Broadway’s ‘Oleanna’ closing earlier than expected

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In a move to minimize financial losses, a producer of the Broadway run of ‘Oleanna’ said today that the production will close on Sunday, nearly a month earlier than previously announced.

‘Oleanna’ is now set to close at the John Golden Theater after the matinee performance on Sunday, Dec. 6. Earlier this month, producers said that the play, written by David Mamet, would end its run on Jan. 3.

‘While we all hoped ‘Oleanna’ could run longer, looking over the next few weeks prior to the holidays, we know the most financially responsible decision is to avoid potential upcoming losses,’ said producer Jeffrey Finn in a statement.

‘This will allow us to still be able to return a distribution to the investors.’

Among the producers listed for ‘Oleanna’ is L.A.’s Center Theatre Group, where the production debuted in June at the Mark Taper Forum.

A report in the New York Post initially reported that losses for ‘Oleanna’ would exceed $2 million, but the the story was later corrected to state that the price tag of the show was $1.7 million and that it will not recoup its costs, according to a spokesperson.

‘Oleanna’ features Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles as a professor and student, respectively, who become engaged in a heated war over an alleged act of sexual impropriety. Both actors starred in the L.A. engagement of the show.

Mamet, meanwhile, is currently directing his new play, ‘Race,’ on Broadway. The play, starring James Spader, is set to open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Dec. 6 -- the same day that ‘Oleanna’ closes.

-- David Ng

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