Cole Escola, the fabulous talent behind Broadway’s latest hit Oh, Mary!, recently sat down with GQ to spill the tea on how they became the toast of Broadway, and let me tell you, it’s a story worth sharing over cocktails at the Parkside Lounge.
Escola’s rise to Broadway stardom with Oh, Mary! has been nothing short of a whirlwind.
For those who don’t know, Oh, Mary! is a darkly comedic reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln’s life, with Escola playing the titular role.
The play, which started off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, became an instant sensation and quickly moved to the Lyceum Theatre, where it’s been breaking box office records and thrilling audiences ever since.
In their chat with GQ, Escola didn’t hold back about the mix of terror and excitement that comes with such rapid success.
“It’s been overhyped,” they quipped, acknowledging the high expectations that now surround the production.
Despite their nerves, Escola is still very much that grounded, queer performer we’ve all come to love from their days performing in the “gay shadows”—those intimate, often underground venues like Joe’s Pub where Escola honed their craft among an audience of fellow queer misfits .
+Related: Kit Connor to Play Romeo with Rachel Zegler as Juliet
Escola’s journey is a true underdog story. They’ve been performing for years in New York’s queer scene, developing a unique voice that mixes biting humor with deep vulnerability.
As Escola told GQ, their aim has always been to create art that resonates with their community—the “queer weirdos” who have supported them all these years.
It’s clear that despite their newfound mainstream success, Escola remains fiercely loyal to their roots .
What’s next for Escola? While Oh, Mary! continues its triumphant Broadway run, Escola dreams of returning to writing, perhaps crafting more projects that challenge the status quo as they have with this one.
For now, though, they’re savoring every moment on Broadway, even as they try to keep their expectations—and their nerves—in check .
It’s thrilling to see someone from our own LGBTQ+ community not just make it but do so on their own terms, bending the rules and reshaping fame to fit their unique vision.
Cole Escola is a star for our times, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.
+Related: Joe Locke: Broadway Bound and Beyond
