Speed the Plow

Played at

Awards

The original production was a 1988 Tony® Awards winner

Previews October 3 2008
Opened October 23 2008
Closed February 22 2009

Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, J K Productions, Ronald Frankel, et al

Laura Bauer costume design
Brian MacDevitt lighting design
Scott Pask scenic design

It isn't very often that "Hollywood producer" and "purity" are used in the same sentence. Or paragraph. In Speed the Plow Mamet manages to do so in a glorious send up of the business of Hollywood

It involves two Hollywood producers and a not very experienced but quite attractive office temp

Bobby Gould, sitting in his not quite newly-painted office, complains to long-time friend Charlie Fox that "everybody in this jolly town is tryin' to promote me" because of his new ability to greenlight films "under ten mil." Of course, buddy Charlie is here to "promote" him also, in this case pitching him an action-adventure prison flick with a "name" as star

That's where the book The Bridge; or, Radiation and the Half-Life of Society. A Study of Decay and Karen come in. Bobby has choices to make. Does he come to find "purity" -- and maybe a continuing relationship with Karen -- by doing a film version of the book? Or stick with Charlie Fox, the prison film, and Hollywood as it's always been?

Speed the Plow premiered at the Royale Theater in April 1988. The production, directed by Gregory Mosher, starred Madonna, Joe Mantegna and Ron Silver, earning three 1988 Tony® nominations including a win for Mr Silver as best actor

This first Broadway revival of Mamet's play was first slated on the boards back in Spring 2004. Then maybe for that Fall season if casting, theater availability worked out. As often happens, it took a few years for everything to come together again

Tony Award®, Tony®, the Tony Award® logo, and the Tony Award® medallion are registered trademarks of the American Theatre Wing

New York City Broadway Theater Guide