Maya Rudolph, celebrated for her work on “Saturday Night Live,” is set to make her Broadway debut in the comedy “Oh, Mary!”, beginning on Tuesday, April 28. The production is scheduled for a limited engagement lasting eight weeks, concluding on June 20. The show has garnered widespread acclaim since its debut in 2024, reimagining the life of Mary Todd Lincoln during the turbulent period leading up to her husband Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.
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Rudolph, who is now 53 years old, expressed her excitement about stepping into the role. She spoke fondly of her childhood aspiration to perform on Broadway, sharing a cherished memory from her sixth-grade yearbook during an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” In this yearbook, young Maya laid out her dreams with remarkable detail, noting her desire to become an entertainer and even mentioning her plans for family life, including having three children.
Reflecting on this moment, Rudolph remarked, “How sweet is that? Isn’t that so sweet?” She laughed and noted how precise her youthful ambitions were, joking that she was only one child off from her expected family size, as she now has three daughters and one son. This nostalgia adds an emotional layer to her upcoming role, as she has effectively realised a dream she articulated in her youth.
In discussing “Oh, Mary!”, Rudolph described the play as a “dark comedy,” asserting that it possesses a unique flavour that distinguishes it from other productions. “Honestly, this is a show I really feel is truly like no other,” she explained, highlighting its offbeat humour and campy elements. Rudolph believes that the character of Mary Todd Lincoln is a perfect fit for her talents, stating, “This is kind of a part I was born to do.”
The production has made quite an impact since opening on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre on July 11, 2024. It quickly rose to prominence, making history as the first show in the theatre’s 121-year existence to gross over £1 million in a single week, and has since broken its own box office record multiple times.
Rudolph, a six-time Emmy Award winner, expressed admiration for the show’s creator and original performer, Cole Escola, who wrote the play and role of Mary. In her announcement about taking on the character, she stated, “Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed of being Cole Escola,” underscoring her deep respect for the talents involved in bringing “Oh, Mary!” to life.
The actress acknowledged the impressive lineage of performers who have played her character, including Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, and Jinkx Monsoon. She jokingly reflected on advice she received from Krakowski, who warned her about the physical challenges posed by the character’s iconic hoop skirt. “The hoop skirt’s 15 lbs,” Rudolph recounted, which prompted her to intensify her fitness regimen in preparation.
In an amusing moment, Rudolph described the hoop skirt as “cumbersome” and challenging to navigate, comparing its wearability to trying to play tennis. However, she noted that once donned, the garment has a certain vitality that encourages movement, saying, “But the minute you put it on, it has a life. It moves and it jumps and it makes you want to bounce around.”
“Oh, Mary!” has made waves beyond Broadway, with plans for a West End engagement and a North American tour set to kick off in Hartford, Connecticut, this September. With the buzz surrounding the show and its remarkable box office success, tickets are currently available for audiences eager to witness Rudolph’s theatrical debut and the unique storytelling of Mary Todd Lincoln’s life.
Maya Rudolph’s return to the stage represents a convergence of talent and aspiration, as her dreams come to fruition in a production that continues to resonate deeply with audiences. With her extensive theatrical heritage and a character as complex as Mary Todd Lincoln, the anticipation for her performance builds as the opening date approaches.