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Oh, Mary!
Oh, Mary!

Cole Escola’s Off-Broadway Hit Oh, Mary! Makes the Leap to Broadway

Comic genius Cole Escola is ready to make their mark on Broadway! The performer/writer has brought their sold-out smash hit Oh, Mary! uptown to the Lyceum Theatre after slaying Off-Broadway earlier this year. Under the direction of New York theater favorite Sam Pinkleton (Here We Are, Natasha, Pierre…), the show centers around a very frustrated Mary Todd Lincoln played by Escola. Entertainment journalist for Spectrum News NY1 Frank DiLella caught up with Escola and Pinkleton to talk about giving Mary Todd her big Broadway break.


The reception for this play has been unbelievable! The show was a sold-out smash hit Off-Broadway. When did you both know you were in a hit?

COLE ESCOLA: When we extended. [Laughs].

SAM PINKLETON: There was a sweet moment maybe midway through the run where I was biking down Christopher Street and I thought there was an emergency because there were all these people on the sidewalk – and then I realized they were waiting in the standby line for our show, which was an experience I had never had before.

When I saw the show Off-Broadway we were told not to reveal anything. So Cole, how would you describe Oh, Mary!? What’s the elevator pitch for Broadway?

CE: It’s a play about Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham’s assassination and her dreams of becoming a cabaret star while battling alcoholism – and it’s an uproarious comedy.

 Cole Escola and James Scully in Oh, Mary! Photo by Emilio Madrid.
Cole Escola and James Scully in Oh, Mary! Photo by Emilio Madrid.

Cole, you’ve been working on this play since 2009. Where did your obsession with Mary Todd come from?

CE: It was one of those things that just occurred to me and then would never leave me alone. I think the fact that she – to the general public – is largely unknown is interesting to me.

Sam, how did you get involved with the project?

SP: I got an email out of nowhere that said, “Cole Escola wrote a play about Mary Todd Lincoln called Oh, Mary! – do you want to read it?” And I truly was like – I will just cancel whatever needs to be cancelled. I don’t need to read it – I’ll get on an airplane and will do the show for free. Cole and I have known each other for a long time – but not in this capacity – which sounds dirty [Laughs]. I’ve always been an admirer of Cole’s work.

Sam, you have a bunch of Broadway credits to your name, mainly as a choreographer. This show marks your Broadway directorial debut! Congratulations!

SP: It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve obviously worked on Broadway before as a choreographer. I always thought that if I were very lucky I would eventually direct a small unsuccessful jukebox musical that would run 2-3 weeks. And so the fact that my first Broadway show gets to be something that I love so much and stand behind so thoroughly – it’s a total embarrassment of riches.

Tony Macht, Bianca Leigh, and Cole Escola in Oh, Mary! Photo by Emilio Madrid.
Tony Macht, Bianca Leigh, and Cole Escola in Oh, Mary! Photo by Emilio Madrid.

Cole, we’ve known each other for a long time. We both moved to the city around the same time in the early 2000s. I’ve watched you work hard and be successful in the business. What does this moment, your Broadway debut, mean to you?

CE: I assumed if I were to ever be on Broadway I would have to win an Emmy first and then have Alex Timbers cast me in a non-singing comedy part in a revival of something dusty – IF I was lucky. So, it’s hilarious to me that my Broadway debut is as Mary Todd Lincoln in a play where she drinks her own vomit – that I wrote. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

Cole, you’re a comic genius. Who are your comic idols?

CE: Amy Sedaris, I grew up worshiping the ladies of SNL – especially the holy trinity which was Molly [Shannon], Ana [Gasteyer], and Cheri [Oteri]. But also Laurie Metcalf.

SP: I think we’re aligned on the holy trinity of SNL. That era of SNL was so formative. But also, Madeline Kahn. And – I remember seeing Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town – and I remember thinking – I’ve never seen someone that funny in my entire life.

Tony Kushner, Bianca Leigh, Steven Spielberg, James Scully, Sally Field, Cole Escola, Conrad Ricamora, and Tony Macht at Oh, Mary!. Photo by Bruce Glikas.
Tony Kushner, Bianca Leigh, Steven Spielberg, James Scully, Sally Field, Cole Escola, Conrad Ricamora, and Tony Macht at Oh, Mary!. Photo by Bruce Glikas.

Sally Field aka Mary Todd Lincoln from the film Lincoln and her director Steven Spielberg stopped by your show Off-Broadway. I saw a photo of the three of you backstage on Instagram. What was that night like for you, Cole? What did Sally think of your portrayal?

CE: Did you say betrayal or portrayal? [Laughs]. She seemed tickled by my “betrayal” of Mary Todd Lincoln. They couldn’t have been warmer and more enthusiastic. It was sweet. Playing Mary I feel more spiritually close to actresses who’ve played Mary Todd Lincoln than I do the actual Mary Todd Lincoln like Ruth Gordon, Mary Tyler Moore, Julie Harris, Sally Field… and me!

Cole – you’re a big Bernadette Peters fan. You even do a fun Bernadette impression. Has Bernadette seen your show?

CE: Not yet. I will make sure she’s invited to opening – if not to every performance after opening. Even after she comes – there will be 2 house seats left for Bernadette Peters for every show with a spotlight on them.

Celebrities have been flocking to this show… personal favorite?

SP: When I got a DM from Marcia Gay Harden – I suddenly realized we were doing something different.

CE: When Laurie Metcalf came that was special. Her performance in A Doll’s House, Part 2 – talk about funny on stage and heartbreaking – and just so good. It’s nice to have artists who you admire, and respect come see your work and at least pretend to admire your work.

Cole Escola in Oh, Mary! Photo by Emilio Madrid.
Cole Escola in Oh, Mary! Photo by Emilio Madrid.

Now that you have Mary Todd Lincoln covered – who else do you want to tackle for the stage? Notable figures you want to bring to theatrical life?

CE: It would have to be someone really surprising. For a while I thought I would do a trilogy of “Marys” – like Typhoid Mary, Mary of Nazarath, Mary – Queen of Scots. But now I think that’s too expected and obvious. So, it will have to be someone like Karen Silkwood.

Is Broadway ready for Oh, Mary!?

CE: Whether it is or it’s not ready, Broadway is going to get it.

SP: I think Broadway is ready for a 75 minute show that gets them on NJ Transit by 8:55 p.m.

CE: Or after they watch our show they can go watch the second act of Stereophonic.

Learn More About Oh, Mary!