Casting Director Henry Russell Bergstein on Rotating Mary Todd Lincolns in Broadway Hit 'Oh, Mary!'

In a recent NPR interview, Henry Russell Bergstein, casting director of the hit Broadway play 'Oh, Mary!', discussed the show's unique approach to casting: continuously replacing the lead role of Mary Todd Lincoln with different actors. The play, a comedic reimagining of Lincoln's wife as a cabaret-aspiring alcoholic, has been running at New York's Lyceum Theatre. Cole Escola, the show's creator, originated the role and won a Tony Award. Subsequent Marys have included Jane Krakowski and Maya Rudolph. The next actor to take on the role is Bowen Yang, known for 'Saturday Night Live', marking his Broadway debut. Bergstein explained that casting involves finding performers with a 'unique, quirky take on life' and the ability to balance comedy and drama. He acknowledged the commercial necessity of casting names that draw audiences but emphasized that they avoid casting 'a name for a name's sake'. The show's producers maintain a secret list of potential Marys, kept in separate drawers to prevent leaks. Bergstein expressed excitement about the freshness each new actor brings, noting that while the lines remain the same, the performance changes dramatically. He also shared his personal experience of watching new Marys, often mouthing lines from the back of the theater and feeling proud when the casting clicks. The interview highlights the show's innovative casting strategy as a key factor in its sustained success.