Cole Escola’s ‘Oh, Mary!’ Off-Broadway Debut: Dates, Tickets & Viral Buzz

Broadway phenom Cole Escola is having the kind of season theater lovers dream about—two 2025 Tony nominations, an extended Broadway run for their dizzy new comedy “Oh, Mary!,” celebrity admirers packing the box office, and now a headline-making exit that will usher Tituss Burgess back into the title role. Below, we break down everything fans and searchers need to know about the fast-rising star and the show everyone’s Googling right now. Cole Escola’s breakout year Escola, long beloved on alt-comedy stages and in TV cult favorites like “Difficult People,” catapulted onto the Broadway A-list when “Oh, Mary!” transferred from its sold-out Off-Broadway run earlier this year. The farce re-imagines Mary Todd Lincoln as a bawdy, cabaret-belting diva trapped in an unhappy marriage to the 16th president, and it has struck a chord with critics and audiences alike, earning five Tony nominations—including Best Play and two individual nods for Escola’s writing and lead performance. Final performances announced After extending their contract once, Escola will step away from the role on June 21. Producers confirmed that six-time Emmy nominee Tituss Burgess, who originated the part in an early developmental workshop, will reclaim the crinoline and corset for a limited six-week run beginning June 23. Fans hoping to catch Escola’s final bow are scrambling for tickets as resale prices soar on secondary markets. Why walk away at the peak? Escola told CBS “Sunday Morning” that they had always envisioned “Oh, Mary!” as an ensemble showcase rather than a personal star vehicle, and that rotating leads keep the comedy “dangerous and unpredictable”. The playwright-actor is reportedly developing a new television project as well as an original musical commission for an unnamed nonprofit theater. Red-carpet moment goes viral At the 2025 Tony Awards, Escola turned heads in a custom Wiederhoeft gown—a bubble-gum-pink homage to Bernadette Peters’ iconic 1999 Tonys look. Fashion journalists praised the ensemble as a playful nod to queer Broadway history, and social platforms lit up with side-by-side comparisons. The viral photos boosted search volume for both Escola and the indie label overnight. A 15-year road to “overnight” success Playbill recently revealed that Escola first drafted a version of “Oh, Mary!” 15 years ago, jotting jokes about a frustrated First Lady in composition notebooks between comedy gigs. Workshops stalled, funding evaporated, and producers balked at the script’s mix of slapstick and historical satire—until pandemic-era Zoom readings built cult anticipation and finally attracted commercial backing. What’s next for “Oh, Mary!” With two starry leads in play and Tonys buzz at its peak, industry insiders expect a national tour announcement before year’s end. Chicago and Los Angeles presenters are rumored front-runners, though nothing is confirmed. International producers have also expressed interest, particularly in London, where Escola’s irreverent humor enjoys a fervent online following. SEO takeaway If you’re searching “Cole Escola tickets,” “Oh Mary Broadway cast change,” or “Tituss Burgess Mary Todd Lincoln,” move fast—the next few weeks promise a frenzy of fanfare, farewell performances, and fresh headlines as one of 2025’s hottest shows resets for its next act.