Jake Gyllenhaal will re-open Hudson Theatre in Burn This

It has been officially confirmed that Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal will re-open Broadway's Hudson Theatre in the first-ever Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's 1987 drama Burn This. Directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer, the play will begin previews in February 2017 and officially open on 6 March.

Mr Mayer released the following statement:

"I am honored to bring Lanford Wilson's gorgeous and timeless play back to Broadway in a new production starring Jake Gyllenhaal, whose stage work has been exhilarating and who is a dream choice for this role. What a joy to reopen the historic Hudson Theatre. In the midst of an exquisite restoration, the intimate playhouse is the perfect home for this modern American classic."

Synopsis: "One of the essential plays about downtown New York in the raw and gritty 1980s, this combustible, Tony-winning drama explores the spiritual and emotional isolation of Pale and Anna, two iconoclasts who are brought together in the wake of a lifechanging event. Burn This is heralded for its complexity, humor, sexuality and emotional core."

Burn This is produced on Broadway by Stacey Mindich and Jessica R. Jenen.

Additional dates, casting and creative information will be announced at a later date.

The original Broadway production played a total of 7 previews and 437 regular performances from 7 October 1987 through to 29 October 1988 at the Plymouth Theatre. Directed by Marshall W. Mason, the cast included John Malkovich, Jonathan Hogan, Lou Liberatore and Joan Allen, who won a Tony Award in 1988 for Best Actress in a Play for her performance. Mr Liberatore also earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

The play was last staged in New York by off-Broadway's Signature Theatre in 2002.

Jake Gyllenhaal made his Broadway debut in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of 'Constellations,' starring alongside Ruth Wilson. He previously appeared off-Broadway in 'If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet' in 2012 at the Laura Pels Theatre and was last seen on the New York stage in the Encores! production of ' Little Shop of Horrors.' He also starred in Kenneth 'This is Our Youth' in London's West End in 2002. He earned an Oscar nomination for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2006 and two Golden Globe nominations - "Nightcrawler" (2015) and "Love & Other Drugs" (2011). Other notable screen credits include "Donnie Darko," "Zodiac," "Source Code," "Southpaw," "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," "Jarhead," "The Day After Tomorrow," "Prisoners," "Enemy," "End of Watch," and "Everest."

Michael Mayer won a Tony Award for directing 'Spring Awakening' in 2007, and earned Tony nominations for 'A View From the Bridge' (1998), 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' (1999), ' Thoroughly Modern Millie,' (2002), and 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' (2014). Other Broadway credits include 'On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,' 'Everyday Rapture,' Green Day's 'American Idiot,' ''night, Mother,' 'After The Fall,' 'An Almost Holy Picture,' 'Uncle Vanya,' 'The Lion in Winter,' 'Side Man,' and 'Triumph of Love.'

- by Tom Millward