Tituss Burgess to drink paint thinner in Oh, Mary! for six more weeks

The bonkers and completely ahistorical show, which tells the story of Mary Todd and her president husband “through the lens of an idiot,”  its press notes, danced its way to five Tony nominations last week. The list includes nods for Best Play, Leading Actor In A Play (Escola), Featured Actor In A Play (Conrad Ricamora), Best Direction Of A Play (Sam Pinkleton), and Best Costume Design Of A Play. “I guess if I’m allowed to be sincere, today would be the day,” Escola told The Hollywood Reporter upon learning of their nomination, adding that they were feeling “somewhere between overwhelmingly emotional and nothing. My head’s sort of spinning, and I’ve got two shows tonight, so that’s what I’m mostly trying to think about, not letting it in too much so I can do my job.”

Burgess began his original three-week run on March 18. While it’s natural to compare his performance with Escola’s, Burgess “truly makes the character his own,” especially as the “plot progresses and the character’s theatrical ambitions push to the forefront,” Drew Gillis wrote for The A.V. Club. Burgess’ Mary “is more volatile than Escola’s, and somehow less calculating and cunning,” he also noted. 

Tickets for Burgess’ encore are currently on sale through September 28.