Full Breakdown
Meg Stalter Takes the Stage as Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh, Mary!”
5/14/2026, 12:56:26 PM
Meg Stalter’s Broadway Debut
Comedian and “Hacks” star Meg Stalter will assume the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola’s comedy Oh, Mary! at the Lyceum Theatre for a limited ten-week run from July 6 to September 12, 2024. She succeeds Maya Rudolph, who concludes her engagement on July 5. The production describes Stalter’s run as a “prize of a lifetime” for the 35-year-old performer.
Origins and Evolution of “Oh, Mary!”
Created, written, and originally performed by Cole Escola, Oh, Mary! offers a satirical, historically dubious portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln’s White House ennui and her imagined desire to revive a stage career during the Civil War. After a well-received off-Broadway debut in early 2024, the one-act play transferred to Broadway in the summer, opening at the Lyceum Theatre.
Principal Creators and Cast
- Cole Escola – playwright, original Mary Todd Lincoln, Tony Winner for Best Actor.
- Sam Pinkleton – director, Tony Winner for Best Direction.
- Maya Rudolph – current Mary Todd Lincoln through July 5.
- Meg Stalter – incoming Mary Todd Lincoln, July 6-September 12.
Box Office and Critical Reception
The production broke the Lyceum Theatre’s single-week gross record, exceeding $1 million in its opening week and later surpassing that record 13 times. It was the first 2024-25 Broadway show to recoup its investment. Critics praised the comedy; TheaterMania called it “without a doubt, the funniest comedy on Broadway right now.” The play earned five Tony nominations, winning Best Actor (Escola) and Best Direction (Pinkleton).
Official Statements from Production and Creators
Producers describe the play as “a historically dubious account of Mary Todd Lincoln’s White House ennui, and her quest to salvage her stage career at the height of the American Civil War.” Sam Pinkleton’s direction is called “Tony Award-winning.” Cole Escola is noted as “the creator, writer, and Tony-winning star of the play.” Press releases call the limited run a “once-in-a-career opportunity” for Stalter.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When I first met Cole Escola, they said, ‘I thought I was too old to feel this excited and giddy about a new friend,’ and that's exactly how I felt when I met Mary Todd Lincoln for the first time,” — Meg Stalter, Actress
- “never seen myself in a character the way I see myself in Mary, which is strange because I don't even drink.” — Meg Stalter
- “I've never seen myself in a character the way I see myself in Mary, which is strange because I don't even drink, but that's what Cole's beautiful work does to you—makes you feel incredibly excited and seen at the same time, like a little kid meeting a new friend. I've been in love with Cole's brain, heart, and work since the moment I had the privilege of experiencing it, and it's the prize of a lifetime to get to be in the best play to ever be written! Cole, despite our insane public breakup in 2018, I love you, thank you for making my dreams come true.” — Meg Stalter
- “without a doubt, the funniest comedy on Broadway right now.” — TheaterMania review
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the Broadway opening date: most articles list the engagement as beginning July 6, while People.com notes the show “opened on Broadway on July 11, 2024.” No clarification is provided in the available material.
Upcoming Performances and Ticket Availability
Stalter’s performances run through September 12. Tickets are on sale through the Lyceum Theatre box office and authorized online platforms. The production’s schedule remains unchanged pending further announcements.
