Oh, Mary!
WriterCole Escola
Characters
SettingWhite House, Washington, D.C., 1865
PremiereFebruary 8, 2024
PlaceLucille Lortel Theatre
Orig langEnglish
GenreComedy
Webhttps://www.ohmaryplay.com/

Oh, Mary! is a comedy play written and originally performed by American comedian Cole Escola.[1] The show opened on Broadway on July 11, 2024, at the Lyceum Theatre, transferring from its off-Broadway run at the Lucille Lortel Theatre,[2] earning critical acclaim and being named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[3][4] The show was nominated for five Tony Awards, winning Best Direction of a Play as well as Best Actor in a Play for Escola, the first non-binary winner in the category. The West End production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play in 2026.

Synopsis

The play is a spoof of the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. It is set in the days leading up to Lincoln's assassination, which occurred while he and Mary were watching Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre. The show portrays Mary as a temperamental alcoholic, stuck in an unhappy marriage with the deeply closeted President Lincoln and desperate to return to her past glory days as a cabaret star.[5] The title is taken from a slang phrase used among gay men going back decades.[6]

Production history

Off-Broadway (2024)

Under the direction of Sam Pinkleton, the play premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on February 8, 2024,[7][8] with previews beginning January 26, 2024.[9] The show had a planned closing date of March 24, 2024; however, due to high ticket sales and critical acclaim, the play extended twice, first from March 24 until May 2, and then until May 12.[10] The main poster and Playbill design (yellow background with red and black lettering and the tagline "The Greatest Play of the Generation" over a circular photo of the lead performer in character) used for both the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Oh, Mary! is a close reference to the promotional design for the original production of Lillian Hellman's 1939 play The Little Foxes.[11]

Broadway (2024–26)

On April 24, 2024, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway for a limited run at the Lyceum Theatre.[12][13] The Broadway production marked Escola's Broadway debut as both a performer and playwright. Previews began on June 26, with a run originally scheduled from July 11 to September 15.[14] However, on July 23, 2024, due to popular demand, it was announced the show would extend its run through November 10.[15] On September 19, 2024, it was announced the show would extend through January 19, 2025.[16] The show features original music by Daniel Kluger and arrangements by David Dabbon. Scenic design is by the design collective known as dots with costumes by Holly Pierson and Astor Yang (original off- Broadway production costumes for Cole Escola.).[17] In December 2024, the run of Oh, Mary! was extended a third time to June 28, 2025, and Betty Gilpin was cast as Mary, replacing Escola.[18][19][20] Subsequently Phillip James Brannon replaced Conrad Ricamora as Mary's Husband and Chris Renfro replaced James Scully as Mary's Teacher.[21]

Tituss Burgess replaced Gilpin for a temporary engagement in March 2025.[22][23] Escola rejoined the cast on April 8, 2025,[22][24][25] as did Ricamora and Scully.[24][25] Days after the 2025 Tony Nominations, ticket sales were extended to September 28, 2025 and Burgess was once again to replace Escola as Mary in a limited 6-week engagement to begin in June.[26] On June 18, ticket sales were extended through January 2026, and the production also announced that performer Jinkx Monsoon would replace Burgess in the lead role for eight weeks between August 4 and September 27.[27][28] On September 2, actress Jane Krakowski was announced as the replacement for Monsoon for a limited engagement between October 14 and December 7; understudy Hannah Solow was announced as the interim lead between Monsoon and Krakowski's runs as Mary.[29][30] On November 18, 2025, it was announced that Monsoon would return to replace Jane Krakowski for a limited 30-performance run starting January 8, 2026.[31] On December 11, 2025, it was announced that John Cameron Mitchell would follow Monsoon's run for a 12-week limited engagement starting February 3, 2026.[32] On March 12, 2026, it was announced that Maya Rudolph would follow John Cameron Mitchell for an 8-week limited engagement starting April 28, 2026.[33] On May 13, 2026, it was announced that Megan Stalter would follow Rudolph for a 10-week limited engagement starting July 6, 2026.[34]

West End (2025–26)

On October 2, it was announced the production would transfer to London for its West End premiere at the Trafalgar Theatre.[35] The production began previews on December 3, with an official opening on December 18, 2025,[36][37] originally set to run until April 25, 2026. Pinkleton is set to return as the director with Mason Alexander Park starring as Mary. Also starring in the cast are Giles Terera as Mary's Husband, with Kate O'Donnell as Mary's Chaperone, Oliver Stockley as Mary's Husband's Assistant, and Dino Fetscher as Mary's Teacher.[35] The show extended to July 2026 with Catherine Tate and Scott Karim set to replace Park and Terera.[38] On May 26, 2026, it was announced that Escola would be returning to the role, making their West-End debut and succeeding Tate, for a four week engagement.[39]

U.S. tour (2026)

In January 2026, the producers of Oh, Mary! announced that the play would go on a national tour starting in late 2026, premiering in Hartford, Connecticut.[40][41] The tour will also include performances in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C..[41]

