Oh, Mary!

Last updated
Oh, Mary!
OhMarryBwayPoster.jpg
Original Broadway windowcard, photo by Daniel Rampulla
Written by Cole Escola
Characters
Date premieredFebruary 8, 2024
Place premiered Lucille Lortel Theatre
Original language English
Genre Comedy
Setting White House, Washington, D.C., 1865
Official site

Oh, Mary! is a comedic stage play written and 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 universal critical acclaim. [3]

Contents

Synopsis

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. [4]

Production history

Off-Broadway (2024)

The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on February 8, 2024, with previews beginning January 26, 2024. 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. [5] The title is taken from a slang phrase used among gay men going back decades. [6]

Broadway (2024)

On April 24, 2024, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway for a limited twelve-week run at the Lyceum Theatre. The show is written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton, and will mark Escola's Broadway debut as a performer and playwright. Previews begun on June 26, with a run originally scheduled from July 11 to September 15. [7] However, on July 23, 2024, due to popular demand, it was announced the show would extend its run through November 10. [8] On September 19, 2024, it was announced the show would extend through January 19, 2025. [9] 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. [10]

Original cast and characters

CharacterOff-BroadwayBroadway
2024
Mary Todd Lincoln Cole Escola
Mary's Husband Conrad Ricamora
Mary's Chaperone Bianca Leigh
Mary's Husband's AssistantTony Macht
Mary's Teacher James Scully

Notable replacements

Broadway (2024-)

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. [12]

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. [13]

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.” [14]

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. [15]

Awards and nominations

2024 Off-Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2024
 Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a PlayNominated [16]
Outstanding Direction of a Play Sam Pinkleton Nominated
Distinguished Performance Cole Escola Nominated
Conrad Ricamora Nominated
Off-Broadway Alliance AwardsBest New PlayWon [17]
Outer Critics Circle Awards John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright)Cole EscolaWon [18]
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway PlayCole EscolaWon
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway PlayConrad RicamoraNominated
Drama Desk Awards Sam Norkin Off-Broadway AwardCole EscolaWon [19]
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Conrad RicamoraNominated
Theatre World Award Cole EscolaWon [20]
2025 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Broadway ProductionPending [21]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Huston, Caitlin (2024-04-24). "Cole Escola's 'Oh, Mary!' Will Move to Broadway This Summer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  2. ↑ "Oh, Mary!". www.iobdb.com.
  3. ↑ "Oh, Mary!". Did They Like It?.
  4. ↑ Barone, Joshua (February 27, 2024). "Review: 'Oh, Mary!' Turns an Unhinged Bit Into Real Theater". The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
  5. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "OH, MARY! Extended Off-Broadway Through Early May". BroadwayWorld.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. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  7. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (February 8, 2024). "Oh, Mary! The Play Was Hilarious, Mrs. Lincoln". Vulture.
  8. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 23, 2024). "Oh, Mary! Extends Broadway Run Into November". Playbill.
  9. ↑ Wild, Stephi (September 19, 2024). "OH, MARY! Extends Through January 2025". Broadway World.
  10. ↑ "Additional Casting Announced For OH, MARY!". www.theatrely.com.
  11. ↑ Huston, Caitlin (2024-12-03). "Betty Gilpin Taking Over Lead Role in 'Oh, Mary!' on Broadway". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  12. ↑ Joshua, Barone (2024-02-29). "Review: 'Oh, Mary!' Turns an Unhinged Bit Into Real Theater". New York Times . Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  13. ↑ Merrill, Amelia (2024-02-08). "'Oh, Mary!' review — Cole Escola's wacky new comedy also has heart". NewYorkTheatreGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  14. ↑ Green, Jesse (2024-07-11). "Review: What Makes 'Oh, Mary!' One of the Best Summer Comedies in Years". New York Times . Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  15. ↑ Miller, Howard (2024-02-08). "Off Broadway Reviews – "Oh, Mary!"". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  16. ↑ "2024 Drama League Award Nominations announced". Theatermania. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Dead Outlaw and Oh, Mary Among Winners of 13th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Dead Outlaw, Stereophonic Lead 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Theatermania. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Drama Desk Award Nominations 2024". Theatermania. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  20. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  21. ↑ Tran, Diep (22 January 2025). "Drag: The Musical, Oh, Mary!, Wicked, More Recognized by GLAAD Media Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
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