Kimberly Akimbo. Image credit: Facebook page
CMEDIA: The intimate, funny-sad musical Kimberly Akimbo won the musical crown at the Tony Awards on Sunday night and made history with laurels for non-binary actors J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell amid the Hollywood writers’ strike
Tony Awards, recognize excellence in live Broadway theatre, and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in Manhattan.
With songs by Jeanine Tesori and a book by David Lindsay-Abaire, Kimberly Akimbo follows a teen with a rare genetic disorder that gives her a life expectancy of 16 navigating a dysfunctional family and a high school romance.
Victoria Clark, as the lead in the show, grabbed a second Tony to her trophy case, having previously won one for The Light in the Piazza in 2005.
Kimberly Akimbo a musical comedy about the fragility of life took home a leading five awards, including best book and score.
Earlier, Tony Awards history was made when Newell and Ghee became the first non-binary people to win Tonys for acting. Last year, composer and writer Toby Marlow of Six became the first non-binary Tony winner.
“Thank you for the humanity. Thank you for my incredible company who raised me up every single day,” said leading actor in a musical winner Ghee, who stars in Some Like It Hot, the adaptation of the classic cross-dressing comedy film. The soulful Ghee stunned audiences with their voice and dance skills, playing a musician — on the run from gangsters — who tries on a dress and is transformed.
