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Who Played Viola in Twelfth Night

Viola is a role in Twelfth Night, a play that opened Broadway in 2013.

Direct from a sold-out run in London's West End, the critically-beloved, Shakespeare's Globe productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III come to Broadway for a 16-week limited engagement. Two of The Bard's finest plays are performed in repertory by a remarkable cast featuring two-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance (Jerusalem, Boeing-Boeing), Golden Globe nominee Stephen Fry (Wilde, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) and Tony Award nominee Samuel Barnett (The History Boys). These classics are presented in the custom of how Shakespeare's plays were originally staged, with an extraordinary all-male company playing male and female roles; actors participating in the pre-show ritual of dressing and preparing their make-up on stage, in front of the audience; music played live on traditional instruments; and lighting created almost exclusively by 100 on-stage candles, adding to the intimate and authentic atmosphere. This is delightfully funny, timeless Shakespeare at its absolute finest, and it is not to be missed! Outrageous high comedy ensues as the pangs of unrequited love affect the unforgettable characters of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. While the lovelorn Duke Orsino plots to win the heart of the mourning Olivia (Mark Rylance), an alliance of servants and hangers-on scheme against the high handedness of Olivia's steward, the pompous Malvolio (Stephen Fry). When Orsino engages the cross-dressed Viola, who has disguised herself as a young man under the name Cesario, to plead with Olivia on his behalf, a bittersweet and hilarious chain of events follows.

21 actors have played Viola in Twelfth Night.

View full cast of Twelfth Night

Performer Production Opened
Mary Frances Scott-Siddons Broadway Twelfth Night 1869
Julia Marlowe Broadway Twelfth Night 1905
Viola Allen Broadway Twelfth Night 1905
Julia Marlowe Broadway Twelfth Night 1907
Broadway Twelfth Night 1910
Julia Marlowe Broadway Twelfth Night 1913
Julia Marlowe Broadway Twelfth Night 1919
Eva Le Gallienne Broadway Twelfth Night 1926
Jane Cowl Broadway Twelfth Night 1930
Virginia Allen Broadway Twelfth Night 1930
Helen Hayes (i) Broadway Twelfth Night 1940
Beatrice Straight Broadway Twelfth Night 1941
Frances Reid Broadway Twelfth Night 1949
Barbara Jefford Broadway Twelfth Night 1958
Blythe Danner Broadway Twelfth Night 1972
Helen Hunt Broadway Twelfth Night 1998
Robin Weigert Broadway Twelfth Night 1998
Matt Harrington Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Samuel Barnett Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Nikki M. James Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2016
Danaya Esperanza Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2017
Emily Young Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2017
Nikki M. James Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Gwyneth Keyworth West End Twelfth Night 2025
Lupita Nyong'o Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2025

Other Roles in Twelfth Night

Role Production Opened
Antonio Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Curio Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Fabian Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Feste Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Malvolio Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Maria Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Officer Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Olivia Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Olivia's Servant Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Orsino Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Priest Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Sea Captain Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Sebastian Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Sir Andrew Aguecheek Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Sir Toby Belch Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Valentine Broadway Twelfth Night 2013
Viola Broadway Twelfth Night 2013

“Viola” Also Appears In

Production Type Year
& Juliet West End 2021
Twelfth Night Off-Broadway 1999
Your Own Thing Off-Broadway 1968

Photos from Twelfth Night

View all 9 photos from Twelfth Night

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