Six-time Emmy Award winner Maya Rudolph will join the cast of the Broadway hit 'Oh, Mary!'. The actress will take on the role of Mary Todd Lincoln, replacing John Cameron Mitchell in a limited series of performances from April to June 2026.

SNL star's debut

Maya Rudolph will perform on Broadway for the first time, taking over the lead role in Cole Escola's dark comedy.

Performance dates

The actress will begin performances on April 28, 2026, at the Lyceum Theatre, and her run will last until June 20.

Success of 'Oh, Mary!'

The play about the alternative life of Abraham Lincoln's wife has become an artistic and commercial phenomenon.

Maya Rudolph will make her Broadway debut as Mary Todd Lincoln in the popular comedy Oh, Mary!. The six-time Emmy Award winner will begin performances on April 28, 2026, at the Lyceum Theatre, replacing John Cameron Mitchell in the cast. Lyceum Theatre will host the actress for a limited series of shows, scheduled to run until June 20, 2026. The news of the Saturday Night Live star's casting was announced on Thursday by leading American industry and general media outlets. John Cameron Mitchell, who currently portrays the historical first lady, will leave the production on April 26, two days before Rudolph officially joins the cast.

The play by Cole Escola, directed by Sam Pinkleton, presents Mary Todd Lincoln in a way far removed from traditional history textbooks. The plot focuses on the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination, depicting his wife as an emotionally torn character who dreams of abandoning political life for a career as a cabaret star. The production has earned critical acclaim for its surreal approach to historical facts and its specific humor. The play Oh, Mary! debuted off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in early 2024, becoming an instant hit and moving to the Lyceum Theatre in July of the same year. Cole Escola, who wrote the script and originally played the lead role, is a well-known figure on the New York comedy and cabaret scene. Maya Rudolph, although primarily associated with television and film, has musical experience as a vocalist for the band The Rentals and the cover group Princess, which aligns with the cabaret nature of the show.

For Maya Rudolph, known to a wide audience from the film Bridesmaids and numerous parodies on Saturday Night Live, this will be her first performance on New York's Broadway. The actress, who has won six Emmy statuettes in her career, will join the acting team at a key moment for the production, which has enjoyed unabated popularity since its premiere. „I am absolutely thrilled to be joining this brilliant, madcap production and to finally make my Broadway debut in such an iconic, albeit unconventional, role” — Maya Rudolph via Variety

The schedule for cast changes has been precisely planned for spring 2026, ensuring continuity of shows at the historic building on 45th Street. Tickets for performances featuring Rudolph are expected to go on sale in the coming days, and theater market analysts predict a significant increase in interest due to the star status of the new lead actress. Schedule of changes in Oh, Mary!: April 26, 2026 — Mitchell's final performance; April 28, 2026 — Maya Rudolph's debut; June 20, 2026 — End of performances

Mentioned People

  • Maya Rudolph — American actress and comedian, former cast member of Saturday Night Live, known for roles in films '50 First Dates' and 'A Prairie Home Companion'.
  • Cole Escola — American comedian, actor, singer, and playwright, known for cabaret work and appearances in series 'Difficult People' and 'Search Party'.
  • John Cameron Mitchell — Actor and director, the current performer of the role of Mary Todd Lincoln, who will be replaced by Maya Rudolph.
  • Sam Pinkleton — Director of the play 'Oh, Mary!'.
  • Conrad Ricamora — Actor playing the role of Mary's husband in the play.