Speed-the-Plow: William H. Macy assumes the role of 'Bobby Gould'

As previously announced, Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy succeeds Norbert Leo Butz in the role of 'Bobby Gould' in the acclaimed production of David Mamet�s Speed-The-Plow on the 13 Jan 2009. Macy will remain with the comeic-drama until the conclusion of its run on 22 Feb 2009.

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.

Macy is the second actor to step in to cover the role since Jeremy Piven cut short his Broadway debut. Norbert Leo Butz, was the first actor, playing the role from 23 Dec - 11 Jan 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 seemed 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 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).