Variety reports that Piven, a former regular on "Ellen," will be part of the cast of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, which begins previews Nov. 23 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Jo Bonney is set to direct the MCC production. Opening night is Dec. 15, and the play will run through Jan. 8, 2004. Fat Pig concerns a man who falls in love with an overweight woman but begins to rethink his feelings when others ridicule her.

Born in Manhattan and raised in Illinois, Jeremy Piven is an alumnus of the Piven Theatre Workshop, which was founded by his parents. Piven did much stage work in Chicago before heading to Hollywood. His many screen credits include "Lucas," "One Crazy Summer," "Carol & Company," "White Palace," "The Player," "Bob Roberts," Singles," "The Larry Sanders Show," "Twenty Bucks," "Floundering," "Miami Rhapsody," "Dr. Jekyll & Ms. Hyde," "Heat," "Ellen," "Grosse Point Blank," "Kiss the Girls," "Very Bad Things," "The Crew," "The Family Man," "Old School" and "Runaway Jury."

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