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Betty Gilpin to Star as Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh, Mary!”
Emmy Award-nominated actress Betty Gilpin is set to take on the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the acclaimed play “Oh, Mary!” Gilpin will step in for Cole Escola, who originated the role and wrote the play. Her performances are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, for a limited engagement lasting eight weeks, concluding on Sunday, March 16, 2025. In the meantime, the production has released additional tickets, extending availability through Saturday, June 28, 2025.
This marks Gilpin’s Broadway debut; however, she has an established presence in theater, having performed Off-Broadway in various productions, including Atlantic Theater Company’s “I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard” in 2015 and Signature Theatre’s “Heartless” in 2012.
Expressing her excitement about the role, Gilpin remarked, “I have worshiped at the altar of Cole for years, but seeing their billion layered brilliance in ‘Oh, Mary!’ was a new plane of demented genius I didn’t know was scientifically possible. I am beyond honored to step in so that Cole can get back to tending their neglected passions: fracking and skincare. Diving in with the perfect Sam Pinkleton to play Mary will be one of the single greatest joys of my life, and I will say that to my two daughters’ faces.”
“Oh, Mary!” premiered on Broadway on July 11, 2024, at the Lyceum Theatre, where it achieved a milestone by grossing over $1 million in its first week. The production has since broken its own box office records multiple times, most notably surpassing $1.2 million in the week ending December 1, 2024.
Cole Escola commented on Gilpin’s casting, “I could not be more excited to see what Betty Gilpin does with the role of Mary. She’s a brilliant comedic actress who understands the heart of this character and knows the serious business of being a fool. I promise, you won’t want to miss Betty as Mary.”
The production currently features Escola in the role of a troubled Mary Todd Lincoln during the tense days leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, alongside a talented cast that includes Conrad Ricamora as Mary’s husband, James Scully as her teacher, Bianca Leigh as her chaperone, and Tony Macht as her husband’s assistant. Directed by Sam Pinkleton, “Oh, Mary!” is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon along with Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia.
Betty Gilpin has made a name for herself with her performances in the hit Netflix series “GLOW,” for which she received three Emmy nominations, and has also been recognized by the Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Awards. Currently, she stars alongside Shailene Woodley in the Starz series “Three Women,” based on Lisa Taddeo’s bestselling book, portraying ‘Lina,’ a woman leading a life of quiet desperation until an affair alters her path.
Moreover, she recently wrapped up filming the Netflix limited series “Death By Lightning,” where she portrays Crete Garfield, wife of the 20th U.S. President James Garfield, in a dramatization of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his assassination. Gilpin is also set to appear in the Netflix series “American Primeval,” premiering on January 9, 2025, an exploration of cultural conflicts and challenges during a tumultuous period of American history.
In 2023, Gilpin received critical acclaim for her role in “Mrs. Davis,” where she plays Sister Simone, a nun determined to dismantle a powerful artificial intelligence. The series debuted at SXSW before launching on Peacock.
Gilpin’s other notable television credits include roles in “Gaslit,” “Roar,” “Masters of Sex,” and “Nurse Jackie.” In film, her projects feature “The Hunt” and “The Tomorrow War.” On stage, she has appeared in several Off-Broadway productions since her debut in Second Stage’s “Good Boys and True” in 2008, with notable performances in venues such as the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Roundabout Theatre Company.
Additionally, in Fall 2022, Gilpin published her collection of essays titled “ALL THE WOMEN IN MY BRAIN: AND OTHER CONCERNS,” featuring works in prominent publications like The New York Times and Vanity Fair.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com