Bowen Yang Wants Cher to Come See Oh, Mary!

Vogue has been a fan of Oh, Mary! since before the play transferred to Broadway. Now, ten Marys later, Bowen Yang has stepped into the lead role of Mary Todd Lincoln (X), making his Broadway debut just under a month ago. Marley Marius, who made her podcast debut in 2024 while interviewing Oh, Mary! creator and performer Cole Escola, joined Chloe again, this time to talk to Yang about starring in this wildly beloved production. 

Yang is a seasoned performer from years as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, but now is learning a new kind of endurance in the eight a week performances on Broadway. “I would just nod my head politely any time someone would say, like, "Broadway performers are athletes." And I never doubted it, but now I understand that it is absolutely true,” he told them. His secret stamina lies in a potent combination of energy drinks—Fuji Apple Celsius to be specific—and traditional Chinese medicine. 

When asked about his most Mary-like quality, Yang turned to the duality of the clown, “There’s the misunderstood outcast and the murderous deviant. It’s like Pennywise and Bozo,” he explained, “And I am certainly not murderous. But I have this trickster energy that coincides with this idea that we all have where we feel sort of alienated by the arbitrary rules of society.” 

So far, his favorite guest to come to the show has been Malala Yousafzai. And his hope is that Cher will one day make it to the theater. “I think Cher would really get a kick out of this. Like wow, that’s a horny legend. I feel comfortable saying that.” As for who should be cast next in the role of Mary? His votes are in for Keke Palmer and Lisa Rinna. Stay tuned!

The Run-Through with Vogue is your go-to podcast where fashion meets culture. Hosted by Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.; Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue; and Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, each episode features the latest fashion news and exclusive designer and celebrity interviews.

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