Cole Escola makes Tony Awards history as first nonbinary best leading actor in a play
Escola, the deranged genius behind "Oh, Mary!", won best leading actor in a play for their inspired turn as first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. They're now the first nonbinary performer to win in that Tony category.
Channeling Bernadette Peters in an off-the-shoulder Wiederhoeft gown, Escola feverishly sprinted to the stage and thanked fellow best actor nominees including George Clooney and Daniel Dae Kim during the show Sunday, June 8.
"It's an honor to be in your company," Escola said. "It's been a sincere pleasure spending time with you over these warm salads at all these (Tony) luncheons." They continued to thank their mom and their "whole gang" of friends: "Oh, and Tebow from Grindr and Amy Sedaris, who always reminds me how important she is to me. And she is."
Tony Awards biggest moments: Cynthia Erivo holds space, Nicole Scherzinger wins big
Written by Escola, "Oh, Mary!" imagines Lincoln as an alcoholic wannabe cabaret star and her husband, Abraham (Conrad Ricamora), as a closeted, temperamental commander-in-chief. Asked by reporters whether they would consider an Eleanor Roosevelt comedy next, Escola joked that she is "played out. It would have to be something original, not another historical figure."
Review: Believe the hype about Broadway's gloriously irreverent 'Oh, Mary!'
The singular playwright had some choice four-letter words for people who refuse to take chances on queer art; later, they sardonically compared the best actress showdown to a presidential election. ("Four more years!" they deadpanned when Scherzinger won.) But Escola had earnest moments, too, as they looked back at the unlikely phenomenon around "Oh, Mary!"
"Trust that voice that says, 'I think I'm right actually,'" Escola said. "It might take 12 years to put the pen to paper, but that voice is right."
In 2023, "Shucked" scene-stealer Alex Newell and "Some Like It Hot" breakout J. Harrison Ghee had history-making wins as the first nonbinary stars to take home awards during the biggest night in Broadway. Newell took home best featured actor in a musical and Ghee earned best actor in a musical.
Watch a star-studded 'Hamilton' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards
One musical had a standout night at the Tonys, which celebrated the biggest in Broadway and featured hosting from Cynthia Erivo and a star-studded "Hamilton" reunion. "Maybe Happy Ending," Will Aronson and Hue Park's musical on two "helperbots" and their journey of friendship, love and adventure, swept the awards with six wins, which included prizes for best musical, best original score, best book of a musical and best scenic design of a musical.
See the full list of winners here.
Tony Awards winners 2025: 'Maybe Happy Ending,' Cole Escola, Darren Criss, more wins
Contributing: Anika Reed, Anna Kaufman
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cole Escola Tony speech: Best lead actor makes nonbinary history
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