Speed-the-Plow: Norbert Leo Butz assumes the role of 'Bobby Gould' from Jeremy Piven

As previously announced, Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz succeeds Jeremy Piven in the role of 'Bobby Gould' o in the acclaimed production of David Mamet�s Speed-The-Plow, on the 23 Dec 2008.

�We are thrilled that Norbert Leo Butz has 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.

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).

Butz will continue in the role of 'Bobby Gould' through to 11 Jan 2009. Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy will then play the role from the 23 Jan 2009 until the end of Speed-The-Plow limited engagement on 22 Feb 2009.

Jeremy Piven cut short his Broadway debut, when he abruptly withdrew from the production for health reasons.

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 perplexed 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.

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).