Diane Sawyer News

Broadway producers Jeffrey Richards announced in an official statement on Friday that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Piven countered with his own response stating, 'The claims made by the producers of Speed-the-Plow are absurd and outrageous. Mr. Piven's serious medical condition has been well documented by multiple physicians. He withdrew from the play due to medical necessity on the advice of his doctors, after he was hospitalized and warned by his physicians that enforced rest was necessary in order to avoid serious medical problems, including a heart attack.' There is now rumors on the street intimating that the grievance was actually filed a week earlier than first reported but was kept quiet as SPEED producers didn't want any more negative press for the hit show. Sources also reveal that Piven's exit from the Broadway drama has given Hollywood producers pause regarding the Emmy winning actor. That being said up until the SPEED-THE-PLOW scandal he was sought after by industry executives and was celebrated by his peers in relation to his work in television and film.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the acclaimed aerial performance troupe AntiGravity will appear as one of the featured performances in the first-ever 'Neighborhood Inaugural Ball,' hosted by President Barack Obama. Starting at 8 p.m. (ET), live coverage of the event will be nationally televised on the ABC special 'The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration,' anchored by Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos. The premiere event of inauguration evening, the ball will include the President and First Lady's first dance of the night, President Obama's initial speech of the evening, and performances and appearances by many of the nation's top recording artists and stars, including two performances from the internationally celebrated AntiGravity troupe at 9:15 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.

SPEED-THE-PLOW producer Jeffrey Richards is not taking Piven's 'fishy' pleas regarding his departure from the show sitting down. Richards announced in a statement that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Jeremy Piven defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' yesterday morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official ABC GMA site by going here.

Jeremy Piven, for the first time on a national news program defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' this morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official GMA site by going here.

20th Century Fox 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'South Pacific: 50th Anniversary Edition' to Blu-ray on March 31st, day-and-date with the DVD re-release. This two disc set will present both the theatrical and roadshow versions of the film utilizing 2.20:1 1080p video accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame Committee has selected Bea Arthur, Dan Burke, Larry Gelbart, Merv Griffin, Tom Murphy and Sherwood Schwartz to be inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame, it was announced today by John Shaffner, Chairman/CEO of the Television Academy.

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced today that Craig Bierko (Tony Award nominee for The Music Man; Scary Movie 4) will star as 'Sky Masterson' and Kate Jennings Grant (Proof) will also star as 'Sarah Brown' in the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS.

'Aliens with Extraordinary Skills,' written by Saviana Stanescu and directed by Tea Alagic, will open September 30 at 7:00pm (with a preview on September 22). Press Previews begin Saturday, September 27, at 8:00pm at the Women's Project Theater, 424 West 55th Street.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) 2008 Summer Gala honored Public Theater Board Member David Rockwell for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the institution for the past 20 years.

The revival of Clifford Odets's 'The Country Girl' opened on April 27th, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre directed by Mike Nichols and starring Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher.

Sunday in the Park with George's authors Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine and Olivier Award winning stars Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell will be featured on ABC's 'Good Morning America' this Monday, March 17th from 7-9AM on channel 7. 'Good Morning America's' Diane Sawyer talks to Sondheim, Lapine, Evans and Russell about this critically acclaimed and unique Broadway revival.

Tomorrow, January 11, 'The After Party' welcomes Matt Castle (Company) and 2005 Miss Fire Island Entertainer of the Year Gusty Winds. Doors open at 10:30PM, show begins at 11PM. 'The After Party' takes place every Friday night at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café (407 w42nd St.). Admission is free

The Broadway cast of Grease performed 'We Go Together' and 'You're the One That I Want' on ABC'S 'Good Morning America' Monday, October 29, 2007.

Friday, October 19, 'The After Party' is pleased to welcome Spring Awakening's Jonathan Groff and 2005 Miss Fire Island Entertainer of the Year, Gusty Winds.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre continues The After Party, which runs every Friday from 10:30PM till 2AM, with a visit by Matt Castle

An array of stars recently attended the Public Theater's party for Shakespeare's classic romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, and BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet!

Tony Award-winning director Mike Nichols (Spamalot, The Real Thing) and his wife, journalist Diane Sawyer, recently visited with Tony Award-winning Grey Gardens stars Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson backstage at the hit musical.