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Oh, Mary!

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Oh, Mary!
Original Broadway windowcard, photo by Daniel Rampulla
Written byCole Escola
Characters
Date premieredFebruary 8, 2024
Place premieredLucille Lortel Theatre
Original languageEnglish
GenreComedy
SettingWhite House, Washington, D.C., 1865
Official site

Oh, Mary! is a comedic stage 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]

Synopsis

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The show is a comedic spoof of the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. The show 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 someone who longs to live a life away from politics and be a cabaret performer, while Lincoln uses her as a beard to hide his sexuality, and is often away from home dealing with the issues of the Civil War, leaving her alone in the White House.[5]

Production history

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Off-Broadway (2024)

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The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on February 8, 2024,[6][7] with previews beginning January 26, 2024.[8] 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.[9] The title is taken from a slang phrase used among gay men going back decades.[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–)

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On April 24, 2024, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway for a limited run at the Lyceum Theatre.[12][13] The show is written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton and marked Escola's Broadway debut as 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.[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]

Original cast and characters

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Character Off-Broadway Broadway
2024
Mary Todd Lincoln Cole Escola
Mary's Husband Conrad Ricamora
Mary's Chaperone
(Louise) 		Bianca Leigh
Mary's Husband's Assistant
(Simon) 		Tony Macht
Mary's Teacher James Scully

Notable replacements

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Broadway (2024–)

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Critical reception

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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.[29]

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.[30] 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."[31]

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.[32] Sara Holdren wrote for Vulture that "Oh, Mary! is hilarious and, underneath the mayhem, both structurally rock solid and sneakily moving",[33] while a Variety reviewer described the play as "a broad, wildly funny comedy" that was also irreverent.[34] TheWrap wrote: "Escola has somehow managed to turn the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln into an inspired, rollicking comedy."[35] Another critic, 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."[7]

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".[36]

Awards and nominations

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2024 Off-Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2024
 Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Play Nominated [37]
Outstanding Direction of a Play Sam Pinkleton Nominated
Distinguished Performance Cole Escola Nominated
Conrad Ricamora Nominated
Off-Broadway Alliance Awards Best New Play Won [38]
Outer Critics Circle Awards John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright) Cole Escola Won [39]
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play Cole Escola Won
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play Conrad Ricamora Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award Cole Escola Won [40]
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Conrad Ricamora Nominated
Theatre World Award Cole Escola Won [41]

2024 Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2025 Tony Awards Best Play Nominated [42]
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play Cole Escola Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play Conrad Ricamora Nominated
Best Direction of a Play Sam Pinkleton Won
Best Costume Design of a Play Holly Pierson Nominated
Pulitzer Prize for Drama Cole Escola Finalist [43]
GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Broadway Production Won [44]
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Play Won [45]
Outstanding Direction of a Play Sam Pinkleton Won
Distinguished Performance Cole Escola Nominated
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award Special Citation Cole Escola Honored [46]

