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'Lion in Winter' staged in Shaw Theatre

Oct. 5, 2006

KALAMAZOO--University Theatre at Western Michigan University presents seven performances of "The Lion in Winter," through Sunday, Oct. 15.

Performances in Shaw Theatre begin at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 5-7 and 12-14, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.

"The Lion in Winter" was a 1966 Tony-Award winning Broadway play by James Goldman, who also adapted the play to a 1968 film directed by Anthony Harvey and a 2003 film by Andrei Konchalovsky. The play is set on Christmas Day 1183 in King Henry II of England's palace in France. Henry's family will gather for the holiday, including his wife, Eleanor, who Henry has let out of prison for the occasion, and their three sons, Richard, Geoffrey and John. The plot centers around Henry's successor to the throne. Henry makes it clear that he wants the youngest son, John, to be the next king, while Eleanor prefers the oldest, Richard. Although based on historical characters, the play is entirely fictional.

University Theatre's production of "The Lion in Winter" is directed by theatre faculty member Mark Liermann. The cast includes WMU seniors Ghafir Akbar, Katie Dickinson, Ali Grossi, Beau Hutchings, Phil Korth, Mike Todd and Ryan Welsh. The creative team includes students Christina Van Hoey; stage manager, Matt Gist, scenic designer; Drew Phillips, lighting designer; and Ben Stickels, sound designer. Faculty members Gwendolyn Nagle, costume designer; Patrick Niemi, technical designer; and Kate MacKenzie, costumer, round out the crew.

Tickets for University Theatre productions can be purchased by calling (269) 387-6222 or by visiting the Gilmore Theatre Complex Ticket Office weekdays between noon and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Senior citizens and WMU students, faculty and staff and senior citizens receive discounts on the regular ticket price of $17 each.

For more information on the University Theatre season, visit www.wmich.edu/theatre.

Media contact: Jason Nuzzo, (269) 387-3227, jason.a.nuzzo@wmich.edu

WMU News
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