Tony Award-winning actor, writer, and director John Cameron Mitchell is set to take on the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the theatrical musical “Oh, Mary!” His highly anticipated 12-week engagement will take place at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre from February 3 to April 26, 2026.
Expressing his excitement for the role, Mitchell stated, “Cole Escola and Sam Pinkleton are the wild horses that dragged me back to drag and I couldn’t be happier! As the most mature Mary yet, my days are filled with working the StairMaster™, mainlining Ozempic®, and mastering my Brilliant Dialogue©. ‘Line?!’ Thank you, Cole, may I do you proud mangling your classic!”
Mitchell, known for co-writing and starring in the groundbreaking musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” received a Special Tony Award for his performance and was also behind the film adaptation in 2001. His Broadway resume includes notable works such as “The Secret Garden,” “Six Degrees of Separation,” and “Big River.” His television credits feature roles in “Girls,” “Mozart in the Jungle,” and “Joe vs. Carole.” Additionally, he directed the 2010 film “Rabbit Hole,” which starred Nicole Kidman and was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Tony-winning director Sam Pinkleton shared his enthusiasm for Mitchell’s casting, saying, “Welcoming John into this cast feels both delicious and somehow inevitable. So many of us in the Oh, Mary! Universe, myself very much included, wouldn’t be where we are without John’s work, which reshaped what live performance could look and feel like for generations of tender weirdos. He’s a queer trailblazer, cultural icon, brilliant actor—and, most importantly for his new role, a giant idiot.”
Mitchell will be joining a talented ensemble that includes notable past performers in the iconic role, including Escola, currently portrayed by Jane Krakowski until January 4, alongside Tituss Burgess, Betty Gilpin, Hannah Solow, and Jinkx Monsoon, who is scheduled to return on January 8. Solow will play the titular role for specific performances on January 6 and 7.
Currently, the “Oh, Mary!” cast also features John-Andrew Morrison as Mary’s Husband, Jenn Harris as Mary’s Chaperone, and Tony Macht as Mary’s Husband’s Assistant. The musical debuted on Broadway on July 11, 2024, at the Lyceum Theatre, a historic venue that has hosted legendary figures such as Ethel Barrymore and Helen Hayes.
Fans eager to witness Mitchell’s interpretation of this beloved character can start planning their visit by securing tickets for “Oh, Mary!”