Our show takes place in Henry II’s palace, Chinon, France, Christmas 1183
Sibling rivalry, adultery, and dungeons – The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman, is a modern-day classic, reminiscent of Shakespeare. 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 on the inner conflicts of the royal family as they fight over both a kingdom and King Henry’s paramour during Christmas of 1183. As Eleanor says, “Every family has its ups and downs,” and this royal family is no exception.
Christian Cox (Director)
Christian is an active actor, comedian, and director in northern WV. He played Rooster in the Robinson Grand Community Theatre’s inaugural production of ‘Annie. Previously to that he appeared in a collection of Christopher Durang short plays; ‘Outside the Lines’ with M.T Pockets theatre and in Fairmont State Town and Gown’s production of ‘The 1940’s Radio Hour’ as Neal Tilden. He was featured in the 2018 Kennedy Center theatre festival showcase performance as the villainous Caldwell B Cladwell in ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ produced by FSU Town and Gown Theatre. Recent directorial credits for M.t Pockets include ‘On Golden Pond’, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ and ‘Sordid Lives’. He teaches acting and improv classes for the Academy of the Arts at Fairmont State University. You can follow Christian at https://www.facebook.com/christiancoxperforms/
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Cyndi Ulrich (Eleanor)
Cyndi Ulrich, a Star City native, has been performing for the Morgantown community since 2009. Amongst her favorite roles: Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, Sister Aloysius in Doubt, Margaret in Walter Cronkite is Dead, Sissy in Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Mama in ‘night’, Mother, and M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias. She adds:
“I truly want to thank M.T. Pockets Theatre Company for providing me the privilege to work with and learn from a diverse group of talented people who share my passion for the performing arts. Thank you, my fellow thespians, for all the hard work you do to make each show a success and thank YOU (the audience) for coming to our shows. We wouldn’t be here without you!” “Eleanor of Aquitaine is the role of a lifetime, and I am profoundly grateful for director Christian Cox for his faith in me to pull it off. Being able to reprise the role of Eleanor for another run is a dream come true. After all, ‘At my age, there isn’t much traffic anymore’”. |
Sean Bonnette (Henry)
Sean Bonnette grew up in Arthurdale, WV, and attended the Acting program at WVU. Sean has been with MT Pockets off and on for over 20 years acting, directing and being a part of the Theater Board. Favorite roles include Guildenstern (or was that Rosencrantz?) In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Macbeth, Bottom, and Richard in The Lion in Winter.
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Ashley Morgan Fink (Alais)
Ashley Morgan Fink is a native of Martinsburg, West Virginia. She is a recent graduate of Fairmont State University with a BA in Theatre. Some of Ashley’s roles include Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Soupy Sue in Urinetown, Belle in Beauty & the Beast, and Mary Poppins. Recently, Ashley performed in the revival of Kingdom Come with The Vintage Theatre Company, LLC. She serves as the Primary Performing Arts Conservatory Instructor at St. Mary’s Grade School. This is her first production with M.T. Pockets. She thanks her parents and David for their constant support.
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Greg Parker (Richard)
Greg Parker just moved to Morgantown from NH, where he was a writer, director, designer, and actor. In his free time, he is a middle school administrator, where children continuously teach him the merits of patience. He has been the Resident Artist at the New Classics Company theater in Hyannis and won the 2020 NH Theatre Award for Sound Design. He is excited for his first MT Pockets show!
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Paul Holcomb (Geoffrey)
Paul Holcomb is from Morgantown, WV, where he works as an environmental scientist. He has previously performed with M.T. Pockets in the 2019 One Act festival and in many shows with Kanawha Players, Charleston Stage Company, CYAC, and Vanderbilt Theatre. When not on stage or saving the environment, Paul enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, three kids, and beagle puppy Kylo, as well as playing video games, listening to true crime podcasts, and programming.
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Thomas Lyall (John)
Thomas Lyall has been with M.T. Pockets since 2013 and has missed it terribly during the pandemic, so when the opportunity came to act with the theatre once again, he jumped at it. A local, Thomas is a graduate of Morgantown High, as well as West Virginia University where he earned a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree. Thomas would like to thank his girlfriend Angel Mullen as well as his parents Jan and Diana Lyall for their love and support of him and MT Pockets through the years.
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Mathew O’Neill (Philip)
Mathew O'Neill is from Doddridge County and a junior at Fairmont State University in the school of business. Mathew has performed for both Fairmont and the Robinson Grand. This is Mathew's first time working with MT Pockets. He would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support.
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