American Airlines Theatre

229 W. 42nd St., New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 740

George Keister, architect. Built by Edgar and Arch Selwyn. By 1934, it was showing movies. In 1950, a unique policy was introduced: a sixty-minute play to precede each screening--resulting in thirty live shows each week. Traditional double features quickly took over, lasting into the 1990s, when the theatre fell into the hands of The New 42nd Street, Inc. Roundabout Theatre Company signed a long-term lease and renovated the theatre (Robert Ascione and Frank Eilam, architects).

Built: 1918

Theatre Names	Named
American Airlines Theatre	2000	Reopened July 27, 2000
Selwyn Theatre	1918	Named for Arch Selwyn, Opened October 2, 1918

Productions

Click here for Special Events

American Airlines Theatre	Opening Date
Present Laughter Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Noël Coward	01/21/2010
After Miss Julie Play, Original, Drama Written by Patrick Marber	10/22/2009
The Philanthropist Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Christopher Hampton	04/26/2009
Hedda Gabler Play, Revival, Drama Written by Henrik Ibsen	01/25/2009
A Man for All Seasons Play, Revival, Written by Robert Bolt	10/07/2008
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Play, Revival, Drama Written by Christopher Hampton	05/01/2008
The 39 Steps Play, Original, Comedy	01/15/2008
Pygmalion Play, Revival, Comedy Written by George Bernard Shaw	10/18/2007
Old Acquaintance Play, Revival, Written by John Van Druten	06/28/2007
Prelude to a Kiss Play, Revival, Romantic Comedy Written by Craig Lucas	03/08/2007
Heartbreak House Play, Revival, Comedy Written by George Bernard Shaw	10/11/2006
The Pajama Game Musical, Revival, Comedy Music by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross; Book by George Abbott, Richard Bissell; Lyrics by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross	02/23/2006
A Naked Girl on the Appian Way Play, Original, Written by Richard Greenberg	10/06/2005
The Constant Wife Play, Revival, Comedy Written by W. Somerset Maugham	06/16/2005
Twelve Angry Men Play, Original, Drama Written by Reginald Rose	10/28/2004
After The Fall Play, Revival, Drama Written by Arthur Miller	07/29/2004
Twentieth Century Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur	03/25/2004
The Caretaker Play, Revival, Drama Written by Harold Pinter	11/09/2003
Big River Musical, Revival, Comedy, Sign Language Music by Roger Miller; Book by William Hauptman; Lyrics by Roger Miller	07/24/2003
As Long As We Both Shall Laugh Special, Original, Solo, Comedy Created and written by Yakov Smirnoff	04/07/2003
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Peter Nichols	04/03/2003
Tartuffe Play, Revival, Comedy, Farce Written by Molière	01/09/2003
The Boys from Syracuse Musical, Revival, Comedy Music by Richard Rodgers; Based on the original book by George Abbott; Lyrics by Lorenz Hart	08/18/2002
An Evening With Mario Cantone Special, Original, Solo, Stand-up, Comedy Music by Jerry Dixon; Written by Mario Cantone; Lyrics by Harold Lubin, Mario Cantone, Jerry Dixon	05/19/2002
The Man Who Had All the Luck Play, Revival, Drama Written by Arthur Miller	05/01/2002
An Almost Holy Picture Play, Original, Solo, Drama Written by Heather McDonald	02/07/2002
The Women Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Clare Boothe Luce	11/08/2001
Major Barbara Play, Revival, Comedy Written by George Bernard Shaw	07/12/2001
Design For Living Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Noël Coward	03/15/2001
Betrayal Play, Revival, Drama Written by Harold Pinter	11/14/2000
The Man Who Came to Dinner Play, Revival, Comedy Written by George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart	07/27/2000
Selwyn Theatre	Opening Date
Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath Play, Original, Comedy	02/17/1950
The Respectful Prostitute Play, Revival, Written by Jean-Paul Sartre	12/23/1949
Ragged Army Play, Original, Drama Written by Beulah Marie Dix, Bertram Millhauser	02/26/1934
A Hat, a Coat, a Glove Play, Original, Drama Written by William A. Drake	01/31/1934
Shooting Star Play, Original, Written by Bernard C. Schoenfeld, Noel Pierce	06/12/1933
