Jeremy Piven is off the hook.
An independent arbitrator has decided the actor did not breach his employment contract with producers of “Speed-the-Plow,” the Broadway revival that the thesp abruptly exited in December.
The arbitrator, George Nicolau, also did not find the actor in breach of the collective bargaining contract between thesps union Actors’ Equity Association and the Broadway League, the trade association of legit producers and presenters.
“All you can ask for is your day in court, and I got it,” Piven said.
Producers of “Plow,” meanwhile, responded to the decision with a joint statement that read, “While we respect the decision, we strongly disagree with it.”
Piven, one of the topliners of last season’s well-received staging of David Mamet’s showbiz comedy “Plow,” cited a medical diagnosis of mercury poisoning as his reason for departing the show before he had finished out his originally skedded engagement. With rumors swirling along the Rialto about the actor’s hard-partying ways, producers contended he willfully violated his contract.
In February, the dispute was brought before a grievance committee made up of five members of the League and five of Equity, in keeping with the labor agreement between the two orgs. Because the committee could not reach a unanimous decision, none was handed down.
Producers of “Plow” — led by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Jam Theatricals, among others — then opted to pursue independent arbitration.
The arbitrator heard both sides in proceedings that ran June 8-9 in Gotham. After approximately 11 weeks of deliberation, Nicolau’s decision was released Thursday afternoon.
Piven’s role in “Plow” was filled first by Norbert Leo Butz (“Catch Me If You Can”) and then by William H. Macy. The production went on to recoup its $2.25 million capitalization costs before it finished its limited engagement in February.
For his part, Piven hopes to return to legit work at some point. “I’d love to climb back on stage,” he said.
(source)
