The Roundabout's Broadway The Lion in Winter revival, starring Laurence Fishburne and Stockard Channing, will begin preview performances Feb. 17, with an official opening date March 11, 1999.

Joining Fishburne and Channing in the James Goldman drama, will be Keith Nobbs (Stupid Kids), Chuma Hunter-Gault, Roger Howarth, Neal Huff, and Emily Bergl.

A Lion in Winter first opened on March 3, 1966 at the Ambassador Theatre, and closed May 21. It starred Robert Preston as Henry II and Rosemary Harris as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. It was later made into a movie starring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn.

Lion was announced for last season, but star Fishburne had scheduling problems. The eclectic Michael Mayer (Side Man, A View From The Bridge, Stupid Kids, Triumph of Love and the upcoming You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown ) will direct the romantic drama about Henry II's love/hate relationship with Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Fishburne last appeared on the New York stage in his own play, Riff Raff, which played at the Circle in the Square Downtown in fall 1995. It was one of the last productions of the now-defunct, Off-Broadway company, Circle Rep. Since then, Fishburne has appeared in a variety of movies, including a film adaptation of Othello. Fishburne is best- known for turning in an award winning performance as Ike Turner in the bio-pic, What's Love Got to Do With It?. Channing is a Broadway veteran, with Six Degrees of Separation, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun and the latest revival of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes on her resume. She also appeared in Lincoln Center's Hapgood and reached fame playing Rizzo in the film of "Grease."

Current Roundabout productions include Cabaret, Martin Short in Little Me, and the Broadway transfer of Side Man , starring Christian Slater.

For tickets and information on Roundabout shows call (212) 719-1300. Seven play subscriptions run $231-$288, with discounted series for teachers and for kids ages 13-18.