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Oleanna

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Carol, an undergraduate at a prestigious college, seeks the help of her professor because she fears she is failing his course.  He tries to put his student at ease despite a flurry of interruptions.  In the second act, Carol has a political awakening and accuses her ambitious professor of paternalism, exploitation, and rape.  His tenure now threatened, the professor struggles to defend himself and find common ground with his newly transformed student.

Credits

Creative team

Written and directed by

David Mamet

Written and directed by

David Mamet

In addition to Boston Marriage, David Mamet is the author of the plays The Old Neighborhood, Oleanna, Glengarry Glen Ross (1984 Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critics Circle Award), American Buffalo, A Life In The Theater, Speed The Plow, Edmond Lakeboat, The Water Engine, The Woods, Sexual Perversity In Chicago, Reunion, and The Cryptogram (1995 Obie Award). His translations and adaptations include Red River by Pierre Laville, and The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, and Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. His films include The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Verdict, The Untouchables, House Of Games (writer / director), Oleanna (writer / director), and Hoffa. Mr. Mamet is also the author of Warm and Cold, a book for children with drawings by Donald Sultan; Writing In Restaurants, Some Freaks and Make Believe Town, three volumes of essays; The Hero Pony, a book of poems; Three Children's Plays, On Directing Film, The Cabin, True And False, and the novel The Village.

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Set design by

Michael Merrit

Costume design by

Harriet Voyt

Costume design by

Harriet Voyt

Harriet Voyt (Costume Designer for The Old Neighborhood) designed costumes for the productions of The Cryptogram and Oleanna, both at the A.R.T. and in New York, as well as for the national tour of Oleanna. She attended the University of Maryland before embarking on a successful modeling career that spanned three continents over the course of a dozen years. Beginning with the prestigious Eileen Ford Modeling Agency in the 1970s, Miss Voyt achieved early success in Paris, Milan, and Tokyo while maintaining her base in New York City. She appeared in virtually all the major beauty and fashion magazines, both internationally and in the U.S., as well as in numerous commercial print and television ads for a host of national products.

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Lighting design by

Kevin Rigdon

Lighting design by

Kevin Rigdon

Kevin Rigdon (Set Designer for The Old Neighborhood) designed lighting for the world premiere of Oleanna at the A.R.T. His Broadway credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, The Grapes of Wrath (Tony nomination), Our Town (Drama Desk nomination), Speed-The-Plow, Glengarry Glen Ross, Ghetto, and The Caretaker. In London he designed Orphans (West End), Speed-the-Plow, The Grapes of Wrath (Royal National Theatre). He is resident designer at Steppenwolf Theatre with more than 100 productions to his credit, and has also worked at many off-Broadway and resident theaters. Mr. Rigdon is the recipient of two American Theatre Wing Design Awards.

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Sound design by

Maribeth Back

Cast

John

William H. Macy

John

William H. Macy

Carol

Rebecca Pidgeon

Rebecca Pidgeon (Claire in Boston Marriage) previously appeared at the A.R.T. in the world premieres of David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood (playing the role of Deeny) and Oleanna (as Carol), and subsequently performed both roles on Broadway. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, her other credits include The Changeling and School for Scandal at Cambridge Theater Company, England; The Changeling, When We Were Women, Bow Down, and Speed the Plow at the Royal National Theatre in London. She also appeared at Dangerous Corner at the Atlantic Theater Company. Her film credits include The Dawning, Homicide, The Spanish Prisoner, and the recently released The Winslow Boy. Ms. Pidgeon is also a singer/songwriter; her recordings include "The Raven;" "The New York Girl's Club;" and "Four Marys," in which she sings a collection of Scottish and American folk songs.

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