The Shakespeare Theatre Announces Cast For THE LION IN WINTER, Begins 10/20

The Tony Award-nominated The Lion in Winter by James Goldman takes the stage at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey for a four-week run beginning October 20 and continuing through November 14. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is located at 36 Madison Avenue (at Lancaster Road), in Madison.

This wickedly biting domestic comedy, featuring a dysfunctional family dynasty in the year 1183, was nominated for two Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1966 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film. Few families can boast a more ferocious power struggle than that of the Plantagenet family. The battlefield is a psychological one where the weapons of choice are sharp-edged words, acerbic humor, and emotional grenades packed with the bitter shrapnel of the past.

Making her Shakespeare Theatre debut is Lisa Harrow as Eleanor of Aquitaine, a role made famous by Katherine Hepburn in the 1968 film. Born in New Zealand, Harrow was a member of the BBC Radio's Repertory and England's Royal Shakespeare Company. For the Royal Shakespeare Company, Harrow played lead roles in Twelfth Night, Othello and The Merchant of Venice among others. In the States, Ms. Harrow has appeared at Northern Stage in Vermont, the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Yale Rep and Chautauqua Theatre Company. Off-Broadway, Harrow appeared in the Pulitzer Prize -winning Wit. A fixture on British television, she appeared in the title role of the BBC/Masterpiece Theatre series Nancy Astor. Her film credits include Last Days of Chez Nous, for which she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress, and Sunday, winner of Best Film at Sundance.

Sherman Howard returns to The Shakespeare Theatre stage to play Henry II, the King of England. Howard recently played Spooner in The Shakespeare Theatre's critically acclaimed No Man's Land. He has also appeared in the Shakespeare Theatre productions of A Christmas Carol, The Cherry Orchard and Life of Galileo, among others. His Broadway credits include All My Sons and Inherit the Wind. He recently appeared in the acclaimed off-Broadway production of Another Part of the Forest. He has also appeared at The Public Theatre and Roundabout Theatre and in the national tour of Sweet Bird of Youth with Lauren Bacall. His television credits include Seinfeld and Star Trek.

Daytime Emmy Award-winner Tom Pelphrey makes his Shakespeare Theatre debut in the role of Richard Lionheart, the eldest son of Eleanor and Henry II. Pelphrey has appeared off-Broadway in In God's Hat, My Italy Story and The Subject Was Roses. He won two Daytime Emmy awards for his role of Jonathan Randall in The Guiding Light. His film credits include The Girl Is in Trouble, produced by Spike Lee; and Birds of America, directed by Craig Lucas. He has also appeared on As the World Turns as Mick Dante, The Good Wife, Law & Order: SVU, CSI: Miami, The Ghost Whisperer, and Numb3rs. He is a graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

Devin Norik plays Geoffrey, the middle son, and is making his Shakespeare Theatre debut. Norik appeared in New York in Invitation Only, The Second Play Written About My Dead Living Father, and Old Vic New Voices. He has appeared at GeVa Theatre in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and A Christmas Carol. His film credits include Constellations and The Trouble With Cali directed by Paul Sorvino.

Also making his Shakespeare Theatre debut is Colby Chambers playing John, the youngest son. Chambers appeared off-Broadway in Bad Jazz at the Ohio Theatre, Father's Day at 59E59 and Dog Sees God at the Century Theatre. Regionally he has appeared in productions at Center Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company and the Berkshire Theatre Festival among others.

Returning for his fifth season is Sean Hudock in the role of young Phillip, the King of France. At The Shakespeare Theatre, he appeared in Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, and Life of Galileo as well as productions for Shakespeare LIVE! and the Next Stage Ensemble. He appeared in The Great Tennessee Monkey with Ed Asner, James Cromwell and Sharon Gless at LA Theatre Works, and in productions at the NYC International Fringe, Emigrant Theater Company, and Teatr Yunova Zritelya in St. Petersburg, Russia. He will appear in the upcoming feature film McKinley directed by Alan Brown.

Laura Campbell makes her debut at The Shakespeare Theatre in the role of Alais, a French princess. She appeared off-Broadway in Dust at the Westside Theater and recently appeared in Dinner at the Bay Street Theater.

The Director
Director Paul Mullins returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his nineteenth season. For the Theatre he has directed Noises Off, Private Lives, The Time of Your Life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Richard II, Illyria, King John, The Illusion, Tartuffe, Rhinoceros, Measure for Measure, All's Well That Ends Well and The Threepenny Opera. Other directing credits include Twelfth Night, Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure and Macbeth at The Old Globe; The Solid Gold Cadillac, The Seafarer, Fat Pig, This Is How It Goes and The Russian National Postal Service at The Studio Theatre, DC; and You Can't Take It With You at Chautauqua Theatre Company among many others. As an actor, Mullins has appeared in many Shakespeare Theatre productions including No Man's Land, Richard III, Othello, Carnival!, Three Sisters, The Forest, Blithe Spirit, The Winter's Tale, The Homecoming and Diary of a Scoundrel.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the world of The Lion in Winter are set designer Michael Schweikardt, lighting designer Michael Giannitti, costume designer Hugh Hanson, and sound designer Rich Dionne. Kathy Snyder serves as production stage manager.

Tickets
Full price single tickets for The Lion in Winter are now on sale and start at $31. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount. Student Rush tickets are available a half-hour before curtain for $10 with a valid student ID. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

Special Performances
Preview performances for The Lion in Winter are Wednesday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m; Thursday and Friday, October 21 and 22 at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 23 at 2 p.m. These Preview performances offer opportunities for reduced-priced tickets while enjoying the excitement of the very first performances in front of an audience. As always, the first Preview performance is Pay What You Can night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on October 20 and purchase a ticket for what you are able to pay for that evening's 7:30 preview performance (offer subject to availability).

 

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances for each show include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for The Lion in Winter will be Tuesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 30 and November 6 at 2:00 p.m.

 

For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., artists from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on the production. Know the Show will be held on October 28 at 7:00 p.m. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately.

 

The Saturday, November 6 at 2 p.m. performance will be audio described for those who are blind or have visual impairments. Audio description enables patrons with visual impairments to hear, through an FM transmitter, a live description of the action on the stage. A pre-performance sensory seminar is offered that allows patrons to feel props, costumes and set pieces to further enhance their live theatrical experience. The service is offered free of charge.

 

2010 Season

To celebrate the Holiday Season, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present the East Coast premiere of Dodie Smith's British romantic comedy I Capture the Castle. Most famous for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, I Capture the Castle was Ms. Smith's first novel which she then adapted for the stage. This 1930's coming-of-age classic is perfect for family audiences and is full of colorful Bohemian characters, wit, wisdom, and a fabulous crumbling castle. Directed by Cameron Watson, I Capture the Castle runs December 1 through January 2.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free.

 

The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.