Sam Pinkleton has won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for Oh, Mary! at the 78th Annual Tony Awards. This marks Pinkleton's first Tony win after being previously nominated as a choreographer on Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
With a background as a choreographer and director of off-kilter work, Pinkleton helped shepherd Oh, Mary! from its scrappy beginnings Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre to Broadway. In the process, the play lost none of its weirdness; written and starring Cole Escola, Oh, Mary! has defied expectations by selling out and running for almost a year on Broadway鈥攄espite not having any stars in its cast or known IP in its subject.
鈥淐ole Escola. You have taught me to make what you love and not what you think people want to see," said Pinkleton while accepting the honor. "I want to thank the audiences who have made this play what it is. Thank you for coming. Thank you for feeling joy. This is a thing we can do. We can bring joy to people at the end of a crappy day, and that feels like a big deal to me. I love making theatre. I love being a part of this community.鈥�
READ: Director Sam Pinkleton On the Art of Recasting Oh, Mary
Oh, Mary! comedically portrays Mary Todd Lincoln as a frustrated alcoholic who wants to be a cabaret star, if only her husband Abe would get out of her way. It has extended many times since it opened on Broadway last July and will now run until September 28 at the Lyceum Theatre.
Sam Pinkleton is also the choreographer for Here We Are, Stephen Sondheim's final musical, which is currently running in London.
The other nominees in the Best Direction of a Play category were Knud Adams, Sam Mendes, Danya Taymor, and Kip Williams.
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Cole Escola in Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola and Bianca Leigh in Oh, Mary!
Conrad Ricamora and Cole Escola in Oh, Mary!
Conrad Ricamora and Tony Macht in Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola and Conrad Ricamora in Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola and James Scully in Oh, Mary!
Conrad Ricamora, Cole Escola, and Bianca Leigh in Oh, Mary!
Tony Macht, Cole Escola, Conrad Ricamora, and Bianca Leigh in Oh, Mary!
