Alex Newell

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Alex Newell in 2015

Alex Eugene Newell (born August 20, 1992 in Lynn ) is an American actor and singer . He was best known for his roles Wade / Unique Adams in the FX series Glee and Mo in the NBC production Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist , and in 2018 he played the lead role Asaka in the Broadway remake of Once on This Island , for which he received also a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album .

Life

Alex Newell was born in 1992 in Lynn, Massachusetts . At the age of six years, Newell lost his father, who as Dean worked and a cancer died, he is why from this point with his mother grew up alone.

After four years at the local charter school KIPP Lynn Academy , Newell moved to the Roman Catholic private school Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, from which he graduated in 2012. On this he appeared as a member of the choir , the improvisational theater group and the costume rental company, outside of school he also sang in the church choir of his hometown.

Newell is openly homosexual and describes himself as gender-nonconforming , so he does not feel completely male or female, but does not identify as transgender or non-binary . He also campaigns for the interests of other LGBT people, for example through appearances at benefit concerts, the proceeds of which go to organizations such as the Trevor Project , an organization that campaigns for LGBT young people, he is also a singer with LGBT - You could hear events like the GLAAD Media Awards . Newell names Donna Summer , Sylvester James , Diana Ross , Aretha Franklin , Chaka Khan and Beyoncé as his artistic role models .

Career

As an actor

Newell was among the approximately 34,000 people who submitted an application video for the first season of The Glee Project in 2011 . The Glee Project was a reality show in which the participants competed against each other while singing; the winner was given the chance to act in a storyline of up to seven episodes in the main series Glee . Newell's self- filmed performance of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going from the musical Dreamgirls was viewed over a million times on Myspace , and he was selected as one of twelve participants for the first season. Although Newell eventually tied for runner-up with another contestant, Glee's producers decided to have him appear in a few episodes because of his artistic talent and popularity with viewers. In three episodes he embodied the transgender , shy teenager Wade Adams , who expresses her female identity with the help of her self-confident alter ego Unique . Since Wade was one of the first transgender characters in a prime-time series and also the first fictional transgender youth on US television at the time, the character and Newell's portrayal were particularly well received by LGBT viewers.

Bill O'Reilly , a conservative television host, has criticized the character because children watching the series without parental supervision are encouraged to experiment with alternative lifestyles that Glee glorifies. Newell responded to the criticism that thanks to O'Reilly his notoriety in the public and among conservative viewers would have been increased. When characters like Wade or Unique inspire children to be themselves, this is just a newly discovered opportunity for those affected to express themselves freely.

Newell received a place at Berklee College of Music in the fall of 2012 , but was also offered the opportunity to work on the fourth season of Glee , which is why he finally did not go to university, but moved to Los Angeles to film . In the fourth season, Newell was a recurring supporting actor and received along with his colleagues a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award in the category of best ensemble in a comedy series . In the fifth season, Newell rose to lead due to the popularity of his character. In the sixth and final season, Newell was a returning guest actor and sang the song I Know Where I've Been from Hairspray in one episode with a choir of transgender singers .

In 2013, Newell played Ike , one of the main roles in the film Geography Club , which is about several LGBT young people who are unsure of their sexuality or gender identity, which is why they founded a club that they give a boring-sounding name so that none join new members and where they can talk freely and openly about their problems, fears and worries.

In 2016, Newell was cast in a leading role in the comedy series Imaginary Friend . He was supposed to play the imaginary friend of an intelligent but unmotivated woman ( Megan Neuringer ) who gave the title the title and who wanted to make more of her monotonous everyday life. The pilot episode eventually aired as a television film, but NBC did not order a first season of the series.

Since 2020 Newell has played the non-binary DJ Mo and neighbor of the main character Zoey Clarke ( Jane Levy ) in the NBC production Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist . In a mishap during an MRI scan , innumerable songs were downloaded into her brain, allowing her to hear the thoughts of others in the form of popular songs. Mo helps her understand the scope of her new skills and deal with them.

As a singer

In October 2013, Newell was signed by the Warner Music Group owned and managed by Atlantic Records record company Big Beat Records. His debut single, a cover of Sigma's Nobody to Love funded by Swedish producer Adam Anders , was released on June 3, 2014. In 2013, Newell also performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio .

