HAIRSPRAY wasn't a revival, but there have been a decent number of nominated performances where actors or actresses performed roles of different genders. Obviously Mr. Fierstein's Edna comes to mind right away, along with the gender-doubling that happens throughout ANGELS IN AMERICA, Jefferson May's roles in GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE, Lena Hall in HEDWIG, just to name a few recent examples...
My guess is that the Tony Committee follows guidelines based on the categories where the performers are submitted for consideration. Although Alex Newell is not trans, if he were, I'm sure ONCE ON THIS ISLAND could submit Alex within the gender categories of their choice.
The Tony Committee has clearly thought about this before. KIKI AND HERB: ALIVE ON BROADWAY was nominated for a "special event" Tony in 2007; Justin Vivian Bond uses gender-inclusive pronouns and the honorific Mx, and had Mx Bond been nominated for a performance, the questions would have arisen then...
- GMB |
