Ali Louis Borzge won his first Tony Award for his role as the charismatic vampire Lost BoysHe used his speech to honor the queer community, immigrants, and Palestinian people.
“This is dedicated to the beautiful tapestry of immigrant families that make this country truly special — I hope that one day you don’t have to experience the compassion that this country that benefits from your beauty for free has to offer, to the queer and trans communities that have always been and will always be there, no matter what people in power try to take away from them,” Purzycki said.
He continued: “For the people of Palestine, who deserve to live a fruitful life, a free life, a complete life without occupation. For Arab theater makers and artists, we hope that we continue to tell our stories and show our faces, until our humanity becomes undeniable, and our families cannot be written off as mere collateral damage. I hope they know the beauty of our kisses on every cheek and the romance of a language rooted in the passion of love and life itself.”
Borzgui, a Moroccan-American actor, made his Broadway debut in the title role in the 2024 revival of the play. Who is Tommy?then took on the main role of Orpheus in Hadestown Before he originated the role of David in Lost Boys. In the show, he leads a gang of vampires as a blond rock idol/vampire and flies across the stage. As he noted in his speech, he believes the element of imagination helps the audience and others find their humanity.
He continued: “Sometimes humanity needs an imaginative lens outside of ourselves to look at and explore questions about our nature. Vampires represent those who demonstrate their humanity in order to achieve a non-existent sense of superiority. Billionaires will never find happiness from their money. Colonists will never find satisfaction from the land and lives they steal. Fascists will never find meaning.”
“People like to say theater is a form of escape, but I find more than ever that in this season of time, theater is one of the last places people can come to worship the power of true collective human existence,” he said.
THR Newsletters
Sign up to get THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe subscription
