‘Geisha’ won’t be shown in China

The Chinese government has canceled the release of “Memoirs of a Geisha” -- a decision made amid speculation that officials are worried the sight of Chinese actresses playing Japanese geishas would stir a backlash.

The film originally was cleared for distribution on Feb. 9, but the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV reversed itself over the weekend, a U.S. film industry official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release that information.

The official reasons weren’t immediately clear, and Chinese authorities couldn’t be reached because offices were closed for a national holiday.

The film’s cancellation won’t have much of a financial effect on Sony Pictures, the U.S. film industry official said. A typical Hollywood film released in China would make only about $500,000, he said, because of low ticket prices, attendance and piracy.

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FINALLY

Shutting down: The Oakland Ballet said it is closing after four decades because of an ongoing ticket slump and the loss of its performance space.

Book to film: Lifetime Television plans to turn four of Nora Roberts’ novels into TV movies.

Ailing: Placido Domingo has canceled performances at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera through March 2 because of tracheitis, an inflammation of the windpipe. It’s been bothering him since mid-December.

Broadway bound: Martin Short has co-written and will star in a cheeky autobiographical musical called “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me,” which will run April 25 to May 21 at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre before an anticipated opening on Broadway in August.