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]
| Oh, Mary! | |
|---|---|
 Original Broadway windowcard, photo by Daniel Rampulla | |
| Written by | Cole Escola |
| Characters |
|
| Date premiered | February 8, 2024 |
| Place premiered | Lucille Lortel Theatre |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | White House, Washington, D.C., 1865 |
| Official site | |
Synopsis
editThe 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
editOff-Broadway (2024)
editThe 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)
editOn 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
edit| Character | Off-Broadway | Broadway |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||
| Mary Todd Lincoln | Cole Escola | |
| Mary's Husband | Conrad Ricamora | |
| Mary's Chaperone | Bianca Leigh | |
| Mary's Husband's Assistant | Tony Macht | |
| Mary's Teacher | James Scully | |
Peter Smith and Hannah Solow have served as the show's understudies for the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. In July 2024, Martin Landry was brought on as an additional understudy for the Broadway run.[11]
Critical reception
editJoshua 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
edit2024 Off-Broadway production
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated | [16] | |
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Sam Pinkleton | Nominated | |||
| Distinguished Performance | Cole Escola | Nominated | |||
| Conrad Ricamora | Nominated | ||||
| Off-Broadway Alliance Awards | Best New Play | Won | [17] | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright) | Cole Escola | Won | [18] | |
| 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 | [19] | |
| Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Conrad Ricamora | Nominated | |||
| Theatre World Award | Cole Escola | Won | [20] | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Huston, Caitlin (2024-04-24). "Cole Escola's 'Oh, Mary!' Will Move to Broadway This Summer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Oh, Mary!". www.iobdb.com.
- ^ "Oh, Mary!". Did They Like It?.
- ^ Barone, Joshua (February 27, 2024). "Review: 'Oh, Mary!' Turns an Unhinged Bit Into Real Theater". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "OH, MARY! Extended Off-Broadway Through Early May". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ McHenry, Jackson (February 8, 2024). "Oh, Mary! The Play Was Hilarious, Mrs. Lincoln". Vulture.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 23, 2024). "Oh, Mary! Extends Broadway Run Into November". Playbill.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (September 19, 2024). "OH, MARY! Extends Through January 2025". Broadway World.
- ^ "Additional Casting Announced For OH, MARY!". www.theatrely.com.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 23, 2024). "Oh, Mary! Extends Broadway Run Into November". Playbill.
- ^ Joshua, Barone (2024-02-29). "Review: 'Oh, Mary!' Turns an Unhinged Bit Into Real Theater". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Merrill, Amelia (2024-02-08). "'Oh, Mary!' review — Cole Escola's wacky new comedy also has heart". NewYorkTheatreGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Miller, Howard (2024-02-08). "Off Broadway Reviews – "Oh, Mary!"". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ "2024 Drama League Award Nominations announced". Theatermania. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Dead Outlaw and Oh, Mary Among Winners of 13th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Dead Outlaw, Stereophonic Lead 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Theatermania. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Drama Desk Award Nominations 2024". Theatermania. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2024.