By Kenneth Jones
17 Nov 2009

Julia Stiles and Bill Pullman in Oleanna
photo by Craig Schwartz

The Broadway run of David Mamet's Oleanna, the provocative college-set drama about a female student and her professor, will end Jan. 3, 2010, producer Jeffrey Finn announced on Nov. 17.

The play by Pulitzer Prize winner Mamet stars Julia Stiles (making her Broadway debut) and Bill Pullman (The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?), under the direction of Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt).

Following an engagement last summer at The Mark Taper Forum, the Broadway run began previews on Sept. 29 and opened on Oct. 11 at The Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). As of the January close date, Oleanna will have played 15 previews and 97 performances.

Finn stated, "From our initial opening in Los Angeles, we're proud of the work that we were able to bring to New York as Oleanna's first Broadway production. The intense reactions from New York audiences to this play and the exceptional, critically-praised work by Bill and Julia have been immensely gratifying. We've had great audiences since September, and as our sales are concentrated through the holidays, January feels like the right time to end. Announcing this now still allows audiences seven weeks to experience Oleanna."

The drama, making its Broadway premiere after a life Off-Broadway more than a decade ago, and a film version, is billed as "the gripping account of a power struggle between a male university professor and one of his female students.

Oleanna is produced by Jeffrey Finn, Arlene Scanlan, Jed Bernstein, Ken Davenport, Carla Emil, Ergo Entertainment, Harbor Entertainment, Elie Hirschfeld, Rachel Hirschfeld, HOP Theatricals, Brian Fenty/Martha H. Jones and Center Theatre Group.

The production features scenic design by Neil Patel, costume design by four-time Tony Award winner Catherine Zuber, lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Donald Holder and fight direction by Rick Sordelet.

Tickets, $116.50 to $76.50, are available for purchase through visiting www.telecharge.com, calling (212) 239-6200 or visiting the Golden Theatre box office (252 West 45th Street).

The performance schedule for Oleanna is Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.

Student tickets, $25 each, are available at the box office, day of performance only, beginning when the box office opens. Tickets are subject to availability. Valid student ID required, two tickets per ID.

Visit www.OleannaOnBroadway.com.

Julia Stiles and Bill Pullman in Oleanna at the Mark Taper Forum
photo by Craig Schwartz