Robert Gomes is Sicilia's King Leontes, who accuses his queen, Hermione, of infidelity. Linda Powell of Broadway's recent On Golden Pond is the wronged queen.

A dead son, an exiled daughter, a faked death, protective courtiers, gamboling shepherds, the rural land of Bohemia and Father Time himself are all part of the busy play.

Shakespeare's late-career romance is directed by Brian B. Crowe, who conjures the worlds of Sicilia and Bohemia at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue in Madison, NJ. Previews began Dec. 3.

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Powell appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-nominated revivals of On Golden Pond (as daughter Chelsea) and Wilder, Wilder, Wilder. Her credits include The Overwhelming at Roundabout Theatre, Jitney and Jar the Floor at Second Stage, and Pericles at Theatre for a New Audience, among many others. Gomes was last seen at The Shakespeare Theatre in this season's Private Lives and has also appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Play's the Thing and Cymbeline. His Broadway credits include The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Racing Demon at Lincoln Center Theater.

According to Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, "Beginning as a story of jealousy and tyranny, but ending with love and magical music in the air, The Winter's Tale is a perfect way to celebrate the holidays for it is a play that celebrates the triumph of love, nobility and all things good, and ends with the promise of rejuvenation, redemption, and hope."

The company also includes Jim Mohr as the Old Shepherd; Maureen Sebastian as Perdita, the princess who is raised by the Old Shepherd; Jonathan Brathwaite as Florizel, the Bohemian Prince who falls in love with the Shepherd's daughter; Jessica Ires Morris as Paulina, friend of Queen Hermione; Camille Troy; Lindsay Smiling as Polixenes, King of Bohemia and friend of Leontes; David Foubert; Greg Jackson; Darren Matthias; Scott Whitehurst; Jon Barker; Jesse Easterling; Will Eddy; Kristen Kittel; and Jack Moran.

The creative team includes set designer Brian Ruggaber, costume designer Anne Kenney, lighting designer Andrew Hungerford and sound designer Richard M. Dionne. Paige Blansfield is choreographer, and Josiane M. Lemieux is the production stage manager.

For tickets or more information, call (973) 408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.