Speed-the-Plow recoups its investment

The producers of Speed-The-Plow have announced that Neil Pepe�s acclaimed production of David Mamet�s play has recouped its investment. The play opened at the Ethal Barrymore Theatre on 23 Oct 2008, following previews from 3 Oct 2009, where it will end its limited engagement on 22 Feb 2009.

Speed-The-Plow joins the list of the plays of the season that have emerged as "hits" � 'All My Sons' and 'The Seagull.' The play recently was re-reviewed and with its stars William H. Macy, Ra�l Esparza and Elisabeth Moss, it received even more favorable notices:

�Speed-The-Plow is just as fun as it was in October, but also richer and more satisfying!� (New York Times); �David Mamet's scabrous comedy of Hollywood high jinks has gotten even better...Macy is confident with the language, batting it back and forth with the skill of a tennis ace!� (Associated Press), �Mamet�s comedy of movieland is zestier and zippier now!� (The Daily News), �Macy's long experience as a David Mamet collaborator shows in his mastery of the playwright's ricochet dialogue.� (Variety).

Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy assumed the role of 'Bobby Gould' on the 13 Jan 2009.

Macy is the second actor to step in to cover the role since Jeremy Piven cut short his Broadway debut. Norbert Leo Butz, was the first actor, playing the role from 23 Dec - 11 Jan 2009.

Piven left the production when he informed the producers that he had been feeling ill due to a high mercury count, having already missed the 16 Dec evening performance, and 17 Dec matinee.

Mamet, who seemed perplexed by Piven's 'high mercury count' told Variety ,�I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,� Mamet said. �So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.�

Speed-The-Plow is Mamet�s scathing portrait of the film industry and the people who are willing to sell their souls for sex, fame and fortune. The play begins with Fox coming to his long-time friend Gould after he unexpectedly gets the twenty-four-hour option to a prison movie. Their 20-year friendship undergoes a test of loyalty when Karen, the na�ve-seeming temporary secretary comes between the project with an agenda of her own.

Speed-The-Plow was first produced on Broadway in 1988 at the Royale Theatre (now called Bernard B. Jacobs,) directed by Gregory Mosher and starred Madonna as 'Karen', Joe Mantegna as 'Bobby Gould' and Ron Silver as 'Charlie Fox'. The play was nominated for Tony's for Best Play and Best director, and Ron Silver won a Tony Award for Best Best Actor in Play.

The playwright's other Broadway credits include: 'The Water Engine / Mr. Happiness' (1978), 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (1984, revival 2005), 'Speed-the-Plow' (1988) and 'The Old Neighborhood' (1997), 'November' (2008) and 'American Buffalo' (2008).