In March 2015, Newell could be heard on the re-release of the single Stronger by Clean Bandit . In the same month he produced a disco-house version of show Me Love by singer Robin S. With Russian DJ Matvey Emerson , and in the summer of the same year he worked on the songs All Cried Out by Blonde and Collect My Love by American electro -Duos The Knocks with, the latter reached fourth place in the official UK singles charts and was able to position sixth in the European digital sales charts. Finally, in December, he released a cover of the song O Come All Ye Faithful for a Christmas album by YouTuber Tyler Oakley .

January 2016, Newell's first original song entitled This Ain't Over was released, which received positive reviews from editors of Spin and New York , among others . It was also announced as the first single of his first extended play entitled Power , which was released on February 19 and was made with the participation of producers such as MNEK and Digital Farm Animals . Power reached fourth place on Billboard's dance / electronic albums and eleventh place on the Heatseekers charts . Four days later, Newell accompanied Adam Lambert on his national tour until the last show in Los Angeles on April 2nd. On April 8, Newell released the song Kill the Lights , which had already been recorded the previous year and was produced by DJ Cassidy and Nile Rodgers , who also played instrumental, and the song was also heard in the television series Vinyl . A week later it was re-released as a cover version by Jess Glynne . Newell's version reached 15th place in the Dance / Electronic Songs, 12th place in the associated sales charts and first place in Billboard's Dance Club Songs .

On July 6th, Newell was heard along with several other well-known singers including Britney Spears , Pink , Jason Derulo and RuPaul in the song Hands , which was dedicated to the victims of the Orlando attack on June 12, 2016 . The proceeds went to a fund for the bereaved, an LGBT center in Florida and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation . Another Newell release that year was Keep it Moving .

In 2017, Newell made his Broadway debut in Once on This Island as the earth goddess Asaka . Together with three other gods, she rules an island in the Antilles and helps the orphan Ti Moune to survive a flood and to find her destiny as an adult. During his solo Mama Will Provide , Newell received standing applause from the audience at the first performance . He embodied the character in more than 300 performances for a year and was nominated for a Grammy in the category Best Musical Theater Album in 2018 .

In 2019 Newell was heard on the song Rescue Me by David M. Solomon, which reached 31st place in Dance / Electronic Songs and 4th place in Dance Club Songs. In 2020 came the own compositions Boy, You Can Keep It , which positioned itself in the dance club songs at number 41,and Mama Told Me . In the same year Newell played his second theater role as a narrator in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat .

Filmography

  • 2011: The Glee Project (TV series, twelve episodes, participant, 2nd place)
  • 2012–15: Glee (TV series, 39 episodes)
  • 2013: Geography Club
  • 2015: The normal student madness ( Resident Advisors , TV series, two episodes)
  • 2016: Imaginary Friend (TV movie)
  • 2016: Super Novas
  • 2019: Empire (TV series, episode 5x13)
  • since 2020: Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (TV series)
  • 2020: Mélange (TV series, episode 1x1)
  • 2020: RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (TV series, participant episode 1x3, winner)

