The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Lion in Winter by James Goldman, directed by Edward Stern. This classic portrayal of royal scheming and family feuding runs January 6-31 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. Curtain times are Tuesdays at 7 pm; Wednesdays-Fridays at 8 pm; selected Wednesday matinees at 1:30 pm; Saturday matinees at 4 pm; selected Saturday nights at 8 pm; Sunday matinees at 2 pm; and selected Sunday evenings at 7 pm.
During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama.
Originally staged in 1966, The Lion in Winter spawned an Oscar-winning 1968 film adaptation starring Peter O'Toole and
Katharine Hepburn. The play also serves as a narrative inspiration to the hit television series Empire, which features a dynastic family torn by in-fighting.
The Rep has assembled a stacked cast to bring this royal clan to life. The aptly named Jeffrey King (A Streetcar Named Desire, 1986) plays King Henry II, and Rep veteran
Carol Schultz (The Winslow Boy, 2015) plays his wife/nemesis Eleanor. Their three sons are the aggressive military hero Richard (
Grayson DeJesus), manipulative middle child Geoffrey (
Wilson Bridges) and spoiled teenager John (Kurt Hellerich of 2012's The Comedy of Errors). Adding to the intrigue are Angela Janas as Henry's mistress, Alais, and Ryan Zachary Ward as the French monarch Philip Capet.
Led by Stern, the creative staff includes scenic designer Joe Tilford, costume designer Mathew J. LeFebvre, lighting designer
Thomas C. Hase, sound designer Rusty Wandall and stage manager Tony Dearing.
Tickets start at $17.50 (previews) and $21 (regular performances). To purchase, visit The Rep Box Office, located inside the Loretto-Hilton Center, charge by phone by calling
(314) 968-4925 or visit The Rep's Online Box Office at
http://www.repstl.org.
The Loretto-Hilton Center is located at 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University).
The Rep is partnering with the Saint Louis Art Museum to enhance the patron experience of The Lion in Winter. Participants can take a free one-hour tour through SLAM's collection, featuring depictions of social class distinctions and tales of intrigue. No reservations are required and more information can be found at
http://www.slam.org.
For additional information about The Rep's production of Peter and the Starcatcher, including a guide introducing the characters, plot and background on the play, photos related to the production and more, visit The Rep's comprehensive public website at
http://www.repstl.org.
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