Lion in Winter, The, 1999 Production Files

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Identifier: LION1999
Inclusive Dates: 1999
Extent:
Staged by Roundabout Theatre Company at the Criterion Center Stage Right, with first preview on February 17, 1999, opening night on March 11, 1999 and closing night on May 30, 1999. The production ran with one intermission and ticket prices topped at $60. Stockard Channing was nominated for a Tony for best actress in a play. 

Linda Winer, writing for Newsday, said of the play "The Lion in Winter has historical characters who wear period costumes and fight over the succession of a Plantagenet crown. In the superficial recesses of its devious heart, however, this is a snippy, snappy, enjoyably trashy, thoroughly modern little comedy-of-bad-manners - part bickering dysfunctional family soaper, part sophisticated spoof of family-values platitudes - all wrapped up in a fancy package of pithy epigrams and robust verbosity (Newsday, March 12, 1999).

Directed by Michael Mayer, with set design by David Gallo, costume design by Michael Krass, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Mark Bennett, and hair and wig design by Paul Huntley.

Laurence Fishburne played the role of Henry II, Emily Bergl played the role of Alais, Keith Nobbs played the role of John, Neal Huff played the role of Geoffrey, Chuma Hunter-Gault played the role of Richard Lionheart, Stockard Channing played the role of Eleanor, Roger Howarth played the role of Philip, Jeff Croteau, Dan Maceyak and Benjamin Nurick played the role of servants. Jonathan Peck and Patricia Hodges were standbys and Reuben Jackson, Lauren Stamile and Brian Ibsen were understudies.  

Music provided by Meredith Monk, Arvo Part and Mark Bennett.
 
Written by playwright James Goldman in 1966, The Lion in Winter is a black comedy centered on the power struggle of Henry II and his estranged wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

The play premiered on Broadway in 1966 at the Ambassador Theatre, starring Robert Preston and Rosemary Harris (winning a Tony award for her portrayal of Eleanor). In 1968 the play was adapted into a film, starring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn 

 
The production files consist of 2 Hollinger Boxes containing production documentation, casting sessions, script, press clippings, playbills (including a Hands On program for sign interpreted performances), and administrative files. Collection includes only select documents detailing artistic vision for the play (set, costume, lighting, and sound design) 

Photograph folder contains 6 color slides, black and white 8 x 10 prints, black and white contact sheets for production stills, and black and white opening night photograph contact sheets.

Digital file contains scanned photographs, scanned press clippings, scanned playbill, video b-roll, show art used by the marketing department to promote the production and digital scans of Michael Krass' costume files.

Digital education file contains copies of interviews between Education Director Margie Salvante and Bobby Goldman, mock ups of education guide, photographs pulled from disk of the Designing the Lion (featuring Michael Krass, Michael Mayer and Kenneth Posner) discussion and a pre-workshop with teachers.

Oversize set plans/elevations (8 pages) housed in flat drawers.

Marketing mock up folder contains various versions of artwork and advertising drafts.

 
Access Restrictions: Open and available for research by appointment only.
Preferred Citation: The Lion in Winter 1999, Roundabout Theatre Company Archives
Related Staged Production

Lion in Winter, The


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