'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Alaska takes on Mary Todd Lincoln in 'Oh, Mary!' at Ahmanson Theatre

“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” victor Alaska Thunderf— volition measurement into the spotlight this autumn arsenic the newest prima to instrumentality connected the rubric relation of Mary successful Cole Escola’s Tony Award-winning drama “Oh, Mary!”

“You cognize however erstwhile successful the ’90s successful the Olympics, they would inquire the victor ‘What are you gonna bash present that you won the golden medal?’ and they’d accidental ‘I’m going to Disneyland.’” Alaska said successful a caller interview. “I virtually consciousness similar that.”

Even aft being cast, Alaska said it didn’t afloat descend successful until she began doing property for the production. Now, she’d observe with a flip if she could bash one.

“It’s truly happening, it’s conscionable the champion role, successful the champion play ever and I’m honored and I’m excited and I’m thrilled and I can’t wait,” she said.

The acheronian drama follows a miserable Mary Todd Lincoln successful the weeks starring to the assassination of her husband, who volition beryllium played by the Tony Award-winning histrion J. Harrison Ghee. The one-act play reimagines the forgotten beingness of Mrs. Lincoln with absurdist comedy.

Since its 2024 premiere, the play written by comedian Escola — who besides originated the rubric relation — has go a Broadway sensation, earning $1 cardinal successful a azygous week and breaking its ain container bureau grounds 13 times.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” prima Alaska volition play Mary Todd Lincoln successful “Oh, Mary!” astatine the Ahmanson Theatre this fall.

(Shaun Vadella)

The signifier accumulation received captious acclaim and earned aggregate Tony Awards including champion absorption of a play for Sam Pinkleton and champion histrion successful a play for Escola.

Alaska is joining a database of famed comedic actors who person played Mary Todd Lincoln, including Maya Rudolph, Meg Stalter, Tituss Burgess and Jane Krakowski. She isn’t letting the hype surrounding the amusement marque her nervous, and said she remains focused connected embracing the role.

“I’m truly excited to deterioration the ineffable bratty curls and the hallowed hoop skirt,” Alaska said.

The actor, who was besides a finalist successful “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” earned an Outer Critics Circle Award for her Off-Broadway play “Drag: The Musical,” which she co-wrote alongside Tomas Costanza and Ash Gordon.

Alaska is thrilled to play other Ghee, who won the 2023 Tony Award for champion starring histrion successful a philharmonic for their relation successful “Some Like It Hot.” Ghee said successful a connection that they are excited to “set the roadworthy connected occurrence with this electrifyingly hilarious play” alongside Alaska.

“I person seen Oh, Mary! 3 times and relished the quality of this amusement — however antithetic radical radiance truthful brightly successful these roles, and yet you spot the power of Cole each implicit the production,” Ghee said. “The accidental to get a ace astatine Mary’s Husband is beyond a imagination travel true.”

“Oh, Mary!” runs Nov. 10 done Dec. 6 astatine the Ahmanson Theatre. Additional casting volition beryllium announced successful the coming months.