Alaska Thunderf—, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” will take on the lead role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the upcoming production of Cole Escola’s Tony Award-winning comedy “Oh, Mary!” opening this fall. The play is scheduled to run from November 10 through December 6 at the Ahmanson Theatre.
The dark comedy, which premiered in 2024, centers on a troubled Mary Todd Lincoln during the weeks leading up to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The role of Abraham Lincoln will be portrayed by Tony Award-winning actor J. Harrison Ghee. Written by comedian Cole Escola, who also originated the title role, the play reimagines the lesser-known aspects of Mary Lincoln’s life through absurdist humor.
Since its Broadway debut, “Oh, Mary!” has become a commercial and critical success, generating $1 million in a single week and breaking its own box office record 13 times. The production has earned multiple Tony Awards, including best direction of a play for Sam Pinkleton and best actor in a play for Escola.
Alaska joins a distinguished list of comedic actors to have portrayed Mary Todd Lincoln in this production, including Maya Rudolph, Meg Stalter, Tituss Burgess, and Jane Krakowski. Despite the show’s acclaim, Alaska expressed enthusiasm and focus on the role rather than nerves, noting excitement about embodying the character’s distinctive style, including her signature curls and hoop skirt.
Alaska’s previous achievements include being a finalist on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and receiving an Outer Critics Circle Award for co-writing the off-Broadway play “Drag: The Musical” alongside Tomas Costanza and Ash Gordon.
Ghee, who won the 2023 Tony Award for best leading actor in a musical for “Some Like It Hot,” conveyed excitement about working with Alaska in the production. In a statement, Ghee described the opportunity to play Abraham Lincoln as “beyond a dream come true” and praised the show’s unique blend of humor and depth, reflecting Escola’s creative vision.
Further casting details for “Oh, Mary!” will be announced in the upcoming months as the production prepares for its Ahmanson Theatre run later this year.