Original cast and characters

CharacterOff-BroadwayBroadwayWest End
20242025
Mary Todd LincolnCole EscolaMason Alexander Park
Mary's HusbandConrad RicamoraGiles Terera
Mary's Chaperone
(Louise)		Bianca LeighKate O'Donnell
Mary's Husband's Assistant
(Simon)		Tony MachtOliver Stockley
Mary's TeacherJames ScullyDino Fetscher

Notable replacements

Broadway (2024–)

West End (2025–)

Critical reception

Joshua Barone of The New York Times described it as "silly, nasty, tasteless and, in the end, good theater." He described how the play stretches a "stupid joke" to its limits but still leaves audiences "gagging" with laughter.[48]

Amelia Merrill of the New York Theatre Guide emphasized the campy, irreverent nature of Oh, Mary!, calling it both absurd and heartwarming. She pointed out how Escola's reinterpretation of Mary Todd Lincoln, though not historically accurate, explored the First Lady's mental health struggles through comedy.[49] Jesse Green of The New York Times echoed these sentiments, noting the play's deft combination of camp and discipline. He praised the production for finding a balance between chaotic comedy and choreographed precision. Green also called it "one of the best crafted and most exactingly directed Broadway comedies in years" despite Escola's own admission that it's "the stupidest play."[50]

Howard Miller of Talkin' Broadway emphasized the show's success in balancing a "queer-infused raucous, farcical, campy" energy while maintaining emotional depth beneath its absurdity.[51] Sara Holdren wrote for Vulture that "Oh, Mary! is hilarious and, underneath the mayhem, both structurally rock solid and sneakily moving",[52] while a Variety reviewer described the play as "a broad, wildly funny comedy" that was also irreverent.[53] TheWrap wrote: "Escola has somehow managed to turn the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln into an inspired, rollicking comedy."[54] Adam Feldman, for Time Out New York, gave Oh, Mary! a five-star rating, saying that the play "is dizzyingly, breathtakingly funny, the kind of funny that ambushes your body into uncontained laughter."[8]

However not all reviews were positive, with critic Michael Sommers writing for New York Stage Review giving the play 2 out of 5 stars describing the script as "flimsy" adding it's more of "a ribald cartoon more hysterical than historical".[55]

Awards and nominations

2024 Off-Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2024
rowspan=4|Drama League AwardOutstanding Production of a Play[56]
Outstanding Direction of a PlaySam Pinkleton
Distinguished PerformanceCole Escola
Conrad Ricamora
Off-Broadway Alliance AwardsBest New Play[57]
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOuter Critics Circle John Gassner AwardCole Escola[58]
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway PlayCole Escola
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway PlayConrad Ricamora
Drama Desk AwardsSam Norkin Off-Broadway AwardCole Escola[59]
Outstanding Featured Performance in a PlayConrad Ricamora
Theatre World AwardCole Escola[60]
Obie AwardsPerformanceCole Escola[61]
Dorian AwardOutstanding Off-Broadway Production[62]
Outstanding LGBTQ Off-Broadway Production
Outstanding Lead Performance in an Off-Broadway ProductionCole Escola
Outstanding Featured Performance in an Off-Broadway ProductionConrad Ricamora
James Scully

2024 Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2025Tony AwardsBest Play[63]
Best Actor in a PlayCole Escola
Best Featured Actor in a PlayConrad Ricamora
Best Direction of a PlaySam Pinkleton
Best Costume Design of a PlayHolly Pierson
Pulitzer Prize for DramaCole Escola[64]
GLAAD Media AwardsOutstanding Broadway Production[65]
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Production of a Play[66]
Outstanding Direction of a PlaySam Pinkleton
Distinguished PerformanceCole Escola
New York Drama Critics' Circle AwardSpecial CitationCole Escola[67]
2026Broadway.com Audience AwardsFavorite Replacement (Female)Jane Krakowski[68]

2025 West End production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2026Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Entertainment or Comedy Play[69]
Best Actor in a Supporting RoleGiles Terera

See also

References

  1. ^ Huston, Caitlin (April 24, 2024). "Cole Escola's 'Oh, Mary!' Will Move to Broadway This Summer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Oh, Mary!". iobdb.com. Archived April 27, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Oh, Mary!". Did They Like It?
  4. ^ Times, The New York (May 5, 2025). "Pulitzer Prizes: 2025 Winners List". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  5. ^ Barone, Joshua (February 27, 2024). "Review: 'Oh, Mary!' Turns an Unhinged Bit Into Real Theater". The New York Times. – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ Rooney, David (July 12, 2024). "'Oh, Mary!' Theater Review: Comedy Genius Cole Escola Serves Revisionist American History as Riotous Queer Silliness". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived November 25, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (February 8, 2024). "Cole Escola Is Oh, Mary!, Opening Off-Broadway February 8". Playbill. Archived June 14, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
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  11. ^ Gantt, William. "The Little Foxes". Encyclopedia of Alabama/
  12. ^ Paulson, Michael (2024-04-24). "'Oh, Mary!,' a Surprise Downtown Hit, Will Play Broadway This Summer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived April 24, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
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