For "Oh, Mary!" Cole Escola wins the 2025 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play.
"Escola’s Tony win marks a new era for queer voices and camp theatre on Broadway."
In a stunning and well-deserved victory, Cole Escola has taken home the 2025 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for their performance in the critically acclaimed production Oh, Mary! In addition to marking a personal milestone in Escola's career, the victory is also a moment of celebration for Broadway's queer theater, independent voices, and unconventional comedic brilliance.
A performance that tried something new
Oh, Mary! stars Cole Escola as a fictionalized, hysterically irrational Mary Todd Lincoln. has been revolutionary beyond description. The play, which they also wrote, reimagines the First Lady in the final days of Abraham Lincoln’s life, but through a satirical, queer, and wildly theatrical lens. Oh, Mary!, rather than concentrating on historical accuracy leans into absurdity, high camp, and emotional chaos—something that Escola embodied with remarkable finesse.
They gave audiences a character who was equally unlikable and memorable in their performance, which alternated between comedy and sorrow. Escola brought unrivaled originality to the Broadway stage with wild physical comedy, precise timing, and unexpected tenderness. Not only was their version of Mary funny, but it was also profound in its refusal to follow conventional narratives and gave voice to a type of emotional madness that is frequently overlooked in conventional drama.
From a Little Girl to a Broadway Star
Cole Escola has been a staple of queer performance art and alternative comedy for a long time. Escola has long enjoyed a cult following thanks to their work on shows like Difficult People and their viral character videos. But their transition to Broadway has catapulted them into a new stratosphere of critical and mainstream recognition.
Oh, Mary! began as a modest off-Broadway production that quickly gained momentum thanks to ecstatic reviews, sold-out performances, and a word-of-mouth buzz that is uncommon in New York theater. Critics hailed it as one of the most original plays in years. Its transfer to Broadway was met with skepticism by some, but its wild success proved that there is a large and hungry audience for weird, unapologetic, and deeply personal theatre.
A Win for Queer Storytelling
The Tony award for Escola is more than just a recognition of her individual talent; it is also a victory for the kind of storytelling that Broadway has historically ignored. Oh, Mary! is loud, weird, messy, and completely unique. Escola's play is a bold departure from the norm in an era when Broadway is frequently criticized for playing it safe. It dares to be bizarre, deeply specific, and proudly outside the mainstream, and audiences have responded with enthusiasm.
The fact that Escola identifies as an openly queer and nonbinary artist gives this moment an additional significance. Their win sends a powerful message: Broadway is evolving, and it’s making room for voices that don't fit the traditional mold. It's an affirmation of the value of queer stories not just in underground clubs or indie theaters, but on the grandest stage of all.
Critical and Cultural Impact
The New York Times called Escola's performance "brilliantly deranged," Vulture called it "a masterclass in comedic precision and emotional chaos," and TheaterMania called it "the performance of the season." Audiences packed the theater night after night, laughing, crying, and often giving standing ovations before the final curtain even fell.
Beyond the stage, Oh, Mary! has sparked conversations about genre, gender, and the power of comedy to tell deeper truths. It has become a cultural moment—a rallying cry for authenticity, absurdity, and unfiltered expression.
Looking Forward
Cole Escola has established their place in theatrical history with this Tony award. But more importantly, they have opened doors for other unconventional creators who dare to tell strange and beautiful stories in their own voices. They have demonstrated that camp, satire, queerness, and raw emotional honesty can all be present in the same production on Broadway.
In their moving acceptance speech, Escola stated:
> "This play began as a bizarre concept in my bedroom. I never thought it would make it to Broadway, let alone win a Tony. However, I had to write it in order to tell this story in the weirdest and most authentic way I could. Thank you for seeing me, and thank you for laughing with me.”
Their win is a celebration of risk, resilience, and relentless creativity. In a world that often demands compromise, Cole Escola’s success reminds us what’s possible when artists stay true to themselves.
Cole Escola’s 2025 Tony win isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement. Additionally, Broadway may never again be the same.
About the Creator
The Force of Willpower
Life is a journey that is full of ups and downs, successes and failures, happy and sad times. People who overcome obstacles and become great always have one thing in common: motivation. We are driven forward by an intangible yet potent force—the fire within that refuses to give up, even when the world seems overwhelming. Even the most talented person can get lost without motivation, but an ordinary person can do extraordinary things with motivation. Ambition, determination, and the ability to realize dreams are all fueled by motivation. We are presented with choices every day. We can choose to be average and only do what is necessary, or we can choose to push ourselves to the limit and strive for excellence. The decision is rarely simple. Along the way, there will always be distractions, worries, doubts, and failures. These stumbling blocks, on the other hand, become stepping stones rather than roadblocks when you are motivated. 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It has to do with vision, perseverance, and meaning. Even when you want to stop, that still voice inside whispers, "Keep going." Even in the darkest hours, it is the fire that will not go out. Although motivation does not guarantee success, it does make it possible to succeed. It grows stronger the more you feed it with action, vision, discipline, and self-belief. Therefore, if you are reading this right now and are experiencing feelings of exhaustion, uncertainty, or loss, know that you are not alone. Every great achiever began in your position. Every climb of a mountain began with a single step. You don't have to understand everything. You only need to continue. Keep eating. Keep your focus. Maintain your drive. because the best chapters of your story are still to come. Your story is still being written.
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