The Astor Place Theatre is now hosting Burnout Paradise, a high-energy, theatrical production from Australian company Pony Cam, which began previews on February 18, 2026. The show features four performers attempting to complete a series of increasingly difficult tasks – including cooking a three-course meal and filling out a grant application – while simultaneously running on treadmills.
The premise hinges on a wager: if the performers fail to complete their tasks within an hour, audience members receive a refund. According to promotional materials, Burnout Paradise is “part comedy, part endurance feat, part theatrical explosion.” The production is scheduled to run through June 28, 2026.
Pony Cam’s creation features Hugo Williams, William Strom, Claire Bird, and Dominic Weintraub as performers. Jim Findlay and Pony Cam collaborated on the scenic and video design, with lighting by Dans Maree Sheehan and sound design by Cody Spencer. The production is a collaboration between No Guarantees Productions and Parrot Ox Productions, with general management by Baseline Theatrical.
The opening of Burnout Paradise comes as other new productions are also drawing attention in New York City. Ngozi Anyanwu’s The Monsters, a drama about estranged siblings and mixed martial arts, is currently playing at New York City Center Stage II. The Porch on Windy Hill, a musical play about a family reunion, is performing a return engagement at Urban Stages, with performances extended through March 8. Studio Seaview is hosting David Cale’s The Unknown, starring Sean Hayes as a writer dealing with a stalker.
Matthew Libby’s Data, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, is garnering attention for its exploration of the ethical implications of predictive algorithms and the potential for misuse of data by powerful tech firms. The play centers on a computer scientist who develops an algorithm with potentially harmful applications, echoing concerns about the increasing influence of technology and data in modern society.
Performances of Burnout Paradise are scheduled for select dates in February and March, including February 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, with varying showtimes.
