Bening out of ‘Female’

Annette Bening has pulled out of the Geffen Playhouse’s upcoming pre-Broadway American premiere of “The Female of the Species,” a new satiric comedy by Australian writer Joanna Murray-Smith, citing “personal reasons.”

According to a Geffen spokeswoman, plans are to recast Bening’s role in the production, directed by Tony winner Michael Meyer and scheduled to run Feb.13 to March 16 at the Geffen before heading to Broadway in April. Bening was to portray a feminist author said to be based on Germaine Greer.

Bening has also withdrawn from the Broadway production, which would have represented the actress’ first return to Broadway since her Tony-nominated performance in Tina Howe’s “Coastal Disturbances” in 1987-88.