'PLOW' Producers Piven Arbitration Set for 6/8 & 6/9

The following statement has been issued by the producers of “Speed-the-Plow.”

Actors' Equity and the producers of Speed-the-Plow have agreed that the dispute regarding Jeremy Piven's early exit from the show will be heard by Arbitrator George Nicolau in New York on June 8 and June 9, 2009. At this time, the producers are working on preparing their case, and in connection with that, have requested a wide range of relevant information from Mr. Piven relating to his claims that an alleged illness required him to leave the show. The information requested includes, among other things, medical records and documentation of Mr. Piven's activities both during and after the run of the show. The producers recognize that most of this information is of a highly sensitive nature and, therefore, they have proposed to the Union that all of the information that is turned over be subject to a strict confidentiality agreement.

Piven was in New York City earlier this year to appear for a grievance  hearing regarding his shock exit from the Broadway play Speed-The Plow.

The grievance committee (made up of League and Equity representatives) did not rule for either side.

The two sides released an official statment on the matter after the first hearing that, "A grievance hearing was held in accordance with the Equity-League Production Contract regarding the matter of Jeremy Piven and Speed-the-Plow. Following the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, a panel of five League representatives and five Equity representatives met and heard the positions of the parties. The League and Equity representatives were unable to reach a unanimous decision. The Producers have the right, as a next step, to proceed to arbitration."

Piven appeared in person to defend his claim that high levels of mercury in his bloodstream, brought on by a passion for sushi, forced him to abandon the Broadway revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow."

The hearing was held at Equity headquarters on West 46th Street.

Last month, Piven agreed to a blood test administered by a doctor hired by the producers of "Speed-the-Plow." The results of that test have not been revealed, but the producers are expected to allege that long before he claimed to be ill, Piven was agitating to leave the show.

Piven informed the producers during his run in Speed-the-Plow he was sick, then jumped on a plane to Los Angeles and announced he was not returning to the show. "There was no discussion, no negotiation - he was just gone," said a source to the New York Post at the time.

In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers gave a statement regarding the Piven exit, "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."

Piven was scheduled to perform throughout the show's run, which ended its limited run on Sunday, Feb. 22nd.

A Piven spokeswoman has previously called the grievance "absurd and outrageous."