Broadway saw a big moment this year at the Tony Awards. Cole Escola made history by becoming the first nonbinary performer to win the Tony for Best Actor in a Play. It was for their wild, hilarious role in the comedy Oh, Mary! where they reimagined Mary Todd Lincoln in a way no one saw coming.
A Bold Twist on Mary Todd Lincoln
Escola didn’t just play the former First Lady. They turned her into a chaotic, boozy cabaret singer dreaming of stardom while married to a queer-coded Abraham Lincoln. Imagine a John Waters-inspired fever dream with Mary Todd ranting about life while her husband heads toward his tragic end. That’s the world Escola brought to life on stage, and audiences couldn’t get enough of it.
The show was anything but traditional. It pushed the line between absurdity and genius, and Escola’s performance was right at the heart of it. The boldness, the humor, the emotional messiness — all rolled into one unforgettable role. It wasn’t just a comedy; it was performance art soaked in glitter, whiskey, and raw feeling.
Award Season Was Already Buzzing
Before the Tony win, Escola was already sweeping through the awards circuit. They grabbed honors from the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle, signaling that something special was happening. It wasn’t just about laughs — it was about how they held the stage with raw nerve and theatrical command.
Even when Escola took a short break from performing, big names like Betty Gilpin and Tituss Burgess stepped into the role. That kind of casting shows how rich and layered the character is — and how much Escola set the bar with their original take.
Celebs Couldn’t Stay Away
The show attracted a long list of celebrity fans. Steven Spielberg, Sally Field, Mark Hamill, Melissa McCarthy, and Mia Farrow were just a few of the big names who showed up. From its Off-Broadway roots in the West Village to its Broadway stage run, Oh, Mary! turned into the place to be.
A Turning Point for Nonbinary Performers at the Tonys
Escola’s win adds to a growing list of nonbinary recognition in the theater world. A couple of years back, J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell both made headlines with wins in musical categories. But this is the first win for a nonbinary actor in a play category. That’s a major first.
While the Tonys still separate acting awards by gender, this moment shows change is possible. Other awards like the Drama Desk and Independent Spirit Awards already go with gender-neutral categories. The Tony stage might not be fully there yet, but Escola’s win proves it’s inching closer.
A Role That Redefined a Legacy
Mary Todd Lincoln may not have taken home an Oscar when Sally Field played her in Lincoln, but she found a wild new life on stage thanks to Escola. It’s a role no one expected, and a performance that will be talked about for years. And Cole Escola? They just made sure their name is right there in Broadway history.
