Current two-time 2025 Tony nominee Cole Escola dropped by CBS Sunday Mornings May 4 to talk about their Broadway play Oh, Mary!鈥攃ontinuing its run at the Lyceum Theatre鈥攁nd the work's surprising, 15-year journey from idea to the stage. Find out why the idea had to percolate that long in Escola's mind before making it to the page in the full, extended interview above.
Escola, nominated both as a playwright with the work's Best Play nomination and for their starring role as Mary Todd Lincoln, is currently back for an encore run in the show through June 21, returning alongside fellow original cast members Conrad Ricamora as Mary's Husband and James Scully as Mary's Teacher to completely reunite the full, original cast. Continuing original cast members include Bianca Leigh as Mary's Chaperone and Tony Macht as Mary's Husband's Assistant.
Escola, Ricamora, and Scully departed the production earlier this year. Escola was succeeded by Betty Gilpin and Tituss Burgess, with the latter playing his final performance April 6 along with Phillip James Brannon as Mary's Husband and Chris Renfro as Mary's Teacher.
The multi-extended run is currently scheduled to continue through September 28, with Burgess to return for another six-week run beginning June 23. Opening night was July 11, 2024, following a multi-extended and sold-out Off-Broadway run at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Read the reviews for the Broadway bow here.
READ: Tony Nominated Director Sam Pinkleton on the Art of Recasting Oh, Mary!
Oh, Mary! centers on famous First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In Escola's demented take (or as press notes put it, "through the lens of an idiot"), Mary Todd becomes a madcap, cabaret-obsessed alcoholic.
The piece premiered at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2024 in a run that was extended three times. The production earned two 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New American Play and Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway play, both for Escola. The show also won the 2024 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Play.
READ: Camp and the Art of Being Cole Escola
Rounding out the company are understudies Hannah Solow, Martin Landry, and Julian Manjerico.
Sam Pinkleton directs the Broadway run after staging the Off-Broadway premiere. His creative team includes scenic designer dots, costume designer Holly Pierson, lighting designer Cha See, composer and co-sound designer Daniel Kluger, co-sound designer Drew Levy, wig designer Leah J. Loukas, and music arranger David Dabbon. Casting is by Henry Russell Bergstein. Bryan Bauer and Ryan Patrick Kane are production stage manager and assistant stage manager, respectively.
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Cole Escola in Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola and Bianca Leigh in Oh, Mary!
Conrad Ricamora and Cole Escola in Oh, Mary!
Conrad Ricamora and Tony Macht in Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola and Conrad Ricamora in Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola and James Scully in Oh, Mary!
Conrad Ricamora, Cole Escola, and Bianca Leigh in Oh, Mary!
Tony Macht, Cole Escola, Conrad Ricamora, and Bianca Leigh in Oh, Mary!
