OH, MARY!
Even though Escola’s hit dark comedy Oh, Mary! was the favourite for best new play, the award went to intense family portrait Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, which also won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
But Escola still won big for their unhinged performance in the one-act reimagining of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination through the eyes of his wife – a raging alcoholic who dreams of life as a cabaret star.
Escola bested a stacked field that included Clooney.
Oh, Mary! also snagged the prize for best direction, won by Sam Pinkleton.
“You have taught me to make what you love and not what you think people want to see,” Pinkleton said in his speech, speaking directly to a tearful Escola.
“We can bring joy to people at the end of a crappy day and that feels like a big deal to me,” Pinkleton added to ardent applause.
The night’s rollicking performances included a gripping rendition of Rose’s Turn from McDonald, and a captivating performance of As If We Never Said Goodbye from Scherzinger.
The gala also featured a much-touted reunion of the original cast of Hamilton, as that groundbreaking smash musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrates its 10th anniversary.
A heartfelt segment honoured those the theatre community lost over the past year, with Erivo and Sara Bareilles delivering the classic Tomorrow from Annie.
The song’s composer, Charles Strouse, died last month.
Some acceptance speeches made oblique references to ongoing political turmoil across the United States, as President Donald Trump’s immigration raids trigger protests. But Trump was not explicitly mentioned.
