Jonathan Groff Debuts at RSC
Broadway star and Tony nominee Jonathan Groff will make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut in an all-male production of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It.' The casting marks Groff's first major UK stage role and brings a contemporary, gender-bending twist to the beloved comedy. The RSC's all-male casting echoes historical theatrical traditions while offering fresh interpretations for modern audiences.
## Jonathan Groff to Make Royal Shakespeare Company Debut This production of "As You Like It" is a key part of the first season programmed by the RSC's new co-artistic directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, who took the helm in June 2023. Evans, an Olivier Award-winning actor and director, will also direct this all-male staging, signaling a fresh artistic direction for the renowned company. The season notably features a revival of the all-female "Julius Caesar" starring Harriet Walter, creating a deliberate exploration of gender in performance across the season. Jonathan Groff will be tackling the role of Rosalind, one of Shakespeare's most extensive female characters with 685 lines. This marks not only his debut with the Royal Shakespeare Company but also his first professional foray into Shakespeare. Groff, a Tony Award winner for the 2024 revival of "Merrily We Roll Along," is known for his roles in "Spring Awakening," "Hamilton," and the "Frozen" film franchise. Joining Groff on stage is Fisayo Akinade as Celia. Akinade has an extensive history with Shakespearean and other stage productions, including roles in "Romeo & Juliet," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "Antony and Cleopatra" at the National Theatre. In 2014, he was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for his performance in a touring production of "As You Like It." The concept of an all-male Shakespearean cast harks back to Elizabethan theatrical tradition, where women were not permitted to perform on the public stage. In modern times, this casting choice has been used to explore themes of gender and identity. Notable recent examples include productions by Shakespeare's Globe and Cheek by Jowl's acclaimed 1990s all-male "As You Like It." The production is set to run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from September 26 to November 7, 2026. Director Daniel Evans has expressed his admiration for Groff's ability to connect with an audience, stating that his "generosity, his emotional availability and his total commitment are exactly the qualities I wanted for our Rosalind."
