Piven Won't be Punished for His Early Exit from Broadway Play

Jeremy Piven Won't be Punished for His Early Exit from "Speed-the-Plow":
Actors' Equity Association and Broadway League Unable to Reach Unanimous Decision

Written by: Karen Benardello


Good news for Jeremy Piven: it seems likely he won't face penalties for leaving his role in Speed-the-Plow early in December because of his high mercury level.

The actor was summoned to a grievance hearing initiated by the producers of the Broadway revival of the hit play. Piven had starred in the comedy's previews, which began in October, and then abrubtly left two months later, citing his illness, which was possibly a result of eating too much fish, as his reason.

In a joint statement, the Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League said the actor's fate was determined when a committee of five actors and five producers were unable to reach the necessary unanimmous decision that was necessary to penalize Piven. The committe structure was stipulated in a contract from the producers and actor's union. The producers, though, have the right to proceed to arbitration.

Piven was represented by the Actors' Equity when he attended the hearing, in which he was met by a hurd of entertainment reporters when he arrived. He later released a statement saying the producers "did not prevail" in their efforts to convince the committee that he should have remained in the play.