Broadway producers to Jeremy Piven: Prove it was the sushi!

By Eriq Gardner

It looks like sushi-gate is not quite over.

Earlier this month, Jeremy Piven won a reprieve after producers and actors split down the middle in an arbitration hearing to determine whether Piven's exit from the Broadway play "Speed The Plow" constituted a violation of his contract. Piven cited health reasons, specifically high mercury levels from consuming sushi, as the reason why he couldn't perform.

Producers aren't letting this fishy excuse go unchallenged. They didn't have the votes to win the arbitration proceeding, but they had the right to pursue further alternative arbitration. They've opted to exercise that right. 

The arbitration is set for June 8-9, and the producers are going all out on this one, saying in a statement that they want lots of documents from Piven, including "medical records and documentation of Mr. Piven's activities both during and after the run of the show."

 

We hope TMZ footage of Piven chomping albacore sashimi doesn't emerge.