Novato Theater Company Presents THE LION IN THE WINTER, 8/30

Novato Theater Company opens its new season in its brand-new venue with a smashing historical drama, James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, a play full of plots, counterplots and unforgettable characters. Lion is directed by award-winning director Kris Neely and features Craig Christiansen as King Henry II of England and Maxine Sattizahn as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Assistant Director is Michael Walraven. NTC Executive Producer is Janelle Ponte.

The Lion in Winter opens on Friday, August 30 and runs through September 22 at the new Novato Playhouse just off Highway 101 at 5420 Nave Drive. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $12-$25 at (415) 883-4498. www.novatotheatercompany.org, Plenty of free parking.

The Lion in Winter is an engrossing historical drama depicting the personal and political conflicts of Henry II of England, his wifeEleanor of Aquitaine, their children and their guests during Christmas, 1183. On display is one of history's most powerful - and dysfunctional - families.

The deliciously convoluted story concerns the gamesmanship between Henry, Eleanor, whom Henry has imprisoned for ten years, their three surviving sons Richard, Geoffrey, and John, and their Christmas Court guest, the King of France, Philip II, who was the son of Eleanor's ex-husband, Louis VII of France (by his third wife, Adelaide). Also involved is Philip's half-sister Alais, who has been at court since she was betrothed to Richard at age eight, but has since become Henry's mistress.

It is palace intrigue and politics at the highest level.

The Lion in Winter was adapted by Goldman into an Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, starring Peter O'Toole andKatharine Hepburn.

Cast of the NTC Production of The Lion in Winter

Henry II, King of England Craig Christiansen

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of England Maxine Sattizahn

Alais Capet, Henry's Mistress Brandice Thompson

Richard Lionheart, oldest son Jeff Taylor

Geoffrey, middle son Kurt Gunderson

John, youngest son Yver Northrum

Matilda, daughter of Henry & Eleanor Hannah Jester

Philip II, King of France TBD

Having such a durable, intricate story to work with calls for actors who don't just get onstage and move around, mouthing lines when it's their turn to speak. Rather, to truly deliver a quality night of theater, this play calls for actors who can dissect each line and determine the motivation behind every word, every gesture, and every nuance. As an ensemble, the cast, and my talented Assistant Director Michael Walraven and I, did just that.

Over a two week period we sat together and determined a motivation and objective for every single line in the script. Sometimes taking the line apart a word at a time to determine the core of what the playwright had in mind. This is particularly challenging in The Lion in Winter because, although it is set in 1183, Mr. Goldman chose to use many contemporary phrases and words. The process was, by turns, fascinating, fun, tough, a lively debate, funny, and a graduate class in ensemble cooperation and acting.

And speaking of humor, look at the cover of the script for The Lion in Winter and you'll see these words "A Comedy in Two Acts". The cast and I took those words, if you will, seriously. We knew that to make this show truly sizzle we needed to understand and convey the humor Mr. Goldman wove into his play. We worked intently to hopefully reveal all the comedy that lives in this amazing script. --- Kris Neely

Kris Neely (Director) won the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Best Director (100-300 seats) award this year for his direction of Lend Me a Tenor for Ross Valley Players. In the last year, Mr. Neely has directed Rose Levy Learns (runner-up for Best Play) for the Marin Fringe Festival, Shellie Award-nominated A Case of Libel for Pittsburg Community Theater, and Lend Me a Tenor for Ross Valley Players which garnered eight SFBATCC award nominations. An author whose latest book has just been released, Kris has been in theater since 1988 and studied comedy improvisation at The Second City in Chicago, directing at U.C. Berkeley, and acting at A.C.T. in San Francisco.

Upcoming Shows in the NTC 2013-2014 Season

Oct. 18 - Nov. 10, 2013 - Gypsy by Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim

Nov. 29 - Dec. 15 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Feb. 14 - March 9, 2014 - The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

April 4 - 27 - Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt

Produced in association with Theatre at Large.

May 23 - June 15 - As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

The Lion in Winter. James Goldman's dramatic retelling of palace intrigue and conflicts among King Henry II of England, his family, and the feisty Eleanor of Aquitaine during Christmas, 1183. Directed by award-winner Kris Neely. With Craig Christiansen and Maxine Sattizahn. Produced by Novato Theater Company at the new Novato Playhouse, 5420 Nave Drive, Novato. August 30 throughSeptember 22. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $12-$25 at (415) 883-4498. www.novatotheatercompany.org, Plenty of free parking.