NHL Star Sean Avery Insults Stage Manager, Director; Quits Off-Broadway's NEGATIVE IS POSITIVE

Shia LaBeouf, watch out. There's a new diva in town.

According to the New York Post's Page Six, former New York Ranger Sean Avery has quit just two days before the November 6 opening of his off-Broadway play NEGATIVE IS POSITIVE at Theater for the New City.

Playwright Christy Smith-Sloman told Page Six: "He's a playwright's worst nightmare. ... Avery had a complete meltdown in rehearsals and quit. He pretty much snapped."

Read the original story here.

Avery reportedly left rehearsal early on Monday, November 3, and today blew up at an assistant stage manager, Natalie, after she asked him for a slice of pizza and he thought she called him a name. Avery then allegedly confronted director Andreas Robertz, saying, "Don't you know who I am?!" before storming out.

Smith-Sloman continued, "It's unbelievable he would do this two days before we open. At this point I don't want him to be a part of this production. He can't call people pieces of [bleep] and say, 'Do you know who I am?' [He] can't threaten people."

Avery will be replaced by an understudy. This would have been the NHL player's New York stage debut.

The cast of NEGATIVE IS POSITIVE also features Karen Eilbacher, Joshua Zirger, Vivienne Jurado and Fulton Hodges. The play is directed by Robertz, with assistant director and stage manager Mary McGinley, sets and costumes by Jon Collins, and lighting by Alexander Bartenieff.

This contemporary dramedy centers on a newly married interacial, upwardly mobile couple who's seemingly idyllic life is shattered by a shocking incident. Along with another couple, the unexpected incident forces them to explore issues of trust, failed expectations, jealousy, race and the true nature of their love.

Sean Avery is a former professional ice hockey player who grew up in Pickering, Ontario. During his career Avery was part of some of the NHL's most iconic teams. Playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers, Avery gained recognition in the league for his agitating playing style on the ice and sometimes controversial behavior off the ice. At the time of retirement, Avery had scored a total of 90 goals and accrued over 1,500 penalty minutes in 580 career NHL games. In 2008, he became Vogue magazine's most famous intern and a year later he opened his first of two restaurants, Warren 77. In 2011 he, and fellow New York Ranger, Henrik Lundqvist opened Tiny's and the Bar Upstairs. He was the first pro athlete to endorse marriage equality in a PSA for NYC. Currently, he sits on the board of directors for Athlete Ally - a nonprofit organization focused on ending homophobia and trans phobia in sports by educating allies in the athletic community and empowering them to take a stand.

Photo Credit: Magali Charron