Speed-the-Plow: Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy succeed Jeremy Piven

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy have come to the rescue of the acclaimed production of David Mamet�s Speed-The-Plow, in the wake of the unexpected departure of Jeremy Piven.

�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,� stated the play�s producers.

Both portraying the role of 'Bobby Gould,' Norbert Leo Butz will assume the role beginning 23 Dec 2008 through to 11 Jan 2009, and William H. Macy will assume the role beginning 13 Jan through to 22 Feb 2009.

�We are thrilled that Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy have joined the production, which stars the outstanding Ra�l Esparza and the luminous Elisabeth Moss who, under the brilliant direction of Neil Pepe, have received universal critical acclaim for their performances,� said the show�s producers.

Understudy Jordan Lage will play the role through to 21 Dec 2008.

Norbert Leo Butz, recently starred on Broadway in Mark Twain's 'Is He Dead?' He won a Tony Award for for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as 'Freddy' in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (2005), and was nominated for a Tony for his appearance in 'Thou Shalt Not' (Camille Raquin: 2001). His other Broadway credits include: 'Rent' (Roger Davis & Mark Cohen - replacements: 1996), and 'Wicked' (Fiyero).

William H. Macy has a long association with playwright David Mamet, having starred in New York in productions including 'Oleanna' and 'American Buffalo.' He received an Academy Award nomination for his work in the film 'Fargo.' He made his Broadway debut in 'Our Town' (Howie Newsome: 1988). Speed-The-Plow will be second outing on Broadway.

As reported on 17 Dec 2008, Jeremy Piven cut short his Broadway debut, when he abruptly withdrew from the production for health reasons.

According to Variety Piven informed the producers that he has been feeling ill due to a high mercury count and he has decided to withdraw from the production, having already missed the 16 Dec evening performance, and 17 Dec matinee.

Mamet, who seems unconvinced by Piven's 'high mercury count' told Variety ,�I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,� Mamet said. �So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.�

Directed by Neil Pepe, Speed-The-Plow also features Elisabeth Moss in her Broadway debut as 'Karen,' the temporary secretary to executive producer 'Bobby Gould' and three-time Tony-nominee Ra�l Esparza as film production exec 'Charlie Fox.'

Speed-The-Plow is Mamet�s scathing portrait of the film industry and the people who are willing to sell their souls for sex, fame and fortune. The play begins with Fox coming to his long-time friend Gould after he unexpectedly gets the twenty-four-hour option to a prison movie. Their 20-year friendship undergoes a test of loyalty when Karen, the na�ve-seeming temporary secretary comes between the project with an agenda of her own.

The play opened at the Ethal Barrymore Theatre on 23 Oct 2008, following previews from 3 Oct, where it is schduled to play a limited engagement through to 22 Feb 2009.

The show opened to mostly excellent reviews: "Through the simple devices of vibrant, perfectly chosen words delivered vibrantly, this production takes on helium that lifts it and its audience into the ether." (NY Times); "Neil Pepe's fine-tuned revival makes for an entertaining ride." (NY Daily News); "The beautifully played revival ... establishes the play as a modern classic." (NY Post); "Exciting and deadly game of three-handed poker." (Back Stage); "Cannily cast revival, proves more timely and sharp than ever." (Hollywood Reporter); "The comedy is pithy, smart and performed with prickly energy." (Variety).

Speed-The-Plow was first produced on Broadway in 1988 at the Royale Theatre (now called Bernard B. Jacobs,) directed by Gregory Mosher and starred Madonna as 'Karen', Joe Mantegna as 'Bobby Gould' and Ron Silver as 'Charlie Fox'. The play was nominated for Tony's for Best Play and Best director, and Ron Silver won a Tony Award for Best Best Actor in Play.

'American Buffalo' was the first of Mamet's plays to be performed on Broadway. The playwright's other Broadway credits include: 'The Water Engine / Mr. Happiness' (1978), 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (1984, revival 2005), 'Speed-the-Plow' (1988) and 'The Old Neighborhood' (1997), 'November' (2008) and 'American Buffalo' (2008).