Breaking: Jake Gyllenhaal Will Return to Broadway in BURN THIS at The Hudson Theatre

This winter, thirty years after it first premiered at Circle Repertory Company, producers Stacey Mindich and Jessica R. Jenen will present the first-ever Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's acclaimed play, Burn This, directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, and starring Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. The play will re-open Ambassador Theatre Group's historic Hudson Theatre (139-141 West 44th St) on Broadway. Performances begin February 2017, with an opening night set for Monday, March 6, 2017.

Mark Cornell, Ambassador Theatre Group's Chief Executive Officer, said "We are thrilled that Jake will star in the first play at The Hudson Theatre in almost 50 years. We can't wait to welcome audiences to see Michael Mayer's new production of Lanford Wilson's Burn This, and experience ATG's passion for providing an exceptional customer experience."

"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," Mayer said. "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."

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 life-changing event. Heralded for its complexity, humor, sexuality and emotional core, Burn This is a masterwork from one of America's greatest playwrights.

"We thank Stacey Mindich and Jessica R. Jenen for producing this exciting play for the re-launch of this historic New York landmark," David Lazar, ATG's Executive Director, said. "We also thank Chairman Kwek, of Millennium and Copthorne Hotels, for his great vision to bring The Hudson Theatre back to life."

Lanford Wilson (April 13, 1937-March 24, 2011) is the Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright of 17 full-length works and more than 30 short plays. From 1963 his plays were produced regularly at Off-Off-Broadway venues such as Caffe Cino and La MaMa, and today he is widely recognized as a seminal figure of the Off-Broadway and regional theater movements. In 1969, along with his longtime associate Marshall W. Mason, with Tanya Berezin and Rob Thirkield, he founded Off-Broadway's legendary Circle Repertory Company. His plays include (among many others): Balm in Gilead (1965), Lemon Sky (1970; televised 1987); The Hot l Baltimore (1973; adapted for television in 1975); Fifth of July (1978, Tony Award nomination; televised 1982), Talley's Folly (1981, Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award nomination), Angels Fall (1982, Tony Award nomination); Talley and Son (1985); Redwood Curtain (1993; televised 1995) and Book of Days (1998). In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, he is the recipient of three Obie Awards, two New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, the Brandeis Creative Arts Award, and the Institute of Arts and Letters Award. This production of Burn This will mark Lanford Wilson's 7thplay on Broadway, and the first ever Broadway revival of one of his plays.

Situated just off Times Square in New York on 44th Street, between Millennium Broadway Hotel and The Premier Hotel, The Hudson Theatre opened on October 19, 1903 with a production of Cousin Kate starring Ethel Barrymore. Built by Henry B. Harris, a famous Broadway producer of that period, The Hudson Theatre is one of New York City's oldest Broadway showplaces. The 100-foot long lobby was the largest ever seen on Broadway at that time. Among the stars that have graced the Hudson's stage are Douglas Fairbanks, William Holden, Helen Hayes, Edward G. Robinson and Dorothy Gish. Barbara Stanwyck and Judith Anderson both made their debuts on its stage. On September 27, 1956 the first nationwide broadcast of "The Tonight Show" starring Steve Allen originated from The Hudson Theatre. It was granted landmark status for both its internal and external features in 1987.

The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is the world's number one live-theater company with 45 venues in Britain, the United States and Australia, and an internationally recognized award-winning theater producer with productions in the West End and on Broadway and touring productions in the UK, North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. ATG is also the market leader in theater ticketing services through ATG Tickets, LOVETheatre and Group Line. ATG presents an average of 40 productions a year, demonstrating the unique quality and range ofATG Productions in a diverse number of theaters and markets worldwide. ATG has been behind some of the most successful and innovative productions in Britain and internationally, and has subsidiary offices in London, New York, San Antonio, Houston, Sydney, Mannheim and Cologne, Germany.

Additional information for Burn This, including casting, design team and on-sale date will be announced shortly. Sign up for email updates at www.thehudsonbroadway.com.