There's nothing quite like your first Broadway show. From the excitement of picking out an outfit, to making dinner reservations beforehand, a first Broadway show is a milestone event in anyone's life. And hopefully, you will love the show so much that you'll come back for another Broadway show. We at Playbill want to make your first time at a Broadway show a success, so that is why we've put together this handy first-timer's guide for Cole Escola's hilarious play, Oh, Mary!—one of Broadway's most popular shows.
Below, we answer your frequently asked questions about Oh, Mary!, from is it historically accurate to how to get cheap tickets. Here is what you should know about the buzzy comedy.
What Is Oh, Mary! About?
Oh, Mary! is all about famous First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Well, kind of. It's actually a rather demented take on the woman, written (and originally performed) by Cole Escola with as little research before as possible. In this fast-paced comedy, Lincoln becomes a cabaret-obsessed alcoholic, less noted for the quiet grief we tend to associate with the actual woman and more noted for pushing her friends down the stairs for fun. This show is a laugh a minute, which is what helped make it a surprise mainstream hit after premiering as a much-buzzed-about Off-Broadway offering.
If the premise sounds a little stupid...yes, that's the point! Come ready to laugh.
What Is the Running Time of Oh, Mary!?
Oh, Mary! runs a brisk 80 minutes, and does not have an intermission. You should aim to get at the theatre at least 30 minutes early if you need to use the restroom, or if you want to buy a drink or merch. Another reason to get there early: This show features a killer pre-show playlist that plays in the theatre before the lights go down—so you can boogie to Liza Minnelli's rendition of "Losing My Mind" before you watch Mary Todd lose hers.
Oh, Mary! runs on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre, at 149 W 45th St, one of the few Broadway houses to be found east of Broadway.
Do I Need Read Up on Mary Todd Lincoln First?
No. As long as you know that she was married to Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and how her husband met his tragic end, you'll be fine. Escola has said publicly that the play is based on a "third-grade knowledge" of the first lady, which means most people should be good to go.
Is Cole Escola in Oh, Mary! Now?
No. Original cast members tend to depart after a year or so in the show, and Escola actually left after doing it for almost a year and a half, between the Off-Broadway premiere and two stints on Broadway. After taking a victory lap with a triumphant Tony win at the 2025 Tony Awards, Escola departed the production. But they've been leaving Mary's bratty curls in excellent hands ever since. Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is the current Mary. Past stars have included Tituss Burgess and Betty Gilpin.
Is Oh, Mary! Family Friendly?
Not really. Oh, Mary! is not afraid of a swear word, nor of a sex joke. If you wouldn't take your kid to a movie rated PG-13, you probably shouldn't be taking them to Oh, Mary!. Depending on your personal sensibilities, we'd expect this one to be appropriate for some teens aged 16 and over.
How Do I Get Cheap Tickets to Oh, Mary!?
Oh, Mary! is one of Broadway's hottest tickets, with the average theatregoer currently paying more than $150 per ticket—the top ticket price is $375, for premium weekend seating. The best way to get cheap tickets is to enter the digital lottery, which gives winners the chance to buy up to two $47 tickets to the show at each performance. Drawings happen one day before each performance, and can be entered at OhMaryPlay.com.
How Can I Get to the Lyceum Theatre by Subway?
There are many subway lines that will lead you to the Lyceum Theatre at 149 W 45th St.
- The A, C, or E to 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.
- The 1, 2, or 3 to 42nd Street and 7th Avenue.
- The 7 to Times Square-42nd Street.
- The S to Times Square-42nd Street.
- The N, R, Q, or W to Times Square. Or the N, W, or R to 49th Street.
- The B, D, F, or M to 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. Or the B, D, F, or M to 47-50th Street/Rockefeller Center.
Note these stops may change late nights or on the weekends, or if there's disruption on the subway. So check MTA.info or the official MTA app for the most up-to-date travel information. And remember: the Lyceum is one of the few Broadway theatres to be east of Broadway, so remember to talk towards Sixth Avenue, not Eighth Avenue.
Where Should I Sit at Oh, Mary!?