Walk a Little Faster Musical, Original, Revue Music by Vernon Duke; Book by Robert MacGunigle, S. J. Perelman; Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg	02/20/1933
Evensong Play, Original, Written by Beverley Nichols	01/31/1933
The Little Black Book Play, Original, Comedy, Drama Written by Harold Sherman	12/26/1932
The Great Magoo Play, Original, Drama Written by Ben Hecht, Gene Fowler	12/02/1932
A Thousand Summers Play, Original, Romance Written by Merrill Rogers	05/24/1932
Life Begins Play, Original, Drama Written by Mary Macdougal Axelson	03/28/1932
Electra Play, Revival, Tragedy Music by Richard Malaby; Written by Sophocles	01/08/1932
The Devil Passes Play, Original, Comedy Written by Benn W. Levy	01/04/1932
Fast Service Play, Original, Comedy Written by Elliott Nugent, J. C. Nugent	11/17/1931
The Singing Rabbi Musical, Original, Comedy, Operetta Music by Harry Lubin, Joseph Rumshinsky; Book by Boris Thomashefsky, Harry Thomashefsky; Lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert	09/10/1931
Three's a Crowd Musical, Original, Revue Music by Arthur Schwartz; Book by Howard Dietz; Lyrics by Howard Dietz	10/15/1930
Lost Sheep Play, Original, Comedy Written by Belford Forrest	05/05/1930
Wake Up and Dream Musical, Original, Revue Music by Cole Porter; Lyrics by Cole Porter	12/30/1929
Keep It Clean Musical, Original, Revue Music by Harry Archer, Harry Converse, Clarence Gaskill, Benny Ryan, Homer Violinsky, Charles Tobias, James Hanley, Jimmy Duffy, Lester Lee; Book by Jimmy Duffy, Will Morrissey	06/24/1929
This Year of Grace Musical, Original, Revue Music by Noël Coward; Book by Noël Coward; Lyrics by Noël Coward	11/07/1928
The Royal Family Play, Original, Comedy Written by Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufman	12/28/1927
Nightstick Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Elaine Sterne Carrington, Elliott Nugent, J. C. Nugent, John Wray	11/10/1927
The Garden of Eden Play, Original, Comedy Written by Avery Hopwood	09/27/1927
The Manhatters Musical, Original, Revue Music by Alfred Nathan; Book by George S. Oppenheimer, Aline Erlanger; Lyrics by George S. Oppenheimer	08/03/1927
The Mating Season Play, Original, Farce Written by William A. Grew	07/18/1927
Namiko-San Play, Original, Drama, Play with music Music by Aldo Franchetti; Written by Aldo Franchetti	06/06/1927
The Lady Screams Play, Original, Written by Everett Chantler	05/02/1927
One Glorious Hour Play, Original, Romantic Comedy	04/14/1927
The Constant Nymph Play, Original, Written by Basil Dean, Margaret Kennedy	12/09/1926
Castles in the Air Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Percy Wenrich; Book by Raymond W. Peck; Lyrics by Raymond W. Peck	09/06/1926
The Man from Toronto Play, Original, Comedy Written by Douglas Murray	06/17/1926
Fakir Rahman Bey Special, Original,	05/25/1926
Charlot Revue Musical, Original, Revue Music for ""The Mender of Broken Dreams" by John W. Bratton; Music for "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You" by Joseph Meyer; Music for "Carrie!," "Russian Blues" and "Poor Little Rich Girl" by Noël Coward; Music for "Fallen Babies" by Ivor Novello; Music for "Gigolette" by Franz Lehár; Music for "How D'You Do?," "Let's All Go Raving Mad," "Follow Master Cook" and "Oxford Bags" by Philip Braham; Music for "Mouse! Mouse!" and "Susannah's Squeaking Shoes" by Muriel Lillie; Music for "Sealed Feet" by Charles Prentice; Music for "Take Them All Away" by Jack Strachey; Music for "The Fox Has Left His Lair" by Peggy Connor; "Buying a Hat" and "Wine -- A Romantic Reverie" written by Douglas Furber; "Fate" and "A Cup of Coffee" written by Ronald Jeans; "Methods of Barberism" written by Arthur Wimperis; "References" written by Harold Simpson, Morris Harvey; Lyrics for ""The Mender of Broken Dreams" by John W. Bratton; Lyrics for "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You" by Al Dubin, Billy Rose; Lyrics for "Carrie!," "Russian Blues" and "Poor Little Rich Girl" by Noël Coward; Lyrics for "Fallen Babies" by Ronald Jeans; Lyrics for "Gigolette" and "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You" by Irving Caesar; Lyrics for "How D'You Do?" and "Gigolette" by Dion Titheradge; Lyrics for "How D'You Do?" by Eric Blore; Lyrics for "Let's All Go Raving Mad" by Hugh E. Wright; Lyrics for "Mouse! Mouse!" by Hilda Brighton; Lyrics for "Oxford Bags" by Arthur Wimperis; Lyrics for "Susannah's Squeaking Shoes" by Arthur Weigall; Lyrics for "Take Them All Away" by Jack Strachey; Lyrics for "The Fox Has Left His Lair" and "Follow Master Cook" by Douglas Furber	11/10/1925
