Butz and Macy 'Speed' to Rescue 'PLOW'

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy have come to the rescue of the acclaimed production of David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW, in the wake of the unexpected departure of Jeremy Piven.

"We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow." Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early," stated the play's producers.

Both portraying the role of "Bobby Gould," Norbert will assume the role beginning next TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23rd through SUNDAY, JANUARY 11th, and William H. Macy will assume the role beginning TUESDAY, JANUARY 13th through SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd.

"We are thrilled that Norbert and William have joined the production, which stars the outstanding Raul Esparaz and the luminous Elisabeth Moss who, under the brilliant direction of Neil Pepe, have received universal critical acclaim for their performances," said the show's producers.

Drama Desk Award winning actor Jordan Lage, who previously took over for Liev Schreiber during his illness in Glengarry Glen Ross in 2005, will play the role through this Sunday, December 21st.

Norbert Leo Butz, recently hailed as "one of the finest American stage stars of (his) generation" by Ben Brantley of the New York Times, has starred on Broadway in Is He Dead?, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Drama League award winner, Best Actor, Musical), Wicked (original cast, Fiyero), Thou Shalt Not (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations) and Rent (original cast, Broadway debut). He most recently appeared Off-Broadway in the acclaimed production of Fifty Words (Manhattan Class Company) 

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 also appeared in Benny & Joon, Mr. Holland's Opus, Seabiscuit, Magnolia, Pleasantville, Boogie Nights and Air Force One. In 2002, he won Emmy Awards for both Lead Actor in a Miniseries and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries with the TV film "Door to Door".

Speed-The-Plow holiday schedule:

Tuesday, December 23 at 7 pm; Wednesday, December 24 at 2 pm and 8 pm; Friday, December 26 at 8 pm; Saturday, December 27 at 2 and 8 pm; Sunday, December 28 at 3 and 7 pm; Monday, December 29 at 8 pm; Tuesday, December 30 at 7 pm; Wednesday, December 31 at 2 pm; Friday, January 2 at 2 pm and 8 pm; Sunday, January 3 at 2 pm and 8 pm; Sunday January 4 at 3 pm. There is also an added performance on Monday, January 5 at 8 pm and no performance on Sunday, January 11, 2008.

Speed-the-Plow performs at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th St). Performances are Tuesdays at 7 pm, Wednesday-Saturday at 8 pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets are sold through Telecharge.com or 212-239-6200.

Photo of Norbert Leo Butz by Peter James Zielinski

Photo of William H. Macy by Retna Ltd.