The Lyceum is one of Broadway's more intimate houses, at just 922 seats. The house contains an orchestra section, a mezzanine, and a balcony. Yes, it's three levels but that also means you'll never be terribly far from the stage no matter where you sit. And since Oh, Mary! is a non-musical play with a relatively small cast, you don't need to worry about sitting too close and missing big stage pictures or chorus lines of high-stepping dancers. The play's set has most of the action taking place downstage center, on the forward-most part of the stage, making sightlines for the entire audience pretty clear. The further back and the further to the side actors are on stage, the more seats at the extreme sides of theatres might not be able to see certain portions of the show.
Oh, Mary!'s ticket seller, Telecharge, does list a small group of seats as having obstructed stage views, namely the extreme sides of the first 11 rows of the orchestra (or ground level) seats and the extreme sides of the first four rows of the mezzanine. The balcony also counts its first row as obstructed view because of a safety rail, so shorter folks might want to consider another seat.
But frankly, because of how Oh, Mary! is staged, none of those obstructed views are too terrible. The show sells those seats at a discount, so if you're willing to put up with not having a full view for brief portions of the play, they're a great way to see a hit play for less. Most of the action of Oh, Mary! happens centerstage anyways, which you'll be able to fully see. All the obstructed view seats should be reasonably fine.
But if we had to pick the cheapest seats with the best sight lines, we'd recommend getting seats on the right side of the house due to some early scenes with Mary lingering on the extreme left side of the stage.
What Should I Wear to Oh, Mary!?
You don't need to worry much about this one. Oh, Mary! is meant to be a fun time, and will be happy to welcome you in almost anything you're comfortable laughing in. Remember, it can feel tight in a Broadway house so don't wear anything that will spill over to the seat next to you or will block the view of the folks sitting behind you. The Lyceum does have a coat check you can use if you have a larger purse or suitcase. But remember that picking those items back up will delay your exit after the show!
Is the Lyceum Theatre Accessible?
Yes. Oh, Mary! has specially designated seats for wheelchair users, and its entire orchestra section is accessible without steps. They are marked accordingly on ticketing websites, or you can call 212-239-6210 for ADA seating inquiries. If you do not see those seats available to purchase on the date you selected, that's because those seats are sold out. It should also be noted that the Lyceum does not have elevators or escalators for its upper floors.
The show offers infrared assistive listening devices, audio description services, and captioning for theatregoers who are blind, deaf, partially sighted, and/or have hearing loss, and all are available for free. See an usher or front-of-house worker if you need any accessibility services.
The Lyceum also has a wheelchair-accessible bathroom available.
Full accessibility details are available at Shubert.nyc.
Where Is the Oh, Mary! Stage Door?
The Lyceum stage door is actually one block north on 46th Street—look for the sign on the door about halfway down the block. But the cast has recently moved post-show activities to the front of the Lyceum on 45th, just west of the main exit. If you are going to stage door, be sure to follow stage door best practices: A signature from a cast member is a bonus, not a guarantee. And be kind to your fellow fans stage dooring (no pushing).
How Do I Purchase Tickets to Oh, Mary?
Oh, Mary! tickets can be purchased at the box office of the Lyceum, which is open Monday–Saturday 10 AM–8 PM. Purchasing at the box office is a great way to avoid ticket surcharge fees.
Oh, Mary!'s official online ticket seller is Telecharge. Any other sellers who offer tickets to Oh, Mary! may come with additional fees or different pick-up info than the ones sold by Telecharge. If you're ready to see Oh, Mary!, click here.
Michael Urie in Oh, Mary!
Michael Urie in Oh, Mary!
Michael Urie and Jinkx Monsoon in Oh, Mary!
Kumail Nanjiani in Oh, Mary!
Jinkx Monsoon in Oh, Mary!
Jinkx Monsoon and Kumail Nanjiani in Oh, Mary!
Jinkx Monsoon and Kumail Nanjiani in Oh, Mary!
Jinkx Monsoon and Kumail Nanjiani in Oh, Mary!
Jenn Harris in Oh, Mary!
