Tina Packer has been forced by illness to leave the cast of Oldcastle Theatre’s production of The Lion in Winter, according to an announcement by the theatre.
[private] “I detest having to leave the play,” Packer said in a brief statement. “It is a play I dearly love and have wanted to play Queen Eleanor for years. I was so looking forward to working with Oldcastle Theatre. But, sadly, that has to be postponed. I look forward to another production in Bennington soon.”
Ms. Packer, the Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts is a world renowned actor, director, teacher and author. Her book Women of Will: Following the Feminine in Shakespeare’s Plays has been a publishing success in the U.S. and Britain. Last year she and Nigel Gore performed the stage version of Women of Will in Colorado, The Hague in the Netherlands, Mexico, Prague and New York City. Gore, a long-time Shakespeare & Company actor will play King Henry in the Oldcastle production of The Lion in Winter.
“We were, of course, looking forward with great anticipation to working with Tina. But her health is the first priority,” according to Oldcastle’s Producing Artistic Director, Eric Peterson. “The joy of working with her must be postponed, but we look forward to that day in the near future. The Lion in Winter will open September 25 on schedule. We urge everyone who loves theatre to see this magnificent play.”
The Lion in Winter, written by James Goldman has been a Broadway success and an Oscar winning film that featured Peter O’Toole, Katherine Hepburn and Anthony Hopkins. It will be the final production of Oldcastle’s 2015 season. “Our last two productions have broken records for us,” Peterson said. “Both Cabaret and Black Comedy were box office hits and we are looking to continue the trend with Lion.”
Christine Decker, an actress and director with Oldcastle since 1973 will assume the role of Eleanor. In addition to Nigel Gore, the cast will include Elizabeth Aspenlieder as Alais and Jason Asprey as Geoffrey, two Shakespeare & Company veterans, Andrew Krug as Richard the Lionhearted, Christopher Restino as John, and Ethan Botwick as King Philip of France.
For additional information about the production visit oldcastletheatre.org or call 802-447-1267.[private]