The Lion in Winter at Long Beach Playhouse

The Lion in Winter, written by James Goldman, is set on Christmas Day 1183 in the palace of England's King Henry II in Chinon, France, where Henry, his imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, their three sons Richard, Geoffrey, and John, and his mistress Alais gather to determine the succession to the throne. The play blends political scheming, family rivalry, and dark comedy as Henry and Eleanor each champion their preferred heir. The cast includes Noah Wagner as Henry II, Amanda Karr as Eleanor, and returning actors Lauren Velasco, Giovanni Navarro, and Trevor Hart, alongside debuts from Henrik Nielsen and CJ Switzer. The production is directed by James Rice, with costumes by Christina Bayer evoking 12th-century European royalty.