Website Parker Players Theater Company
small. visionary. immersive.
Parker Players Theater Company presents
The Lion In Winter
by James Goldman
Directed by Jocelyn Adamski
YULE BRINGS NO GOODWILL TO THIS HALL
Christmas, 1183. King Henry II springs his treacherous wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, from prison for a holiday gathering with their sons—Richard, Geoffrey, and John. Add Henry’s young mistress, Alais, and the scheming Prince of France, and the yuletide cheer quickly turns cutthroat. Alliances shift, daggers sharpen, and every toast hides a threat.
Betrayal. Love. Deception. Manipulation.
Just another family Christmas.
Please fill out the google form if you are interested in auditioning.
If asked to audition, please prepare:
1. A one-to-two-minute contemporary monologue which highlights your skill with the serio-comic style. (The Lion in Winter is a serio-comedy fueled by sharp, witty dialogue, and a piece that helps to demonstrate your skill with this style would work best. No dialect necessary. Speak in your natural voice.)
Auditions will be held at: The Barrington Theater- located at 540 W Northwest Hwy Barrington, IL 60010. It’s 1.5 miles from the Barrington Metra Station.
Callbacks for all roles will be held on Tuesday, October 7th from 7-10PM.
You will meet the director, Jocelyn Adamski, and PPTC’s artistic director, Jennifer McHugh at your audition.
Material to Prepare:
If asked to audition, please prepare:
1. A one-to-two-minute contemporary monologue which highlights your skill with the serio-comic style.
Auditions will be held at: The Barrington Theater- located at 540 W Northwest Hwy Barrington, IL 60010. It's 1.5 miles from the Barrington Metra Station.
Callbacks for all roles will be held on Tuesday, October 7th from 7-10PM.
Time Commitment:
First Read Through:
Sunday, October 26th from 6-9PM
General Rehearsals:
In November and December, we will rehearse Sunday nights from 6-9PM and Tuesdays from 6:30-9:30PM for the weeks of November 2, 9, 16 and December 7th and 14th.
In January, we will move to 4 days a week between Sunday and Thursday nights, depending on cast availability. Sundays from 6-9 and weeknights 6:30PM-9:30PM.
Please note: We will NOT rehearse on Thanksgiving weekend, the week of Christmas or the week of New Year's.
Tech Week: February 1st-5th
Performances :February 6th- March 1st, 2026. (4 weekends) Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30PM, Sundays at 2PM
Character Type/Restrictions:
Character Breakdown: Please note that some characters will be choreographed with stage kissing or stage violence moments to enhance the storytelling. We will have a choreographer/coordinator for safety, but you must be comfortable with these elements to be considered for these roles. All roles require you to be comfortable handling or being around stage weapons. Combat experience a plus.
We welcome and encourage all artists of all races, ethnicities, abilities, faith/belief traditions, sexual orientations, gender expressions, gender identities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and nationalities to submit!
Actor 1:
Henry II, King of England (Male, 50’s-60’s) – Though aging, Henry is still very nearly as vital as he ever was. His manipulations of family and others are portrayed as spontaneous and emotional. Please note: This role requires stage kissing a younger woman. This character engages in stage combat with knives.
Actor 2:
Queen Eleanor (Female, 50’s-60’s) – Eleanor is married to Henry and a beautiful woman of hot temperament, and great authority and presence. She has been a queen for nearly 46 years and is thoroughly capable of holding her own in a man's world. She schemes against Henry and loves him intensely at the same time.
Actor 3:
Richard (Male, 30’s) – The eldest surviving son of Henry and Eleanor. Richard is graceful and impressive and has been a famous soldier since his middle teens. War is his profession and he is good at it. He is easily the strongest and toughest of the three sons/princes. Richard and Philip II have been romantically involved prior to the action of the play. Please note: This role requires stage kissing another man. This character engages in stage combat with knives.
Actor 4:
Geoffrey (Male, 20’s to 30’s) – He is a son of Henry and Eleanor, and a man of energy and action. He is charming and has the strongest intellect of the family; he is also a cold, amoral schemer. His view of himself is of one who yearned greatly for the love of his parents while receiving none. Please note: This character engages in stage combat with knives.
Actor 5:
John (Male, late teens to 20’s) – He is the youngest son of Henry and Eleanor. He is sulky and sullen. He is Henry's favourite, but also the weakest. He vacillates throughout the play, not out of cleverness, but out of fear and weakness. He is easily tricked and manipulated. Please note: This character engages in stage combat with knives.
Actor 6:
Alais Capet (Female, 20’s-30’s) – She is in love with Henry. Everyone underestimates her intellect and power. She is initially portrayed as innocent, but by the end of the play has begun to acquire a ruthless streak of her own. Please note: This role requires stage kissing a much older man.
Actor 7:
Philip II, King of France (Male, 20’s-30’s) – He has been King of France for three years. Henry initially regards him as his inferior, but as the play progress, we see he is very adept at deceit and manipulation. He is impressive. Please note: This role requires stage kissing another man.
To apply for this job please visit forms.gle.