Jayne Atkinson Joins Treat Williams in Berkshire Theatre's THE LION IN WINTER

Berkshire Theatre Group Company Member, Jayne Atkinson, who appeared as Edith Bolling Galt Wilson in last summer's world premiere of Edith, will join the cast of The Lion in Winter, in the role of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

?The full cast also features: Alais - Tara Franklin; Richard - Aaron Costa Ganis; John - Karl Gregory; Geoffrey - Tommy Schrider; Philip - Matthew Stucky; Henry - Treat Williams.

An epic and humorous tale of political strategy and family dynamics, The Lion In Winter, set during Christmas 1183, tells the story of King Henry II, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their sons, Richard, Geoffrey and John as they play a deadly game of real life chess; winner takes the throne. Who will come out on top as the ruler of England and the ruler of the family? The Lion in Winter proves just how absurd and lethal family rivalries can be.

Jayne Atkinson (Eleanor) Film: Revenge for Jolly, Syriana, 12 and Holding, M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, Free Willy, Free Willy 2, Blank Check. TV: House of Cards, Perception, Becoming Helen Keller, Recount, Criminal Minds, 24, A Year in the Life, Parenthood, Under Suspicion, The Practice, The X-Files, The Education of Max Bickford, Law & Order. Broadway: Blithe Spirit, Enchanted April (Tony & Drama Desk Award Nominations, Outer Critics Circle Award Winner), Our Town; The Rainmaker, Roundabout Theatre Company (Tony Nomination); Ivanov, Lincoln Center Theater revival; All My Sons. Off-Broadway: How I Learned to Drive, Why We Have a Body, The Art of Success, Way of the World; Henry VIII, Shakespeare in the Park; The Striker (Drama Desk Award Nomination), The Vagina Monologues. Regional Theatre: Berkshire Theatre Festival, Westport Country Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Long Wharf Theatre, New York Stage & Film and The Old Globe.

The Lion in Winter by James Goldman is directed by Robert Moss and features Jayne Atkinson and Treat Williams. Performances run at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage: Previews June 25-June 28; Opens June 29 8pm; Closes July 13. Tickets: Preview: $38; A: $58 B: $48 C: $38.

Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield or by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.

The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. Having united in November of 2010 under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, these two institutions are providing the Berkshires and beyond with the finest in live theatre, music, dance and the visual arts on five stages in Stockbridge, MA and Pittsfield, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (400 seats), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The intimate Unicorn Theatre (122 seats) is a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. The Colonial in Pittsfield (780 seats) re-opened in August of 2006, following a $21 million restoration, and boasts pristine acoustics, classic gilded age architecture and state-of-the-art technical systems. BTG also performs at the outdoor Neil Ellenoff stage, located on the grounds of BTF in Stockbridge, and at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. BTG serves over 100,000 patrons per year and reaches over 17,000 students through its educational and outreach programs. For more information on BTF call (413) 298-5536 and on The Colonial call (413) 448-8084. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or (413) 298-5576 or go online to www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.