you're a winner, baby

Have queer theater critics predicted this year’s Tony winners with their own inaugural awards?

(l-r) 'Kimberly Akimbo,' 'Fat Ham,' and 'Prima Facie.'
(l-r) ‘Kimberly Akimbo,’ ‘Fat Ham,’ and ‘Prima Facie.’ Photos by Joan Marcus and Emilio Madrid

Is it possible that the newly established GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ theater wing has the inside scoop on how this year’s Tony Awards will play out?

The 35-member cohort announced the inaugural winner of the Dorian Theater Awards, a new addition to the society’s longstanding awards for film and television.

Kimberly Akimbo was the frontrunner, picking up four awards including Outstanding Musical. Notably, the Dorian Theater Awards have forgone gendered categories, instead, announcing winners and finalists. Two awards have also been established unique to GALECA.

Pride50 honoree J. Harrison Ghee, star of Some Like It Hot, was bestowed the LGBTQ Theater Trailblazer Award. The honor is given to “a figure in the New York City theater industry who inspires empathy, truth, and equity,” according to a statement from GALECAGhee recently became the first nonbinary performer to receive a Tony Award nomination for Lead Actor in a Musical for their sensitive portrayal of Daphne in the toe-tapping tuner. 

J. Harrison Ghee
J. Harrison Ghee attends opening night for Some Like It Hot on Broadway at Shubert Theatre in New York on December 11, 2022.

GALECA’s trademark Broadway Showstopper Award, for a standout production number or scene, went to the rousing “Independently Owned” from Shucked. Select awards were also given for Off-Broadway productions.

Said wing co-chair Sam Eckmann of Gold Derby: “I’m thrilled to commence Pride Month with the first-ever crop of Dorian Theater Award winners,” said wing co-chir Sam Eckmann of Gold Derby. “From the gentleness of Kimberly Akimbo and Into the Woods to boundary-pushing works such as Fat Ham and Prima Facie to the shot of serotonin that is Titaníque, our cohort of passionate journalists has uplifted the spectacular artistry that thrives in the New York theater scene.”

2023 Dorian Theater Awards winners and finalists

(Note: Three finalists rather than two denotes a tie in voting)

Kimberly Akimbo
The cast of ‘Kimberly Akimbo.’ Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Broadway Musical 
Kimberly Akimbo 
Finalists:
Shucked
Some Like It Hot

Outstanding Broadway Play 
Fat Ham
Finalists:
Cost of Living
Leopoldstadt

The cast of Broadway's 'Fat Ham'
The cast of Broadway’s ‘Fat Ham.’ Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Broadway Musical Revival 
Into the Woods
Finalists: 
Parade
Sweeney Todd

Outstanding Broadway Play Revival 
A Doll’s House
Finalists:
Ohio State Murders
The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Topdog/Underdog

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Musical
Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo
Finalists: 
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd
J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Musical 
Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo
Finalists: 
Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo
Alex Newell, Shucked

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Play 
Jodie Comer, Prima Facie
Finalists: 
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House
Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy

Jodie Comer in 'Prima Facie'
Jodie Comer in ‘Prima Facie.’ Photo by Helen Murray

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Play
Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ain’t No Mo
Finalists:
Jordan E. Cooper, Ain’t No Mo
Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window 

Outstanding Broadway Ensemble 
Kimberly Akimbo
Finalists:
Into the Woods
Shucked 

The Broadway Showstopper Award
to a standout production number or scene 
“Independently Owned,” Shucked
Finalists:
“Better,” Kimberly Akimbo
“You Coulda Knocked Me Over with a Feather,” Some Like It Hot

Outstanding LGBTQ Broadway Production 
Fat Ham
Finalists:
& Juliet
Some Like It Hot

Outstanding Off-Broadway Production 
Titaníque
Finalists:
Dark Disabled Stories
Downstate 

The cast of the Off-Broadway musical Titanique
The cast of the Off-Broadway musical ‘Titanique.’ Photo by David Kraus

Outstanding Off-Broadway Performance 
Marla Mindelle, Titaníque
Finalists:
K. Todd Freeman, Downstate
Ryan J. Haddad, Dark Disabled Stories
Parker Posey, The Seagull/Woodstock, NY

LGBTQ Theater Trailblazer Award
to a figure who inspires empathy, truth, and equity 
J. Harrison Ghee
Finalists:
Jordan E. Cooper
Ryan J. Haddad

Editor’s note: Q.Digital features editor Matthew Wexler is a voting member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ theater wing.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated