When Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! ends its limited engagement at Broadway's Vivian Beaumont Theatre, who better to follow than William Shakespeare?

Nicholas Hytner, of Carousel renown, will direct the comedy Twelfth Night, with rehearsals starting in early May. Designing the show will be Bob Crowley (sets), Natasha Katz (lighting) and Catherine Zuber (costumes). Previews are set for June 18, for an opening July 13. Spokesperson Philip Rinaldi anticipates a run through the end of August.

As reported in Theatrical Index, Brian Murray -- one of NY's most ubiquitous stage actors -- will star as Sir Toby Belch. Murray's recent roles include Da, The Little Foxes (Lincoln Center), Misalliance and Travels With My Aunt.

Variety reported Mar. 6 that Hytner has landed Paul Rudd to star as Orsini, and is in talks with Helen Hunt to play Viola during her hiatus from "Mad About You."

Recent New York Shakespeare revivals include Macbeth, currently in previews at the Public Theatre, in a production starring Alec Baldwin and Angela Bassett; and a British production of A Midsummer Night's Dream on Broadway in the 1995-96 season. Twelfth Night will be a Lincoln Center Theatre production in association with the annual, three-week Lincoln Center Festival.