It's touched on in this NYT article. It sounds like the play was ready to go (and, being date-specific, had to happen) sooner than The Public was ready to put up a play.
Whatever the reason, the move from the Public was a blessing. The cozy Hunter theater with only two rows of seats on four sides is perfect for Nelson's intimate plays. Hearing is no longer a problem. It only holds 75 people, so the economics of it must be problematic.
