Maya Rudolph Debuts on Broadway, Stars in ‘Oh, Mary!’
Maya Rudolph is set to make her much-anticipated Broadway debut in the comedy “Oh, Mary!” She will portray former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln starting April 28, 2024. This eight-week engagement will run until June 20, 2024. In her own words, Rudolph has always admired Cole Escola, the creator of the play, and described it as “the funniest play I have ever seen.”
Rudolph expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s such an honor to play the role of Mary, especially after so many iconic Marys have come before me.” She humorously acknowledges the complexity of her character, a “miserable, suffocated, alcoholic woman,” noting that this role signifies “a real dream come true.”
Production Details and Future Plans
The play “Oh, Mary!” is directed by Sam Pinkleton and is set in the tumultuous era before President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. It explores Mary Todd Lincoln as a wannabe cabaret star, causing chaos at the White House while her husband tries to navigate the Civil War.
Currently, “Oh, Mary!” has achieved significant success, having been extended on Broadway until January 3, 2027. After Rudolph’s departure in the summer, the producers have yet to announce her successor. Notable actors like Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, and John Cameron Mitchell have previously portrayed the role.
Box Office Success
The play opened at the Lyceum Theatre on July 11, 2024, and set a remarkable milestone by becoming the first production in the venue’s 121-year history to gross over $1 million in a week. Subsequently, it has broken its own box office records 12 times.
Global Reach
Beyond Broadway, “Oh, Mary!” is not limited to New York. The production is currently being staged on the West End and will embark on a North American tour, beginning in Hartford, Connecticut, in September 2024.
- Broadway debut: April 28, 2024
- Engagement ends: June 20, 2024
- Extended run: Through January 3, 2027
- Opening date at Lyceum Theatre: July 11, 2024
- First week gross: Over $1 million
- West End run: Currently ongoing through July 18, 2024
- North American tour: Begins September 2024 in Hartford, Conn.
