Bowen Yang, who departed "Saturday Night Live" in December, is set to make his Broadway debut in the comedy "Oh, Mary!" on Sept. 15. He will portray Civil War-era first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. The announcement was made Tuesday.
Yang will perform alongside Phillip James Brannon, Barrett Foa, and Bianca Leigh. He shared a video on Instagram where the phrase "I don’t think so, honey," a nod to his podcast "Las Culturistas," appeared written in lipstick on a mirror, before changing to "I don’t Linc so, honey" as Yang reappeared in costume as Lincoln.
In a statement, Yang expressed his admiration for Tony winner Cole Escola, the writer of "Oh, Mary!" and the original performer of the role of Mary Todd Lincoln, calling it a "deranged and profound masterpiece." He quipped that he would be grateful for the role, calling it "the best Broadway debut a cis gay guy with limited singing ability could ask for."
Though this marks Yang's Broadway debut, he has become connected to New York's theater scene through a supporting role in the film adaptation of "Wicked." Earlier this year, Yang and his "Las Culturistas" co-host Matt Rogers joined the creative team of the musical "Titaníque" as co-producers.
James Scully, who played Yang's character's love interest in the 2022 film "Fire Island," was part of the original cast of "Oh, Mary!" in the role of Mary's Teacher.
Yang will follow a series of notable performers who have taken on the role of Mary Todd Lincoln, including Jane Krakowski, Maya Rudolph, and Jinkx Monsoon. The current performer in the role is Meg Stalter, known for her portrayal of Kayla on HBO's "Hacks."
Yang, a five-time Emmy nominee, announced his departure from "SNL" in December of last year after seven seasons. His final appearance on the show was on Dec. 20, in an episode hosted by Ariana Grande, with Cher as the musical guest.
Speaking to Variety in June, Yang mentioned that he had initially intended to leave "SNL" after Season 50, which concluded in May 2025. However, he extended his tenure through the middle of Season 51 at the urging of the show's creator, Lorne Michaels.
Yang explained his decision to leave by noting that he often played supporting roles. "I never played the dad or the straight-man teacher," he said. "I was always there as the seasoning, and I’m like, ‘That’s great. I’m so lucky. I can’t believe I have a steady job in comedy. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.’ And I just felt like it was the right time."
In an interview published Tuesday with New York Magazine, Yang stated his intention to bring a more "masculine" interpretation to the character of Mary Todd Lincoln than previous actors. "Mary having a complete delusion about her skills versus how other people perceive her feels very male to me in a way I relate with," he said.