Oh Mary! Cast and Director Discuss Tony Nominations and the Play's Unique Humor

Tony Nomination Reactions

• 🎭 Conrad Ricamora learned of his Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor after purposefully sleeping in, waking up to 60 missed messages.
• 💡 Sam Pinkleton, director of "Oh Mary!", was awake and glued to the news, feeling both nervous and excited as a "papa bear" for the show and its cast.

The Unique Premise of "Oh Mary!"

• 🏛️ The play is described as a hilarious, offbeat, semi-historical comedy reimagining Mary Todd Lincoln and the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
• 🎤 Conrad Ricamora humorously states the play's premise is that Abraham Lincoln was a gay Filipino president, but clarifies it's about Mary pursuing cabaret dreams while Abraham tries to control her, the country, and his own desires.

Creative Process and Research

• 🎭 The play operates on imagination and theater magic, with the creator, Cole Escola, being central to its over-the-top style.
• 🧠 Despite research materials, the production relies heavily on imagination rather than strict historical accuracy for Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln.

Performance Demands and Stakes

• ⚡ The 80-minute play with no intermission features intense performances, including jumping on tables and screaming.
• 🎭 Performers manage the exhaustion through training and by grounding their characters' intense experiences in deeply rooted truth, making the stakes feel very real despite the show's insane and hilarious nature.

Honoring the Nomination

• ✨ Both Conrad and Sam express that being nominated is a significant honor, especially being among other legends and nominees this year.
• 🎟️ Conrad has already picked out his outfit for the Tony Awards ceremony.