Last December, ACLU attorney Chase Strangio found himself having to argue at the Supreme Court. As part of the still-pending court case United States v. Skrmetti, which asks whether a Tennessee bill banning gender-affirming medical care for trans minors violates the 14th Amendment, Strangio was advocating for trans youths to get the care that they need. And when Strangio headed off to the nation's highest court, he brought along his legal notes and a copy of an Oh, Mary! 半岛体育.
In an interview for , Strangio spoke to Cole Escola, the Tony-nominated writer and star of Oh, Mary!, about why that show is such a talisman for him. The two knew each other back from when Escola did the show Off-Broadway, when they provided Strangio with tickets to the sold-out hit. Said Strangio: "I鈥檝e brought my Oh, Mary! 半岛体育 into court since I saw the play, including at the Supreme Court. I had it in my binder as a reminder that I鈥檓 also doing a performance and that I鈥檓 channeling people who inspire me when I enter those spaces that are meant to be so serious, but are in fact so absurd."
Responded Escola: "This isn鈥檛 'make Cole cry hour.' I鈥檓 supposed to be asking you questions, but that really means a lot to me."
Strangio's has been with the ACLU for 12 years and worked on the case Obergefell v. Hodges, which allowed for gay marriage nationally. He's also the first known transgender lawyer to have argued at the Supreme Court.
Escola is the first openly non-binary individual to be nominated for Best Play and Lead Actor in a Play at the Tony Awards. 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.
Oh, Mary! is currently running at the Lyceum Theatre. The multi-extended run is currently scheduled to continue through September 28, with Tituss Burgess to return for a six-week run beginning June 23.
The show opened last year 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. The show is currently nominated for five Tony Awards: Best Play, Lead Actor in a Play (Escola), Featured Actor in a Play (Conrad Ricamora), Direction of a Play (Sam Pinkleton), and Costume Design of a Play (Holly Pierson).
Oh, Mary also stars Conrad Ricamora as Mary's Husband, James Scully as Mary's Teacher, Bianca Leigh as Mary's Chaperon,e and Tony Macht as Mary's Husband's Assistant. Rounding out the company are understudies Hannah Solow, Martin Landry, and Julian Manjerico.
READ: Camp and the Art of Being Cole Escola
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!
