Cole Escola dropped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon June 5—in a mustard yellow clown onesie, as one does. But more importantly, the Oh, Mary! writer and star dished on the secret of the Mary Todd Lincoln wig they wear in the show. Hint: it's all about the curl. See Escola's full segment above.
Oh, Mary is currently readying a Broadway transfer after a sold-out multi-extended run Off-Broadway. Performances will begin at the Lyceum Theatre June 26, with opening night set for July 11. The 12-week limited run will continue through September 15.
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Written by and starring Escola, 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 Off-Broadway production won two 2024 Outer Critics Circle awards earlier this season, including Outstanding New American Play and Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway play for Escola. Read reviews for the Off-Broadway run here.
The full Off-Broadway cast will continue on to Broadway, including Escola as Mary Todd Lincoln, Conrad Ricamora as Mary's Husband, James Scully as Mary's Teacher, Bianca Leigh as Mary's Chaperone, and Tony Macht as Mary's Husband's Assistant. Also transferring with the show are understudies Hannah Solow and Peter Smith.
Sam Pinkleton will direct the Broadway run after staging the Off-Broadway premiere. His full creative team will reprise their work as well, including scenic designer dots, costume designer Holly Pierson, lighting designer Cha See, sound designer and composer Daniel Kluger, wig designer Leah J. Loukas, and music arranger David Dabbon. Gowns for Cole Escola are by Astor Yang, and casting is by Henry Russell Bergstein. Bryan Bauer and Ryan Patrick Kane will continue as production stage manager and assistant stage manager, respectively.
Oh, Mary! is produced by Kevin McCollum and Lucas McMahon and Mike Lavoie and Carlee Briglia.
Visit OhMaryPlay.com.
Tony Macht, Bianca Leigh, and Cole Escola in Oh Mary!
Conrad Ricamora in Oh Mary!
Conrad Ricamora and Cole Escola in Oh Mary!
Cole Escola in Oh Mary!
Cole Escola and James Scully in Oh Mary!
Cole Escola and Bianca Leigh in Oh Mary!
