Stetson Theatre Arts Opens Season with Royal Comedy Drama ‘The Lion in Winter’

Cory Lancaster October 4, 2019
James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” features the Plantagenet family portrait. In this family, the blood in the hearts is thicker than the wine in their goblets. Left to right: Anieszka Wojcik (Alais), Alan Ware (King Henry II), Steven Kalicharan (Geoffrey), Joseph Dallas (Richard the Lionheart), Liza Tananbaum (Eleanor of Aquitaine) and Drake Cunningham (John)

Stetson Theatre Arts begins its 114th season with James Goldman’s classic play “The Lion in Winter,” directed by Anthony Garcia. The comedy drama is a tale of royalty, sibling rivalry and adultery, and will run from Oct. 10-13 at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre, located at the Museum of Art – DeLand.

“The Lion in Winter,” which was adapted into the 1968 film, starring Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole, tells the story of the Plantagenet family, who are locked in a free-for-all of competing ambitions to inherit a kingdom. In this play, King Henry II of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, sons Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey and John and King Philip II of France and his sister Alais, render an articulate, witty and darkly comic view of dysfunctional, medieval royal families and is a modern-day classic you don’t want to miss.

“As ‘The Lion in Winter’ demonstrates, the remarkable thing isn’t that family battles continue year after year, but rather that we keep coming home to re-engage,” explained Garcia. “Despite its tragic nature, Goldman’s play brilliantly captures the dark comedy in this situation. While these characters are raising glasses with their right hands, they are secretly clutching daggers in their left hands.”

Come and experience the dramatic intrigue as these members of the royal family scheme their way to the top.

-Sandra Carr

James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” showcases when the love for power comes in direct conflict with the power of love.
Left to right, Anieszka Wojcik (Alais), Alan Ware (King Henry II) and Liza Tananbaum (Eleanor of Aquitaine) 

If You Go:
“The Lion in Winter”

Production alert: The play contains mature subject matter and language and may not be suitable for all ages.

Cast: Alan Ware (King Henry II), Liza Tananbaum (Eleanor of Aquitaine), Joseph Dallas (Richard the Lionheart), Steven Kalicharan (Geoffrey), Drake Cunningham (John), Anieszka Wojcik (Alais), Aaron Johnson (King Philip II) and Amy Sheffield (character Eleanor of Aquitaine’s understudy)

Where: Second Stage Theatre at the Museum of Art – DeLand, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand (adjacent to the DeLand campus)

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13

Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors and non-Stetson students. Stetson faculty, staff and students receive free admission with a valid ID

Parking: Free

Box office, reservations and more information: 386-822-8700

Tickets will be available at the door and reserved tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance. The box office will be open one hour prior to curtain.