While Cole Escola is usually ready with a quippy response, on Tony nominations day, they can’t help but be genuine.

“I guess if I’m allowed to be sincere, today would be the day,” Escola said.

Escola was nominated for a Tony Award for their role as Mary Todd Lincoln in ‘Oh, Mary!’ The play, which Escola wrote, also received a nomination for best play. In total, the production received five Tony nods, including one for Escola’s cast member Conrad Ricamora, who plays Mary’s husband, and for director Sam Pinkleton.

Escola landed on the idea for the play in 2009, with the starting point of “What if Abe’s assassination wasn’t such a bad thing for Mary Todd Lincoln?” What resulted was a raucous reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln as a wannabe cabaret singer with ringlet curls and a penchant for drinking. The play originated Off-Broadway at...