Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre: Jane Krakowski stars for six weeks this Christmas

Jane Krakowski is coming to the West End to reprise her Broadway turn as Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre. She plays a strictly limited six weeks, from 7 December 2026 to 16 January 2027, so anyone hoping to catch her over Christmas should book Oh, Mary! tickets now. The production has also announced new dates, and is now booking until 5 June 2027.

Who is stepping into the lead role this winter?

Krakowski, best known to television viewers as Jenna Maroney in 30 Rock, played Mary Todd Lincoln in the Broadway production of the play before bringing the role to London. Her six week stint takes her through the festive season and into the new year, making it one of the most eye-catching pieces of West End casting this Christmas.

She takes over from Lolly Adefope, who has led the London production this autumn and plays her final performance on 5 December 2026. Readers who want to see Adefope before she leaves can still catch her in the role until then, and you can look back at our first look at Lolly Adefope as Mary Todd Lincoln. Casting for the title role from 18 January 2027 onwards is yet to be announced.

Who else is in the cast?

Krakowski joins the current West End line-up of Lucy Frederick as Mary's Chaperone, J R Ballantyne as Mary's Husband's Assistant, Vinnie Heaven as Mary's Teacher and Syrus Lowe as Mary's Husband.

The creative team includes scenic designer dots, costume designer Holly Pierson, lighting designer Cha See, sound design and music by Daniel Kluger, sound designer Drew Levy, wig designer Leah J Loukas and arranger David Dabbon. Casting is by Stuart Burt, with US casting by Henry Russell Bergstein, and Georgie Rankcom is associate director.

What is the play about?

Written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton, the comedy imagines Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to the assassination of her husband, Abraham Lincoln. Far from the grieving widow of the history books, this Mary is a frustrated, scheming former cabaret star who dreams of returning to the stage, and the result is a wildly irreverent, fictionalised portrait of the former First Lady.

The play runs for around 80 minutes without an interval, which makes it an easy fit for a pre-Christmas night out or a January treat once the festivities are over.

How did the show reach London?

The play began life off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in January 2024 before transferring to Broadway in July 2024, where it is still running. Along the way it won Tony Awards for Escola as Best Leading Actor in a Play and for Pinkleton as Best Direction of a Play.

The London production opened at the Trafalgar Theatre on 3 December 2025 and went on to win Best Entertainment or Comedy Play at the 2026 Olivier Awards. Its run has been a revolving door of star names in the title role, and Krakowski's arrival continues that tradition with a performer who already knows the part inside out.

When should you book?

With only six weeks on offer, the Krakowski dates are the ones to move on quickly, especially Friday and Saturday evenings and the performances around Christmas and New Year. Seats for the wider run, now on sale until 5 June 2027, give more flexibility for anyone planning a spring visit instead.

The Trafalgar Theatre sits at the top of Whitehall, a short walk from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross station, so it pairs neatly with a festive trip into the West End.

You can find performance times, prices and seats on our Oh, Mary! show page, and read more about the theatre on our Trafalgar Theatre venue guide.

Header image: official artwork