‘Oh, Mary!’ National Tour Comes to California

Mary Todd Lincoln served as first lady from 1861 until President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. 144 years later, comedian Cole Escola sent themself an email asking: What if Lincoln’s death had been “a good thing” for Mary Todd? That tongue-in-cheek question became the basis for the smash-hit Broadway comedy “Oh, Mary!”, which has now won two Tonys and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in drama. Following Escola’s departure as Mary Todd Lincoln, the role has been taken on by actors including Bowen Yang, Maya Rudolph, John Cameron Mitchell, Jane Krakowski and Titus Burgess — and is now being played by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Alaska in a national tour. We’ll speak with the director and stars about the play’s unexpected success, its blend of stupidity and wit, and the long, queer legacy of camp.

Guests:

• Sam Pinkleton, Tony Award-winning director “Oh, Mary!”, directed the Broadway revival of “The Rocky Horror Show”, will direct the 50th anniversary revival of “Annie” next year
• Alaska, plays Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh, Mary!”, drag queen and singer, won the second season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars”
• John-Andrew Morrison, plays Mary’s Husband in “Oh, Mary!”, also played the role on Broadway, OBIE Award recipient for work in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “A Strange Loop”