It’s a backstage drama worthy of Entourage: Leading man Jeremy Piven has suddenly split from the critical and commercial hit Broadway revival of David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow, citing doctors’ diagnosis that he’s suffering a high mercury count, Variety reports Thursday.

But playwright Mamet expressed skepticism about Piven’s condition, which was revealed after the actor missed Tuesday night’s and Wednesday’s matinee performances – and then, reports the New York Post, flying back to Los Angeles Wednesday night.

“I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,” Mamet told Daily Variety. “So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.”

Mamet added that “some really great actors will be helping out and stepping in,” with the Post reporting that Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Tony-winner Norbert Leo Butz has temporarily stepped into Piven’s part, that of a breathless Hollywood exec similar in temperament to Piven’s agent Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage.

The Post also reports that at Wednesday’s matinee about 300 theater patrons requested box-office refunds following the announcement that Piven was MIA from the show, which also stars Broadway’s Raul Esparza and Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss.

The show opened Oct. 23 and is scheduled to run through Feb. 22. A rep for Piven told the Post that the actor wished to continue in the show but that doctors advised him to leave the show immediately.

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Man, it’s coooooooooooooold this morning!  Is it cold where you are? I’m freezing!

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Jeremy Piven has been forced to deny his “diva” antics cost him the job of hosting a forthcoming fashion event in New York.

The actor hosted Fashion Rocks in 2007 but this year he has been replaced by Rescue Me star Denis Leary – amid rumors that Piven’s outlandish demands infuriated staff at last year’s event.

A source tells New York Post gossip column PageSix that the star demanded a separate backstage green room and insisted on rewriting the script at the last minute.

The source says, “(Piven) was a nightmare. And it wasn’t even funny. (This year will see) a more trustworthy and mature host.”

But a representative for Piven has denied that the star acted inappropriately at last year’s concert – insisting he worked hard to perfect his onstage routine.

The spokesman says, “Not true. He had his own room, just like everyone else, and came in a week early to work on the script as expected.”

Fashion Rocks – a collaboration between musicians and fashion designers – will this year feature performances from Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna and Justin Timberlake and will air in the U.S. on September 9th.

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Jeremy Piven, the Chicago actor best known for his role as Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage, will make his Broadway debut next season in a Broadway revival of David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow.

The New York Times reports that the revival of Mamet’s Hollywood satire will open at a Broadway theater to be announced Oct. 23. Piven will play the role of film producer Bobby Gould; no other casting has been announced.

Atlantic Theater Company artistic director Neil Pepe will helm the production. Producers are Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Steve Traxler.

“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.”

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Jeremy Piven rents movies at a West Hollywood Rocket Video in order to research some of his upcoming film roles, yesterday.

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