Ever since Michael Urie‘s stint in “Oh, Mary!” on Broadway last year, he’s been wanting to return.
The actor, known for his TV roles in “Ugly Betty” and “Shrinking” in addition to a plethora of theater work, starred as Mary’s Teacher alongside Jinkx Monsoon as the title character in Cole Escola’s Tony-winning play — about a reimagined version of Mary Todd Lincoln who is prone to humorous outbursts and just really, really wants to be a cabaret star. Its ridiculous premise, hilarious physical comedy and shocking twist have made it a huge hit, not only in New York but also on London’s West End, where it transferred last year with Mason Alexander Park in the lead role.
“I was like, ‘Please tell them that I want to come back.’ And then my manager at one point was like, ‘It might be London,'” Urie says. That’s where I’m meeting him now, on a balmy day in July, at a coffee shop around the corner from the “Oh, Mary!” rehearsal space. He’s arrived less than a week ago and has just come from rehearsal, but shows no signs of exhaustion or jet-lag — the only potential tell is the pot of tea he orders, but he could just be fitting in with the locals.
Though Urie has worked in London before, he’s never starred on the West End. That, plus the fact that he would be playing opposite Escola themselves as Mary and featuring in a filmed version of the play, made saying yes to the opportunity a no-brainer. There was just one problem: Urie had a prior commitment.
