Bowen Yang to Make Broadway Debut in Oh, Mary! After Leaving SNL

Bowen Yang will make his Broadway debut this fall in Oh, Mary!, the hit comedy by Cole Escola. The former Saturday Night Live cast member will begin a limited 12-week run as Mary Todd Lincoln on Sept. 15.

Speaking to Vulture, Yang said his version of the character will bring a different perspective. He joked that Mary’s misplaced confidence feels “very male” and is something he relates to.

The role marks Yang’s first major project since leaving SNL after nearly seven seasons. He said he misses the sketch show but is also in a period of transition, comparing some of those feelings to Mary’s longing for a past she once wanted to leave behind.

Yang revealed he was first offered the role last year but declined because the timing was not right. He said he wanted to approach his Broadway debut with the seriousness and preparation it deserved.

Oh, Mary! is a comedy that imagines the life of Mary Todd Lincoln in the days before President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Cole Escola originated the role, with Betty Gilpin, Jane Krakowski and Maya Rudolph among those who have also played the character.