OCT. 30 – NOV. 8, 2026
Fridays & Saturdays — 7:30 PM
Sundays, Nov 1 and 8 — 2:00 PM
Performed at CVLT’s River Street Playhouse – 56 River Street
We suggest arriving as early as possible to all CVLT events. A map of parking options is available on our Contact page.
Sibling rivalry, adultery, and dungeons – The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman, is a modern-day classic. Comedic in tone, dramatic in action – the play tells the story of the Plantagenet family, who are locked in a free-for-all of competing ambitions to inherit a kingdom. The queen, and wealthiest woman in the world, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has been kept in prison since raising an army against her husband, King Henry II. Let out only for holidays, the play centers around the inner conflicts of the royal family as they fight over both a kingdom and King Henry’s paramour during the Christmas of 1183. As Eleanor says, “Every family has its ups and downs,” and this royal family is no exception.
The Lion in Winter is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc..
DON BERNARDO (Henry, Director) has performed and directed productions throughout Northeast Ohio, playing roles ranging from "King Arthur" in Monty Python's Spamalot (three times) to "Max Bialystock" in The Producers, and the title roles in Sweeney Todd, Macbeth, and founding father Ben Franklin in a world premiere musical for Theatre in the Circle, where he most recently performed in The Fantasticks. CVLT directing credits include Sherwood, The Three Musketeers, Murder on the Orient Express and several editions of Murder by the Falls. He is looking forward to directing CVLT's upcoming production of the hit musical Come From Away. Don expresses his affection for everyone who came along for this medieval ride. Love to Kate, Luc and Vic! For Bob.
KATE WILLIAMS-BERNARDO (Eleanor) is happy to be back at RSP and to bring this production, finally, to the stage. She last appeared in The Gin Game at CVLT's River Street Playhouse and Willoughby Summer Theatre Festival. Favorite roles include: 'Thelma' ('Night, Mother, Twin Masks), 'M'Lynn' (Steel Magnolias, WSTF), 'Lady Macbeth' (Macbeth, WSTF), 'Artie' (Elymossynary, River Street Playhouse), and 'Chris' (Calendar Girls, CVLT). Kate teaches English and Theater at Beaumont School. "Love to Don, Luc, and Vic." This production is dedicated in memorium to Bob McCoy.
STEPHEN BERG (Richard)
JOHN HICKMAN (Geoffrey) is glad to be back at River Street after playing “Merle” in Bigfoot Letters last spring. You may have seen John on stage before, playing “Mortimer” in Arsenic & Old Lace (Gates Mills Players), “Prince Escalus” in Romeo & Juliet (Geauga Center of the Arts), Richard Bailey in Kinky Boots, Sandy in Philadelphia Story, Nick in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff, and TJ in Sister Act (CVLT), as well as other roles at Twin Masks Theatre & Independence Community Theatre. He's also recently directed Things My Mother Taught Me and Heard Mentality at Gates Mills.
KAMERYN ROUBANES (Alais)
JAMES PIERCE LITTERAL (John) Is delighted to be returning to CVLT. James recently appeared at Rabbit Run in Kiss Me, Kate as Ralph, Urinetown as Mr. McQueen , Sweeney Todd portraying Beadle Bamford and Jesus Christ Superstar at the Fine Arts Association, as Annas. Additional credits include Jersey Boys at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre as Bob Crewe. Active in theater since 1999, James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cleveland State University and a Master of Music Education from Boston University. He extends his deepest gratitude to his friends and family for their continued support.
JOHN-PAUL WHITMAN (Philip)
DON BERNARDO (Henry, Director) has performed and directed productions throughout Northeast Ohio, playing roles ranging from "King Arthur" in Monty Python's Spamalot (three times) to "Max Bialystock" in The Producers, and the title roles in Sweeney Todd, Macbeth, and founding father Ben Franklin in a world premiere musical for Theatre in the Circle, where he most recently performed in The Fantasticks. CVLT directing credits include Sherwood, The Three Musketeers, Murder on the Orient Express and several editions of Murder by the Falls. He is looking forward to directing CVLT's upcoming production of the hit musical Come From Away. Don expresses his affection for everyone who came along for this medieval ride. Love to Kate, Luc and Vic! For Bob.
NANCY ROGOFF (Producer)
GRETA ROTHMAN (Assistant Director) is pleased to be in an assistant role for this production, supporting friend and director Don Bernardo. Chagrin Valley Little Theatre audiences are most familiar with Greta from performances in such roles as ‘Rosie Mulligan’ (Mamma Mia!), ‘Sister Mary Lazarus’ (Sister Act), ‘Rizzo’(Grease), and most recently 'Leona' (Exit Laughing), which she originated at TwinMasks Theatre in Twinsburg. As a director, she has helmed CVLT productions of The Wizard of Oz, The Rocky Horror Show, Little Shop of Horrors, and Kinky Boots, as well as ten Murder by the Falls mystery fundraisers that she co-wrote with her brother Drew, and seven New Year's Cabarets.
