Alaska brings drag experience to Mary Todd Lincoln role on US tour
Alaska, the drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, is taking on the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the touring production of Cole Escola’s hit comedy Oh, Mary!. The casting marks a major step from nightlife and drag performance into a prominent theatre role, while bringing a queer performer’s experience to a character who longs to reclaim her life as a cabaret star.
Alaska, whose stage name is Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, rose to prominence on Drag Race in 2013 and has since released five electro-pop albums and co-written and performed in Drag: The Musical. She was cast after working with director Sam Pinkleton, who praised her skill and commitment. The US tour follows a London production that opened in 2025; a recorded special is due to air on HBO next year.
In short
- Alaska will play Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!
- The role is a major theatre milestone for the Drag Race alum.
- The comedy centres on Mary’s wish to return to cabaret.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Casting Alaska brings a performer with deep drag and musical-theatre experience to a role centred on a frustrated cabaret performer, potentially adding insight and comic specificity. It also gives a prominent touring production a chance to broaden who is seen in major theatre roles and to reach audiences familiar with her work.
The case against
A thoughtful concern is that a high-profile casting choice could be seen as prioritising celebrity recognition over a wider assessment of theatre performers suited to the role. Some may also question whether a performer’s own identity or experience should be treated as a qualification for portraying a historical figure, rather than focusing chiefly on acting and the production’s interpretation.
Explained simply
Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of Abraham Lincoln, the US president during the Civil War. Cole Escola’s comedy Oh, Mary! reimagines her as a woman who longs to become a cabaret star, turning a historical figure into a theatrical character.
Alaska, also known as Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, became widely known through the television competition RuPaul’s Drag Race and has since made music and theatre. The role connects her experience as a drag performer with a major stage production. Oh, Mary! has had productions in London and the United States.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘A dog would get treated better than a drag queen in Hollywood’: Alaska on prejudice and leading Oh, Mary!”.