Jonathan Groff will star as Rosalind in an all-male production of "As You Like It" at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre [1].
The casting marks a significant shift for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) as it utilizes a high-profile Broadway star to explore gender fluidity. By casting Groff in the female lead, the production challenges traditional casting norms and aligns with contemporary theatrical explorations of identity.
Directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Daniel Evans, the play is part of the 2026-27 season [2]. The production will run from Sept. 26, 2026 [1], through Nov. 7, 2026 [3]. This staging will take place at the RSC's flagship venue in Stratford-upon-Avon [3].
Groff, a Tony Award-winning performer, is making his debut with the company in this role. The choice to use an all-male cast is a deliberate artistic decision intended to highlight the versatility of the text. "We wanted to explore the fluidity of gender and celebrate love in all its forms," Evans said [4].
The production's approach to the lead character, Rosalind, adds a layer of complexity to the play's existing themes of disguise and performance. Because the character of Rosalind traditionally disguises herself as a man, the all-male casting creates a meta-theatrical layer regarding how gender is performed on stage.
Groff has expressed a sense of surprise regarding the casting. "It's still a little bit of shock," Groff said [5].
The RSC's 2026-27 season aims to blend classic works with modern perspectives on love and identity [2]. This production serves as a centerpiece for those goals, leveraging Groff's international profile to draw attention to the company's experimental direction.
“"We wanted to explore the fluidity of gender and celebrate love in all its forms,"”
The decision to cast Jonathan Groff in an all-male production of a Shakespearean comedy signals the Royal Shakespeare Company's intent to modernize its approach to classical texts. By focusing on gender fluidity, the RSC is moving away from strict historical interpretation and toward a more inclusive, conceptual framework that reflects current cultural conversations about identity and performance.
