Cole Escola and Sam Pinkleton Won Tonys for 'Oh, Mary!' Now They Have a Message for Doubters Reluctant to Produce Queer Theatre
Sam Pinkleton poses with the Best Direction of a Play award for "Oh, Mary!" and Cole Escola poses with the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play award for "Oh, Mary!" in The 78th Annual Tony Awards Media Room presented by Carnegie Mellon University at 3 West Club on June 08, 2025 in New York City Source: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Cole Escola and Sam Pinkleton Won Tonys for 'Oh, Mary!' Now They Have a Message for Doubters Reluctant to Produce Queer Theatre

Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.

"Oh, Mary!" actor-playwright Cole Escola and director Sam Pinkleton triumphed at the Tony Awards for their work on a comedic take on history (and a queer President Lincoln). The wins were only the latest honors for the play, which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and has taken a handful of other accolades, including a Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and an Off-Broadway Alliance Award.

Pinkleton and Escola shared some thoughts about producers wary of LGTBQ+ themed stage works in the wake of their win.

"When asked to respond to such naysayers, Escola was charmingly brief, saying, 'Fuck off!'," Playbill reports of the response offered by the author of the one-act play, who won the award for Best Actor in a Play for portraying Mary Todd Lincoln.

Director Pinkleton's commentary was more detailed. "This is your worst nightmare?" Pinkleton, who was previously nominated for a Tony for directing "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812," asked. "Look at how fun it is! Queer art is just so much more fun.

"We only get one life," Pinkleton added. "Have fun!"

Pinkleon is slated to direct another queer play next year – "a revival of 'The Rocky Horror Show' for Roundabout Theatre Company, set to play Studio 54," Playbill noted.

"Oh, Mary!" was nominated for several other Tonys as well: Best Costume Design in a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play, and Best Play.

Escola is scheduled to remain in the role of Mary Todd Lincoln through June 21, after which Tituss Burgess will don the character's skirts.

More information is available via this link.


by Kilian Melloy , EDGE Staff Reporter

Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.

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