Theater J Cancels Deb Margolin’s Imagining Madoff Following Objections from Elie Wiesel

Theater J has canceled its planned world premiere production of Deb Margolin’s Imagining Madoff, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper reports that author and activist Elie Wiesel, who is depicted in the play as having a (fictional) discussion with Ponzi schemer Bernard L. Madoff, objected to his presence in the play. In real life, Wiesel had invested with Madoff, and The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity lost $15.2 million in assets, in addition to millions of personal financial losses for Wiesel. While Margolin made an attempt to rewrite the play substituting a fictional character in Wiesel’s place, she ultimately withdrew her script from consideration.

According to The Post, Willy Holtzman’s Something You Did will replace Margolin’s play in Theater J’s schedule.

Theater J’s 2010-2011 season will also include The Odd Couple, directed by Jerry Whiddon and starring Rick Foucheux and J. Fred Shiffman (October 23-November 28); The Kinsey Sicks in Oy Vey in a Manger (December 18-January 2); Return to Haifa, adapted by Boaz Gaon from the novella by Ghassan Kanafani, and directed by Sinai Peter (January 15-31); The Chosen, based on the novel by Chaim Potok, and adapted and directed by Aaron Posner, and starring Rick Foucheux (March 7-27); Anna Ziegler’s Photograph 51, directed by Daniella Topol (March 23-April 24); and the world premiere of Sam Forman’s comedy The Moscows of Nantucket, directed by Shirley Serotsky (May 11-June 12).

For more information, visit washingtondcjcc.org.