Jonathan Groff will make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut as Rosalind in an all-male production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It [1, 2].

The casting marks a significant milestone for the Tony-Award-winning actor as he joins one of the world's most prestigious classical theater companies. By taking on the role of Rosalind, Groff participates in a gender-bending interpretation of the classic comedy at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, England [2, 3].

Performances for the production are scheduled to run from Sept. 26 to Nov. 7, 2024 [2, 3]. Groff's transition to the RSC follows a period of high visibility on the U.S. stage. He won a Tony Award in 2024 for his performance as Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along [1].

Groff expressed surprise regarding the casting opportunity. "It's still a little bit of shock," Groff said [2]. He also revealed that his initial reaction to the news was captured in an email sent to Evans, in which he wrote, "Holy fucking shit" [2].

To promote the upcoming production, the Royal Shakespeare Company released a video challenge featuring the actor. In the clip, Groff is tasked with distinguishing between quotes written by William Shakespeare and those by composer Stephen Sondheim [1]. The exercise highlights the intersection of classical theater and modern musical theater, two fields in which Groff has established his career.

This production continues the RSC's tradition of exploring thematic and gender-based reinterpretations of Shakespeare's works. By utilizing an all-male cast, the company aims to bring a new perspective to the dynamics of the play's romantic and social conflicts [2].

“"It's still a little bit of shock,"”

Groff's move to the RSC signals a strategic expansion of his artistic range, bridging the gap between Broadway musical theater and classical stage performance. The choice of an all-male cast for 'As You Like It' reflects a broader contemporary trend in theater to challenge traditional gender roles and casting norms in canonical works.