularly performs at benefit concerts, most notably forThe Trevor Project,[8] theHuman Rights Campaign,[20]Jack Antonoff's Ally Coalition and other fundraisers.[16]
Newell was given a special recognition award at the2015 GLAAD Media Awards, as part of the cast ofGlee.[42]
Newell identifies asgender nonconforming,[43][44] and in May 2020 said they relate to their character Mo inZoey's Extraordinary Playlist, who is genderfluid.[45] They have stated they go by all pronouns.[46][47] Newell also identifies asgay.[48]
| Alex Newell discography | |
|---|---|
| EPs | 1 |
| Soundtrack albums | 8 |
| Singles | 14 |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance/ Electronic [49] | US Heat [50] | ||
| Power |
| 4 | 11 |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance/ Electronic [51] | US Dance Club [52] | |||
| "Nobody to Love" | 2014 | — | — | Power |
| "Show Me Love" (with Matvey Emerson) | 2015 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "O Come, All Ye Faithful" | — | — | Tyler Oakley's Holiday Jams | |
| "This Ain't Over" | 2016 | — | — | Power |
| "Basically Over You (B.O.Y.)" | — | — | ||
| "Kill the Lights" (withDJ Cassidy andJess Glynne featuringNile Rogers) | 15 | 1 | Vinyl: The Essentials (Best of Season 1) | |
| "Need Somebody" | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Keep It Moving" | — | — | ||
| "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Volac Remix) | — | — | ||
| "As I Am" (withBryan Adams featuring Matt Kelly) | 2019 | — | — | |
| "Boy, You Can Keep It" | 2020 | — | 41 | |
| "Mama Told Me" | — | — | ||
| "Attitude" | 2022 | — | — | |
| "Independently Owned" | 2023 | — | — | Shucked (Original Broadway Cast Recording) |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance/ Electronic [51] | US Dance Club [52] | BEL (FL) | BEL (Wa) | HUN | IRE | JAP | SCO | UK | UK Dance | ||||
| "Stronger" (uncredited) (Clean Bandit featuring Alex Newell and Sean Bass)[53] | 2015 | — | — | —[b] | — | 37 | 56 | 80 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| New Eyes (Special Edition) |
| "All Cried Out" (Blonde featuring Alex Newell) | — | — | 59 | 82 | — | 74 | — | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| non-album single | |
| "Collect My Love" (The Knocks featuring Alex Newell) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | ||
| "Hands" (with various artists) | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Rescue Me" (DJ D-Sol featuring Alex Newell) | 2019 | 31 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Higher" (Vincint and Princess Precious featuring Alex Newell) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | There Will Be Tears | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Geography Club | Ike | |
| Playpus the Musical | Tatiana | Short film | |
| 2016 | Super Novas | Brie Tonika | |
| 2020 | For Christmas Sake | Themself | Short film |
| 2023 | Pacemaker | Cody | Short film |
| 2025 | Another Simple Favor | Vicky |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Glee Project | Contestant (Themself) | Runner-up |
| 2012–2015 | Glee | Wade "Unique" Adams | Main cast (39 episodes) |
| 2015 | Resident Advisors | Morgan | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Imaginary Friend | Sam | Television pilot |
| 2019 | Empire | Hey Beautiful | Episode: "Hot Blood, Hot Thoughts, Hot Deeds" |
| 2020–2021 | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | Mo | Main cast (25 episodes) |
| 2020 | RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Themself (Winner) | Episode: "RuPaul Roast" |
| Mélange | Genesis | Television special | |
| 2021 | Our Kind of People | Tommy "Tizzie" Jones | Episode: "Crabs in a Gold-Plated Barrel" |
| Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas | Mo | Television film | |
| 2022 | The Book of Queer | Narrator (voice) | Episode: "Gay to Z" |
| 2023 | Learning with Pibby: Apocalypse | Melira (voice) | Television short |
| 2024–2025 | Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur | Pebble (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Once on This Island | Papa Ge | Marblehead Little Theatre |
| 2010 | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Mitch Mahoney | |
| 2011 | Hairspray | Motormouth Maybelle Stubbs | |
| 2017 | Saturday Night Fever | Candy | Drury Lane Theatre |
| 2017–2019 | Once on This Island | Asaka | Circle in the Square Theatre,Broadway |
| 2019 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Ensemble | David Geffen Hall |
| 2020 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Narrator | Manhattan Concert Productions |
| 2022 | The Last Supper | Jude | South Orange Performing Arts Center |
| Shucked | Lulu | Pioneer Theatre Company | |
| 2023–2024 | Nederlander Theatre, Broadway | ||
| 2024 | Gutenberg! The Musical! | The Producer (One night cameo) | James Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway |
| Pippin | The Leading Player | West End; 50th Anniversary Concert[55] | |
| 2025 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey Fulquard | Catch One Disco |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Screen Actor's Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Glee | Nominated | |
2019 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Once on This Island | Nominated | |
2021 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | Nominated | |
2023 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Shucked | Won | |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Won | |||
| Tony Awards | Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | |||
2024 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
