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Who Played Viola in Twelfth Night

Viola is a role in Twelfth Night, a play that opened Off-Broadway in 2018.

In celebration of five extraordinary years of Public Works, a Public Theater expanding initiative inviting diverse communities across New York to create ambitious works of participatory theater, last season's "rollicking & delicious" (New York Magazine) TWELFTH NIGHT returns to Central Park to build upon its original Labor Day production in an all-new staging for a full five-week run. Professional artists and two rotating ensembles of community members from all five boroughs will perform together on the Delacorte stage in this enchanting comedy about Viola, a young heroine who washes up on the shores of Illyria, disguises herself as a man, is sent to court a countess, and falls in love with a Duke. Featuring songs composed by critically acclaimed songwriter Shaina Taub, called "a continual delight" by The New York Times, this very special TWELFTH NIGHT is an extravaganza of creativity and community. Oskar Eustis, The Public’s Artistic Director, and Kwame Kwei-Armah, incoming Artistic Director of London’s Young Vic, helm this musical fever dream about love in all its many disguises.

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 Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Fabian Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Female Understudy Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Feste Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Illyrian Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Male Understudy Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Malvolio Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Maria Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Olivia Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Orsino Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Sebastian Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Sir Andrew Aguecheek Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Sir Toby Belch Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018
Viola Off-Broadway Twelfth Night 2018

“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 2 photos from Twelfth Night

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