Post-Piven Plow Needs a Push
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Jeremy Piven's exit may have dug the Plow into a hole.
According to figures released by the Broadway League, the lauded revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow took a nearly 33 percent hit at the box office last week after a mercury-addled Piven announced that he had left the production.
Piven's doctor told E! News Thursday that his patient's mercury levels were "amazingly, shockingly high," probably due to the actor's twice-a-day sushi habit, and he had recommended that Piven drop out of the play immediately.
Subsequently, ticket sales were down about $160,000 from the previous week as the Ethel Barrymore Theatre filled to only about 50 percent capacity.
But maybe Speed-the-Plow had just been playing to a particularly Hollywood-hungry crowd.
Past Oscar nominee William H. Macy and Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz have been tapped as a tag-team replacement for Piven's shady studio exec, but it was Piven's understudy, Jordan Lage, who had eight shows to do before Butz steps in tomorrow.
And no offense to Lage, but maybe most Big Apple theatergoers didn't want to further drain their already shrunken bank accounts on a relatively unknown thesp.
But Butz will be in residence through Jan. 11, with Macy scheduled to take over until the play's run ends on Feb. 22, so we'll see whether the added star power also adds to the show's box-office receipts.
The Big Picture
Gossip Curl Looks like Leighton's sailing the Good Ship Lollipop as she shows off a Shirley Temple 'do
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (916)
- Rob and Kristen "Relaxed" Together in NYC (673)
- Rob Flies Back to L.A. With Kristen (583)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (451)
- Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—or His? (443)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (428)
- Review: New Moon Is Either Just Fine or Way Mopey, Depending On Who You Are (369)
- Bitch-Back! Is There Drama on the Gossip Girl Set? (345)
- Ridiculous Twilight Hookups in an "All Taken" Cast (348)
Top 10 Stories
- Dancing Finale: Did Donny Really Beat Marie?
- Uh-Oh, John Mayer's Ego May Explode
- Adam Lambert on Early Show: I'm Not a Babysitter
- Carrie Ann Inaba Trades Judges' Chair for Hospital Bed
- Dancing With the Stars: A New Winner Raises the Disco Ball
- J.Lo's Ex: There's "Maybe One Spanking," but I'm Not Selling a Sex Tape
- Nicole Richie Back in Her Own Bed
- GMA Doesn't Want Adam Lambert's Sloppy Seconds...Cue The Early Show!
- Goodbye or Good Riddance to Jon & Kate Plus 8?
- Oprah's Mom Settles Clothes Call Lawsuit
Fashion Police
First Lady of FashionMichelle is glamorous and elegant in a strapless gown at the White House's first state dinner
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
8 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 8 comments
Now loading...