Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre

Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre
Name	American Airlines Theatre
Location	Manhattan, New York City
Capacity	740
Opened	1918
Reopened	2000
Owner	American Airlines / Roundabout Theatre Company
Architect	George Keister / Richard D. Castiglione (restoration)

Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre is a Broadway venue operated by Roundabout Theatre Company located in Manhattan's Theater District near Times Square, Broadway (Manhattan), and Seventh Avenue. The theatre, originally built as the Selwyn Theatre, has connections to figures such as Florenz Ziegfeld, Lee Strasberg, and Alec Baldwin, and has hosted premieres associated with playwrights like Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and Harold Pinter. Its programming history links to institutions including Lincoln Center, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and the Tony Award community.

History

The building opened in 1918 as the Selwyn Theatre under producers The Selwyns, contemporaneous with venues such as New Amsterdam Theatre, Winter Garden Theatre, and Lyric Theatre (Broadway). During the 1920s and 1930s it presented works by companies like Shubert Organization, Ziegfeld Follies, and artists linked to George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, and Cole Porter. In subsequent decades the house transitioned into a cinema under chains akin to RKO, experienced periods parallel to the decline affecting Times Square (New York City), and was impacted by urban renewal debates involving Robert Moses and preservation efforts connected to Landmarks Preservation Commission (New York City). The late 20th century saw theatrical revitalization, with intervention by organizations such as Roundabout Theatre Company, philanthropic involvement from corporations including American Airlines, and restoration work influenced by preservationists aligned with J. B. Priestley-era advocates. The theatre reopened in 2000, joining a Broadway renaissance that included neighboring venues like Al Hirschfeld Theatre and cultural projects by Mayor Rudy Giuliani and successors such as Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio.

Architecture and Design

Designed originally by architect George Keister, the theatre exhibits elements similar to contemporaneous designs by Thomas Lamb and Herbert J. Krapp found in venues like Shubert Theatre (Broadway). The facade and interior details reference Beaux-Arts precedents associated with architects such as McKim, Mead & White and decorative artisans celebrated alongside Louis Comfort Tiffany and John LaFarge. The proscenium, sightlines, and stagehouse scales are comparable to standards set by The Nederlander Organization theatres and incorporate restoration planning by firms influenced by practitioners like Ruth Draper restorers and designers with sensibilities akin to Richard D. Castiglione. The house includes auditorium ornamentation, plasterwork, and marquee treatments echoing motifs used at Palace Theatre (New York), and technical upgrades consistent with unions such as Actors' Equity Association, Local 1 IATSE, and design collaboration with members of United Scenic Artists.

Roundabout Theatre Company Residency

Roundabout Theatre Company's residency aligns the theatre with the company's history alongside figures like Tina Howe, Tom Stoppard, David Mamet, August Wilson, and Tony Kushner. The institutional programming strategy mirrors initiatives by other repertory institutions such as McCarter Theatre Center, The Old Vic, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Roundabout's administrative leadership, including executive roles similar to those held by Todd Haimes and artistic directors akin to Todd Haimes' collaborators, has cultivated partnerships with producers like Scott Rudin, presenters like Lincoln Center Theater, and fundraising ties to foundations including The Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and patrons similar to The Shubert Foundation.

Notable Productions and Premieres

The theatre's roster includes productions featuring actors and directors such as Al Pacino, Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, Ethan Hawke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Audra McDonald. Premieres and revivals at the venue have showcased playwrights like Arthur Miller with works echoing productions at Eugene O'Neill Theater, Tennessee Williams akin to revivals at Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles), and contemporary playwrights such as Ayad Akhtar and Suzan-Lori Parks. Directors associated with notable runs include Sam Mendes, Nicholas Hytner, Stephen Daldry, Michael Mayer, and designers with credits across Tony Awards seasons and institutions like Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre (London). The theatre has mounted musicals and straight plays that transferred or correlated to seasons at Broadway (Manhattan), Off-Broadway, and international venues like West End houses including Savoy Theatre and National Theatre (London).

Awards and Recognition

Productions at the theatre have earned recognition from the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics' Circle, and honors from critics at outlets such as The New York Times, Variety (magazine), The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, and The New Yorker. Individual performers and creative teams have received accolades paralleling awards given by Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Obie Awards, Laurence Olivier Awards, Drama League Awards, and institutional commendations from organizations like American Theatre Wing and National Endowment for the Arts.

Accessibility and Facilities

The venue provides accessibility services conforming to standards referenced by Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 compliance frameworks and collaborates with advocacy groups similar to The Actors Fund and New York State Council on the Arts for audience services. Facilities include wheelchair-accessible seating, assistive listening systems endorsed by industry protocols, concessions influenced by hospitality standards like those at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and backstage support spaces designed for unions such as Actors' Equity Association and Local 1 IATSE. Patron services coordinate with ticketing partners like Telecharge, Ticketmaster, and membership programs in the style of Roundabout Theatre Company's subscriber models.

Category:Theatres in Manhattan Category:Broadway theatres