Producers Stacey Mindich and Jessica R. Jenen announced late Friday that they are postponing the Broadway revival of Landord Wilson’s Burn This, due to what they termed ”scheduling conflicts” with the show’s star, Jake Gyllenhaal.
The show had been scheduled to open March 6, 2017, but is now aiming for its Broadway bow during the 2017-2018 season, they said.
The production had been scheduled to add a special extra distinction. It was to have been the first production to play the resurrected Hudson Theatre in five decades. Located at 139-141 West 44th Street, the Hudson is being restored by the Ambassador Theatre Group, and will become the 41st functioning Broadway theatre.
Hudson owner Ambassador Theatre Group issued a statement saying that although they are disappointed to hear that Burn This will not be proceeding, they will soon announce a new production to relight the theatre in 2017.
Gyllenhaal, seen on New York stages in Constellations and Little Shop of Horrors, had been rumored to star in a revival of the Wilson work, and was confirmed by producers July 19.
The actor will also star in New York City Center’s benefit concert presentations of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Sunday in the Park With George starting October 24.
According to previous production notes, “At the core of Burn This is Anna, a dancer-choreographer who, up until the unexpected death of her roommate and dancing partner, Robbie, has been consumed by her career. Now in her grief, she meets Pale, Robbie's older brother, who bursts into her apartment to retrieve Robbie's belongings, and ends up staying for a while. Pale is dangerous, sexy, raw and demanding, and he interrupts the course of Anna's existence bringing major changes in her life.”
Burn This opened on Broadway in October 1987, playing seven previews and 437 regular performances at the Plymouth Theatre. Directed by Marshall W. Mason, the cast included Joan Allen as Anna, John Malkovich as Pale, Jonathan Hogan as Burton and Lou Liberatore as Larry. Allen received a Tony Award for her performance.