Web links

Commons : Alex Newell  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Doug Rule: Uniquely Alex: Alex Newell on coming out, Trevor Project and life after Glee. In: Metro Weekly. April 13, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  2. ^ A b c Tenley Woodman: Alex Newell gets Unique chance on 'Glee'. In: Boston Herald. September 13, 2012, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Michael Jensen: Will Alex Newell be "The Glee Project" 's Kurt Hummel? In: After Elton . May 6, 2011, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  4. ↑ Jason Pham: Alex Newell Won't Fit into Your Mold, But He Might Squeeze into Your Shoes. In: StyleCaster. June 30, 2017, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  5. ↑ Seth Kelley: Kerry Washington, 'Glee' Star Alex Newell Bring Down the House at the GLAAD Awards. In: Variety . March 22, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  6. ^ A b Rae Votta: Alex Newell Talks New Music & Future Husband Material. In: Out. February 12, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  7. ↑ Maureen Mullen: Lynn's Alex Newell Relishes 'Unique' Role on 'Glee'. In: The Boston Globe . December 26, 2013, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  8. ↑ Melinda Loewenstein: 'Glee's' Alex Newell on Singing With Kate Hudson and Walking Out on Auditions. In: Backstage. November 12, 2012, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  9. ^ Keith Loria, How The Glee Project Helped Launch These Performers to Stardom. In: Playbill . April 24, 2020, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  10. ↑ Patrick Rosenquist: The Palm Springs Center Stage Gala Welcomes Alex Newell and Kate Clinton to the Desert. In: Frontiers Journal Series . October 22, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  11. ↑ Michelle McCarthy: Alex Newell of 'Glee' Plays with Androgyny as TV's First Transgender Teen. In: Frontiers Journal Series. March 10, 2014, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  12. ↑ Katherine Fung: Bill O'Reilly: 'Glee' Might Encourage Kids To Experiment With 'Alternative Lifestyles' (VIDEO). In: Huffington Post . April 20, 2012, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  13. ↑ Dave McNary: 'Lincoln,' 'Silver Linings' top SAG film noms. In: Variety. December 12, 2012, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  14. ↑ Michael Ausiello: UPDATED Glee Exclusive: 4 Original Cast Members Not Returning as Series Regulars for Season 5; Plus - Who's Getting Promoted? In: TV Line. June 28, 2013, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  15. ^ Jase Peeples: The Appeal of Being Unique. In: The Advocate . November 13, 2013, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  16. ↑ Elizabeth Wagmeister: 'Glee' Alum to Star on NBC Comedy Pilot 'Imaginary Friend' (EXCLUSIVE). In: Variety. December 11, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  17. ↑ Rebecca Ianucci: Upfronts 2016: Failed Broadcast Pilots. In: TV Line. May 23, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  18. ↑ Jean Bentley: How 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist' Star Alex Newell's Storyline Reflects His Own Life. In: The Hollywood Reporter . March 2, 2020, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  19. ↑ Tom Eames: 'Glee' star Alex Newell signs album deal with Atlantic Records. In: Digital Spy . October 31, 2013, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  20. ↑ Maggie Malach: 'Glee' Star Alex Newell Covers 'Nobody to Love' [LISTEN]. In: PopCrush. May 21, 2014, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  21. ^ Robbyn Mitchell: Alex Newell of 'Glee' talks Coachella, shoes before performing at St. Pete Pride. In: Tampa Bay Times . June 25, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  22. ↑ a b c d "Glee" star Alex Newell is releasing his debut EP "Power" tomorrow. In: Warner Music Group. February 18, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  23. ↑ John Walker: This 'Glee' Star Is Kind Of Slaying The House Revival Game Right Now. In: MTV . March 17, 2015, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  24. ↑ Alex Newell. In: Billboard . Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  25. ↑ Alex Newell. In: Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  26. ↑ Keith Caulfield: Tyler Oakley's 'Holiday Jams' Album Rings in Season With The Raveonettes, Alex Newell, Josh Rouse & More. In: Billboard. December 2, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  27. ↑ James Grebey: Alex Newell's Pop Career Is Just Beginning on Euphoric Lead Single, 'This Ain't Over'. In: Spin . January 14, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  28. ↑ DL: 9 Best New Songs of the Week. In: New York . January 19, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  29. ↑ Alex Newell. In: Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  30. ↑ Alex Newell. In: Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  31. ^ Glenn Garner: Alex Newell Will Join Adam Lambert on Tour. In: Out. January 19, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  32. ↑ Chris Malone: Lip Sync Herstory: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Alex Newell's 'Kill the Lights'. In: Billboard. April 5, 2020, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  33. ↑ a b Alex Newell. In: Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  34. ↑ Alex Newell. In: Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  35. ↑ a b c Alex Newell. In: Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  36. ↑ Deborah Wilker: Britney Spears, Pink, Selena Gomez Join 'Hands' for Orlando: How the All-Star Song Came to Life. In: Billboard. July 6, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  37. ↑ Sydney Scott: Listen To Alex Newell's Vibrant New Song "Keep It Moving". In: Essence. October 28, 2016, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  38. ↑ Brittany Spanos: Watch Alex Newell Sing 'Mama Will Provide' From 'Once on This Island'. In: Rolling Stone . September 15, 2018, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  39. ↑ Alex Newell. In: Grammy Awards . Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  40. ↑ Stephen Daw: Alex Newell Recruits Adam Lambert, Shangela & More for Mother's Day Anthem 'Mama Told Me'. In: Billboard. May 6, 2020, accessed June 10, 2020 .
  41. ^ Dan Meyer: Eden Espinosa, Alex Newell, and Jessica Vosk Will Star as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Concert. In: Playbill. December 17, 2019, accessed June 10, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Newell, Alex
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Newell, Alex Eugene (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and singer
DATE OF BIRTH 20th August 1992
PLACE OF BIRTH Lynn , Massachusetts