#1
Posted: 12/18/08 at 11:26am
"Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy will succeed Jeremy Piven in the acclaimed Broadway revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
As previously reported, Emmy Award winner Piven abruptly departed the acclaimed revival of Speed-the-Plow, citing high levels of mercury. Playwright Mamet told Daily Variety Dec. 17, "I talked to Jeremy on the phone and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."
In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers said, "We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow. Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early."
Butz, a Tony winner for his work in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, will assume the role of Bobby Gould Dec. 23 and play through Jan. 11, 2009. Stage and screen star Macy will play Gould Jan. 13-Feb. 22, 2009. Drama Desk Award winner Jordan Lage will play the role through Dec. 21. (Macy's wife, Emmy winner Felicity Huffman, succeeded Madonna in the role of Karen in the original Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow.)..."
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/124448.html
As previously reported, Emmy Award winner Piven abruptly departed the acclaimed revival of Speed-the-Plow, citing high levels of mercury. Playwright Mamet told Daily Variety Dec. 17, "I talked to Jeremy on the phone and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."
In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers said, "We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow. Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early."
Butz, a Tony winner for his work in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, will assume the role of Bobby Gould Dec. 23 and play through Jan. 11, 2009. Stage and screen star Macy will play Gould Jan. 13-Feb. 22, 2009. Drama Desk Award winner Jordan Lage will play the role through Dec. 21. (Macy's wife, Emmy winner Felicity Huffman, succeeded Madonna in the role of Karen in the original Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow.)..."
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/124448.html
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 12/18/08 at 11:26 AM
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