It’s hard to imagine anyone but Escola in the lead role of Oh, Mary! The play is a fictionalized version of the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, who feels oppressed and neglected in her life as the wife of President Abraham Lincoln and dreams of returning to the stage as a cabaret star.

Oh, Mary! without Cole Escola? As it turns out, yes. The Broadway hit comedy, which recently became the first production of the season to recoup its production cost, will have a new Mary Todd Lincoln beginning January 21 when Glow actor Betty Gilpin will take over the role for a limited 8-week engagement.

Cole Escola, the playwright and star of Broadway smash, Oh, Mary!, is stepping away from the show—and their critically acclaimed role of Mary Todd Lincoln—for an unspecified length of time. Betty Gilpin,