Jeremy Piven Off the Hook; Speed-the-Plow Arbitration Rules in His Favor

The final chapter of the Jeremy Piven vs. Speed-the-Plow saga has played itself out. On August 27, an arbitrator declared that producers of the 2008 Broadawy revival were not able to prove their breach of contract claim filed against Piven after his abrupt departure from the play in December.

Actors’ Equity Associate released a statement confirming that, in the matter of Arbitration between Speed the Plow Company, L.P. and Jeremy Piven/Actors’ Equity Association, the ruling was in favor of Piven and AEA. “The decision acknowledges that Mr. Piven did not breach his individual employment contract, nor did he breach the Equity-League collective bargaining contract,” the release stated.

“While we respect the decision, we strongly disagree with it,” producers of the play replied in a statement. “We remain eternally grateful to everyone who helped make the wonderful production of Speed-the-Plow possible, especially the artists who created it, and the many who had to deal with very difficult and trying circumstances.”

The issues between Speed-the-Plow and headlining actor Jeremy Piven began when he abruptly departed the show mid-run on December 15, 2008, citing extreme mercury poisoning due to an excess of sushi in his diet. Questions about the legitimacy of Piven’s claim prompted show producers to file a grievance against Actors' Equity Association. The matter moved to arbitration once AEA sided with Piven and producers filed a breach of contract claim.

After his exit, Piven’s role, that of high-powered film executive Bobby Gould in the famous Mamet satire, was temporarily filled by Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz before Academy Award nominee William H. Macy took over for the duration of the limited engagement. Speed-the-Plow, also starring Raul Esparza and Elisabeth Moss, ended its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on February 22, 2009.