Adam Driver, best known for his role as Kylo Ren in Star Wars, is set to appear in the Broadway revival of “Burn This.” It’s a rare chance to see a major Hollywood star live on stage.
Adam Driver returns to Broadway for the sixth time
Although Adam Driver became widely known for playing Kylo Ren in the latest Star Wars trilogy, he has a strong stage background as well. Beyond his on screen success, he has appeared in five Broadway and Off Broadway productions to date, showcasing his versatility long before Star Wars made him a global name.
His sixth Broadway appearance: the new production of “Burn This”
Directed by Michael Mayer, known for his recent work on “Head Over Heels” and winner of the 2007 Tony Award for Best Direction, the revival of “Burn This” features Driver as a charismatic restaurant owner.
Set in Manhattan in the 1980s, the play follows four interconnected characters. Anna, a dancer, lives with her dance partner Robbie, who is gay, and their roommate Larry, also gay. When Robbie suddenly passes away, his older brother Pale (played by Adam Driver), a dangerous yet magnetic restaurant owner, unexpectedly enters Anna’s life. Despite having a boyfriend, Anna becomes entangled in a passionate relationship with Pale.
Driver’s role as Pale demands a deeply emotional and conflicted performance, offering audiences a chance to see a side of him very different from his iconic Star Wars portrayal.
Keri Russell joins the cast before reuniting with Driver in Star Wars Episode 9
The role of Anna, the dancer and leading heroine, will be played by Keri Lynn Russell, known for major films such as Mission: Impossible and Planet of the Apes. “Burn This” is scheduled to open in March 2019, just months before the release of Star Wars Episode 9, in which Russell also appears. Although fans expected their on screen reunion to come first through Star Wars, their intense connection in this stage production will be the earlier debut. Additional casting will be announced soon.
Adam Driver’s unexpected background as a former Marine
Before becoming famous for Star Wars, Driver built his career through TV dramas, independent films, and multiple New York stage appearances. He earned Emmy nominations for his role in the HBO series “Girls,” and has steadily established a remarkable acting career. What many may not know is that Driver also served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing acting.
Adam Driver: Profile
Born November 19, 1983, in California.He has ancestry from several European backgrounds, including English, German, Dutch, Irish, and Scottish.
After his parents divorced, he moved to Indiana at age seven and grew up singing in a church choir under the influence of his grandfather. Motivated by patriotism following the September 11 attacks in 2001, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. However, after suffering an injury in a mountain biking accident, he was honorably discharged after two years and eight months before being deployed.
He later attended college for a year and was accepted into the renowned Juilliard School to study acting. After graduating in 2009, he made his Broadway debut in 2010 with “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.” His film and television work expanded soon afterward, including his acclaimed role in HBO’s “Girls,” for which he received three consecutive Emmy nominations from 2013 to 2015.
In 2014, he won Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for “Hungry Hearts,” and the following year achieved worldwide fame as Kylo Ren in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The franchise continued with Episode 9, released in 2019.
Broadway Musical Discount Tickets – On Sale Now!
Find the best Broadway ticket deals right here – faster, cheaper, and backed by local expertise. Get ready to experience the magic of Broadway!
- Get discount tickets easily with instant booking
- The most detailed musical guides and reviews
- Dedicated support throughout your Broadway experience
