Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is set to take over as Mary Todd Lincoln in Broadway’s Tony-winning Oh, Mary! for a limited summer run.
The stage is set for a fabulous shake-up on Broadway as RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty Jinkx Monsoon steps into the lead role of Oh, Mary!, the acclaimed historical spoof that’s been turning heads and earning awards.
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Monsoon, a two-time winner on both Drag Race and All Stars, will portray a raucous version of Mary Todd Lincoln in the Tony-winning play from Cole Escola, who also originated the role and wrote the show. Escola recently took home the Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play for their portrayal and will conclude their current limited run this weekend.
Monsoon’s engagement in Oh, Mary! will begin August 4 and run through September 27, following a stint by Tituss Burgess. Her casting marks a new chapter for the wildly irreverent comedy that reimagines the Lincoln administration through a farcical, queer lens. The show explores the complex dynamic between the seemingly closeted Abraham Lincoln and his flamboyant, often intoxicated wife, Mary Todd, as they approach their infamous night at the theater.
In announcing the news, Monsoon didn’t hold back her enthusiasm. “Cole is easily the funniest person alive and I’m just lucky to be alive at the same time,” she said, calling Oh, Mary! “one of the best things I’ve ever seen” and praising Escola as a “genius.”
The casting is another feather in Monsoon’s already impressive theatrical cap. She’s no stranger to the Great White Way, having dazzled in Chicago and most recently performing in Pirates! The Penzance Musical. Off-Broadway, she previously starred as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and continues to tour regularly, including her popular holiday show with fellow Drag Race favorite BenDeLaCreme.
Known for her sharp wit, camp sensibility, and unforgettable Snatch Game performances — including her take on Edie Beale — Monsoon has long bridged the world of drag and theater with standout success. Her takeover of Oh, Mary! is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events of the Broadway summer season.