See also

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References

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  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 from the original on April 27, 2024. 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. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (February 8, 2024). "Cole Escola Is Oh, Mary!, Opening Off-Broadway February 8". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Feldman, Adam (February 8, 2024). "Review: Oh, Mary! (★★★★★) is the funniest play in years". Time Out New York. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  8. ^ "Oh, Mary! (Off-Broadway, Lucille Lortel Theatre, 2024)". Playbill. January 8, 2024. Archived from the original on February 12, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  9. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "OH, MARY! Extended Off-Broadway Through Early May". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  10. ^ 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 from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Gantt, William. "The Little Foxes". Encyclopedia of Alabama/.
  12. ^ Paulson, Michael (April 24, 2024). "'Oh, Mary!,' a Surprise Downtown Hit, Will Play Broadway This Summer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  13. ^ Evans, Greg (April 24, 2024). "Mary Todd Lincoln Comedy 'Oh, Mary!' Sets Broadway Transfer For Summer". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  14. ^ McHenry, Jackson (February 8, 2024). "Oh, Mary! The Play Was Hilarious, Mrs. Lincoln". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 23, 2024). "Oh, Mary! Extends Broadway Run Into November". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Wild, Stephi (September 19, 2024). "OH, MARY! Extends Through January 2025". Broadway World. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Additional Casting Announced For OH, MARY!". theatrely.com.
  18. ^ a b Huston, Caitlin (December 3, 2024). "Betty Gilpin Taking Over Lead Role in 'Oh, Mary!' on Broadway". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  19. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (December 3, 2024). "Betty Gilpin to Replace Cole Escola in Broadway's 'Oh, Mary'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  20. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (December 3, 2024). "Betty Gilpin Will Take Over Broadway's Oh, Mary! in 2025". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c Cullwell-Block, Lucas (December 19, 2024). "Phillip James Brannon, Chris Renfro Will Join Betty Gilpin in Broadway's Oh, Mary!". Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Higgins, Molly; Culwell-Block, Logan (February 6, 2025). "Tituss Burgess to Star in Broadway's Oh, Mary!". Playbill. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  23. ^ a b Lang, Brent (February 6, 2025). "Tituss Burgess to Take Over Lead Role in Broadway's 'Oh, Mary!'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Evans, Greg (February 25, 2025). "Cole Escola, Conrad Ricamora & James Scully Will Return To 'Oh, Mary!', Reuniting Original Cast Of Broadway Hit Comedy". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  25. ^ a b Culwell-Block, Logan (February 25, 2025). "Cole Escola Sets Encore Run in Broadway's Oh, Mary!". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  26. ^ Wild, Stephi (May 5, 2025). "Oh, Mary! Extends; Tituss Burgess Will Return". Broadway World. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Culwell-Block, Logan (June 18, 2025). "Jinkx Monsoon Will Take Over Broadway's Oh, Mary!". Playbill. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  28. ^ a b Huston, Caitlin (June 18, 2025). "Jinkx Monsoon to Take Over Lead Role in 'Oh, Mary!'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  29. ^ Joshua, Barone (February 29, 2024). "Review: 'Oh, Mary!' Turns an Unhinged Bit Into Real Theater". New York Times. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  30. ^ Merrill, Amelia (February 8, 2024). "'Oh, Mary!' review — Cole Escola's wacky new comedy also has heart". NewYorkTheatreGuide.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  31. ^ Green, Jesse (July 11, 2024). "Review: What Makes 'Oh, Mary!' One of the Best Summer Comedies in Years". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Miller, Howard (February 8, 2024). "Off Broadway Reviews – "Oh, Mary!"". Talkin' Broadway. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  33. ^ Holdren, Sara (July 12, 2024). "Oh, Mary! Is Excellently Uncivil". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  34. ^ Lewis, Christian (July 12, 2024). "'Oh, Mary!' Review: Cole Escola's Super-Gay Broadway Comedy Is a Smartly Stupid Riot". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  35. ^ Hofler, Robert (July 12, 2024). "'Oh, Mary!' Broadway Review: A New Star Moves Uptown to Wow the Masses". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  36. ^ "Oh, Mary!: Don't Ask for Subtle Comedy". New York Stage Review. July 12, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  37. ^ "2024 Drama League Awards". DramaLeague.org. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  38. ^ "Dead Outlaw and Oh, Mary Among Winners of 13th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  39. ^ "Dead Outlaw, Stereophonic Lead 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Theatermania. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  40. ^ "Drama Desk Award Nominations 2024". Theatermania. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  41. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  42. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 1, 2025). "2025 Tony Award Nominations: Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  43. ^ Hall, Margaret (May 5, 2025). "NBranden Jacobs-Jenkins' Purpose Wins the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama". Playbill. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  44. ^ Tran, Diep (January 22, 2025). "Drag: The Musical, Oh, Mary!, Wicked, More Recognized by GLAAD Media Awards". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  45. ^ Rosky, Nicole (May 16, 2025). "2025 Drama League Awards Winners- The Full List". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  46. ^ "New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Past Winners". New York Drama Critics' Circle. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
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