Atlantic Theater Company artistic director Neil Pepe helms the 20th anniversary Broadway revival of the Mamet work, which runs through Feb. 22, 2009.
Esparza, most recently on Broadway in the revival of The Homecoming (for which he was Tony Award-nominated), plays the role of Hollywood producer Charlie Fox. Piven, the Chicago actor best known for his role as Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage," plays production exec Bobby Gould. And, Moss, who can be seen as Peggy Olson on AMC's "Mad Men," plays the role of temp secretary Karen.
Producers are Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Steve Traxler, JK Productions, Ronald Frankel, Ostar Productions, Peggy Hill, Bat-Barry Productions, Ken Davenport, Scott Delman, Ergo Entertainment, Dede Harris, Alan D. Marks, Patty Ann McKinnon, Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, Adam Sansiveri, Jamie deRoy and Carl Moellenberg.
"Speed-the-Plow focuses on two high-powered Hollywood executives, Charlie Fox and Bobby Gould, who have come up from the mailroom together," according to press notes. "Charlie brings Bobbie a surefire hit with a major star attached. Bobby seems certain to give the green light, until his beautiful new secretary gets involved."
The design team includes two-time Tony Award-winning set designer Scott Pask, Tony-winning lighting designer Brian MacDevitt and costume designer Laura Bauer. Speed-the-Plow was first produced on Broadway in 1988 featuring Madonna, Joe Mantegna and Ron Silver. A recent London revival at the Old Vic starred Kevin Spacey, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Michelle Kelley.
A founder of the Atlantic Theater Company, David Mamet's principal works include The Duck Variations, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross (Pulitzer Prize), Boston Marriage, Edmond, Oleanna, Speed-the-Plow and The Cryptogram (Obie Award). He recently adapted The Voysey Inheritance for the Atlantic and was recently represented on Broadway with the acclaimed political comedy November.
Esparza has starred on Broadway in The Homecoming, Company, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Taboo, Cabaret and The Rocky Horror Show. He won Drama Desk Awards for his performances in Taboo and Company and received Tony nominations for his work in those shows as well. He was also Tony-nominated for his work in The Homecoming. Off-Broadway Esparza was seen in tick, tick . . . BOOM! and the revival of The Normal Heart. He also starred in two of the Stephen Sondheim musicals that comprised the Sondheim Celebration at the Kennedy Center, Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along.
Born in Manhattan and raised in Illinois, 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." Piven was seen Off-Broadway in Neil LaBute's Fat Pig. He is the recipient of three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his work on HBO's "Entourage."
In addition to "Mad Men," Moss spent seven seasons playing the President's daughter on "The West Wing." She has guest-starred on such shows as "Medium," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Law & Order: Trial By Jury," "Grey's Anatomy," "Ghost Whisperer" and "The Practice."
This season will also see a revival of Mamet's American Buffalo starring John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment and directed by Robert Falls.
Show times for Speed-the Plow are Tuesdays at 7 PM, Wednesdays–Saturdays at 8 PM, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM.
The Barrymore Theatre is located at 243 West 47th Street. Tickets are available through Telecharge, (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.
