Jake Gyllenhaal-led revival of Burn This is postponed

It has been officially confirmed that the first-ever Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's 1987 drama Burn This, starring Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer, which was scheduled to re-open Broadway's Hudson Theatre next spring, has now been postponed until the 2017-2018 Broadway season. The delay is due to a scheduling conflict with Mr. Gyllenhaal. The play was to begin previews in February 2017, before an official opening on 6 March.

The Ambassador Theatre Group, owner of the Hudson Theatre, will announce a new production to re-open Broadway's 41st venue shortly, marking the first play in almost 50 years at the 700-seat theatre.

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."

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.

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

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