Oh, Mary! at CIBC Theatre in Chicago
The 80-minute one-act play follows a deeply miserable and suffocated Mary as she struggles with unrequited yearning, alcoholism, and suppressed desires, all while being kept from her one true passion: performing cabaret. As Escola describes their own creation, this is a story that "finally examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mrs. Lincoln, through the lens of an idiot."What started as an off-Broadway production quickly became one of the most talked-about shows in New York, transferring to Broadway in summer 2024 and earning five Tony Award nominations. The production took home two major awards, with Escola winning Best Actor in a Play (becoming the first nonbinary winner in the category) and Sam Pinkleton winning Best Direction of a Play. The show was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon.
The touring production heading to Chicago will feature Pinkleton directing with the play's original creative team, ensuring that audiences will experience the same vision that made Broadway audiences howl with laughter night after night. While casting for the tour has yet to be announced, previous productions have featured major comedic talents including Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski, and two-time "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Jinkx Monsoon in the title role.
What makes "Oh, Mary!" so special is its fearless approach to comedy. The play makes no attempt at historical accuracy, instead creating a wildly theatrical version of the Lincoln White House where Mary is desperate to break into show business, Abraham Lincoln is managing both the Civil War and a closeted personal life, and chaos reigns supreme. The comedy is intensely physical, bawdy, and moves at breakneck speed, with the show earning nearly uninterrupted laughter from audiences throughout its tight runtime.
The character of Mary is a force of nature, stomping around in enormous hoop skirts, throwing violent tantrums, and displaying a fantastic lack of self-awareness. Her melodramatic yearning for the stage contrasts hilariously with the president's attempts to maintain dignity while the nation crumbles around them. When Mary realizes the men in her life will never support her dreams, she decides to take matters into her own hands with the kind of theatrical flair only she can muster.
What resonates most with audiences and critics is the show's combination of silly, irreverent comedy with genuine heart. The production has been described as mesmerizing, with every element working in perfect harmony to create something that feels both refreshingly original and delightfully outrageous. The humor is described as campy, gonzo, and completely unhinged in the best possible way, drawing comparisons to everything from Monty Python to Saturday Night Live.
The show's success on Broadway has been nothing short of remarkable, with audiences literally laughing until their faces hurt and rushing to see what one reviewer called "the funniest show on Broadway." The production continues to play at the Lyceum Theatre in New York through July 2026 before embarking on its first North American tour.
Broadway in Chicago has announced that "Oh, Mary!" will stop at CIBC Theatre in 2027, though specific dates and ticket information have not yet been released. The touring production will first play Hartford, Connecticut, and Las Vegas in fall 2026 before making its way to additional cities. Given the show's popularity and critical acclaim, Chicago theatre fans will want to keep a close eye out for when tickets go on sale.
For those unfamiliar with Cole Escola's work, they've built a reputation for creating brilliantly absurd comedy through projects like HBO's "Search Party" and various YouTube shows. "Oh, Mary!" represents the culmination of Escola's unique comedic voice, offering a show that's simultaneously smart and stupid, historically informed and completely irreverent, heartfelt and hilariously profane.
"Oh, Mary!" promises to be a theatrical experience unlike anything else on tour, a show that takes one of American history's most tragic stories and transforms it into 80 minutes of pure, unadulterated comedic bliss. Whether you're a history buff, a comedy lover, or simply someone looking for a night of uncontrollable laughter, this is one show that shouldn't be missed when it arrives in Chicago.