Superstars Exit Broadway

Hollywood called its flock back today, as several of this season's movie star-driven productions closed. The most conspicuous, A Steady Rain, was a big ticket seller and probably could have easily run for the rest of this Broadway season, but stars Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Wolverine) and Daniel Craig (James Bond franchise) both had film commitments that prevented an extension. Hamlet starring Jude Law and After Miss Julie featuring Sienna Miller (Jude's former flame) and Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) also ended their limited Broadway engagements today. The revival of David Mamet's two-hander Oleanna, which starred Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You) and Bill Pullman (Independence Day), prematurely closed this weekend, even though it had earlier been scheduled to shutter in January.

Early Closings For Two Broadway Revivals

Although it has been a hit with audiences (if not critics), the producers of the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie just announced that the musical will be closing on January 24. Technically, that counts as a two-week extension for the limited-run production, but the closing announcement is still a bit of a surprise considering that Bye Bye Birdie had started selling tickets through late April, thus indicating that the show was settling in for a long extended run. The problem may be that star John Stamos is set to exit on January 24 and couldn't be persuaded to renew his contract - nor could a suitable star be found to replace him. Another surprise early closing is the Broadway revival of David Mamet's drama Oleanna. A closing date in January was announced only a couple weeks ago, but the producers have now decided to shutter the show even earlier, on December 6.

Oleanna To Close On Broadway In January

The producers of Oleanna, the Broadway revival of the tense David Mamet drama, announced today that they will be closing the show on January 3rd, 2010. The production, which enjoyed a successful run in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum earlier this year, transferred to Broadway's John Golden Theatre in late September. The play stars actor Bill Pullman (who was previously seen on Broadway in The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?) as a college professor and Julia Stiles (Shakespeare in the Park's Twelfth Night) as his disgruntled student. Each performance of the show has been followed by a lively audience talk-back where people discuss the motives and actions of the two characters in this very controversial play about power, education, and gender politics.

It's Opening Night For Oleanna At The John Golden Theatre

With recent revivals of Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo, and Speed-the-Plow, Broadway has been a great friend to playwright David Mamet lately. Tonight marks the opening night for the latest Mamet revival, Oleanna, starring Bill Pullman (The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? on Broadway) and Julia Stiles (Shakespeare in the Park's Twelfth Night, Off-Broadway's Fran's Bed) as a college professor and student, respectively. The Doug Hughes-directed production of the play about sexual politics was seen previously in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum, and now hits Broadway's John Golden Theatre for an open run. David Mamet will next be represented on Broadway with a new drama, the race-related play Race starring James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas.