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Michael Urie on Returning to ‘Oh, Mary!,’ His Second ‘Shrinking’ Emmy Nod and 20 Years of ‘Ugly Betty’: ‘That Show Was So Ahead of Its Time’
Michael Urie is returning to "Oh, Mary!", Cole Escola's Tony-winning Broadway hit, this time in a limited stint on London's West End alongside Escola himself, having previously played Mary's Teacher opposite Jinkx Monsoon in New York. The move required careful scheduling around his commitment to Apple TV's "Shrinking", where his role as Brian has just earned him a second Emmy nomination, illustrating the juggling act of a performer balancing two acclaimed, high-profile jobs at once.
Urie's "Shrinking" producers agreed to release him for three weeks — one for rehearsal and two for performances running from Monday through 1 August — a rare accommodation given the show is in production on its fourth season. He described the arrangement as landing "the two greatest jobs" of his career, noting he had only three days' rehearsal when he first joined "Oh, Mary!" on Broadway. The interview, conducted near the play's West End rehearsal space, also touched on the 20th anniversary of "Ugly Betty", which Urie called "so ahead of its time".
In short
- Michael Urie rejoins "Oh, Mary!", now on London's West End with Cole Escola.
- He secured three weeks off "Shrinking" amid a second Emmy nomination.
- Interview also marks 20 years since "Ugly Betty" premiered.
Explained simply
"Oh, Mary!" is a Tony Award-winning comedy play by writer and performer Cole Escola that achieved popularity on Broadway. Michael Urie, an American actor, previously appeared in this production and is returning for a limited engagement in London's West End.
Urie built much of his profile playing a central role in "Ugly Betty", a television comedy-drama series from the early 2000s that achieved critical acclaim. He has since continued working in television and theatre, maintaining a presence across both mediums.
The actor is currently working on "Shrinking", an Apple TV series that has received significant recognition, including an Emmy nomination for Urie in his role. Balancing obligations to this television production alongside his return to stage work in London illustrates the demanding schedules actors navigate when working on multiple high-profile projects.