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
Hamm 'n' Cheese Our fave goofball Jon seems sorta determined to prove he's nothing like Don Draper in real life
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (915)
- Costars and Suits Give Robsten Their Blessings! (650)
- Rob and Kristen "Relaxed" Together in NYC (628)
- Blab Blab Blab: Is Twilight Sexist? (553)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (442)
- Is Ugly Betty Ending? And Who Gets the Girl? (422)
- Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—or His? (422)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (421)
- Review: New Moon Is Either Just Fine or Way Mopey, Depending On Who You Are (352)
Top 10 Stories
- It's a Sexy Job, But Adam Lambert's Gotta Do It!
- Donny Discovers Parts He Never Had Before for Dancing With the Stars Final
- End of a Weird Era: Jon & Kate Plus 8 Signs Off
- Timbaland Denies Dumping Chris Brown
- New Sweet Home for Khloé and Lamar
- Family Wants Second Autopsy for Real Housewife Kandi Burruss' Slain Fiancé
- Sarah Jessica Parker Surrogate's Alleged Invader Found Somewhat Guilty
- No, New Moon Absolutely, Positively Didn't Beat Dark Knight
- Modern Family: Is Shakira Getting In On the Act?
- TLC Lets the Door Hit Jon (Not So Much Kate) on the Way Out
Fashion Police
Bring On the DramaLeave it to fearless fashionista Rihanna to make the fiercest statement on the AMAs red carpet
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
8 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 8 comments
Now loading...