The Gorilla Play, Original, Comedy, Mystery Written by Ralph Spence	04/28/1925
The Sapphire Ring Play, Original, Written by Laszlo Lakatos	04/15/1925
Puppets Play, Original, Melodrama, Puppets Written by Frances Lightner	03/09/1925
Two By Two Play, Original, Comedy Written by Eugenie Woodward, John Turner	02/23/1925
Kid Boots Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Harry Tierney; Book by Otto Harbach, William Anthony McGuire; Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy	09/01/1924
Andre Charlot's Revue of 1924 Musical, Original, Revue Music by Philip Braham, Noël Coward, Bert Lee, Eubie Blake, Ivor Novello; Book by Jack Hulbert, Dion Titheradge; Lyrics by Eric Blore, Noël Coward, Norah Blaney, Collie Knox, Douglas Furber, R. P. Weston, Ronald Jeans, Noble Sissle	04/21/1924
Battling Buttler Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Walter L. Rosemont; Book by Ballard MacDonald; Lyrics by Ballard MacDonald	10/08/1923
Helen of Troy, New York Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby; Book by George S. Kaufman, Marc Connelly; Lyrics by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby	06/19/1923
Within Four Walls Play, Original, Written by Glen MacDonough	04/17/1923
The Guilty One Play, Original, Drama Written by Michael Morton, Peter Traill	03/20/1923
Dagmar Play, Original, Drama Written by Louis K. Anspacher	01/22/1923
Partners Again Play, Original, Comedy Written by Jules Eckert Goodman, Montague Glass	05/01/1922
The Blue Kitten Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Rudolf Friml; Book by Otto Harbach, William Carey Duncan; Lyrics by Otto Harbach, William Carey Duncan	01/13/1922
The Circle Play, Original, Romantic Comedy Written by W. Somerset Maugham	09/12/1921
The Broadway Whirl Musical, Original, Revue Music by Harry Tierney, George Gershwin; Sketches by Thomas J. Gray; Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, John Henry Mears, Richard Carle	08/08/1921
Snapshots of 1921 Musical, Original, Revue Music by Con Conrad, Malvin M. Franklin, George W. Meyer, Jose Padilla, Leopold Godowski, George Gershwin, Harry Ruby; Lyrics by Con Conrad, Grant Clarke, Sidney D Mitchell, Alex Gerber, Bert Kalmar, E. Ray Goetz, Frances Nordstrom	07/25/1921
Snapshots of 1921 Musical, Original, Revue Music by Con Conrad, Malvin M. Franklin, George W. Meyer, Jose Padilla, Leopold Godowski, George Gershwin, Harry Ruby; Lyrics by Con Conrad, Grant Clarke, Sidney D Mitchell, Alex Gerber, Bert Kalmar, E. Ray Goetz, Frances Nordstrom	06/02/1921
Tickle Me Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Herbert P. Stothart; Book by Frank Mandel, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II; Lyrics by Frank Mandel, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II	08/17/1920
Ed Wynn's Carnival Musical, Original, Revue Music by Ed Wynn; Book by Ed Wynn; Lyrics by Ed Wynn	06/21/1920
Buddies Musical, Original, Comedy Music by B. C. Hilliam; Book by George V. Hobart; Lyrics by B. C. Hilliam	10/27/1919
The Challenge Play, Original, Drama Written by Eugene Walter	08/05/1919
Tumble In Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Rudolf Friml	03/24/1919
The Crowded Hour Play, Original, Written by Channing Pollock, Edgar Selwyn	11/22/1918
Information Please Play, Original, Written by Jane Cowl, Jane Murfin	10/02/1918

Benefits, concerts, and other special events

American Airlines Theatre	Opening Date
The 24 Hour Plays 2009 Special, Original, Benefit Written by Stephen Belber, Theresa Rebeck, Harrison Rivers, Nathan Louis Jackson, Tina Howe, Warren Leight	11/09/2009
The 24 Hour Plays 2008 Special, Original, Benefit Written by Adam Bock, Ben Karlin, Ellen Maddow, Beau Willimon, Chistina Anderson, Terrence McNally	11/17/2008
The 24 Hour Plays 2007 Special, Original, Benefit Written by Theresa Rebeck, Julia Jordan, David Lindsay-Abaire, Eisa Davis, Michael Lew, Warren Leight	10/22/2007
The 24 Hour Plays 2006 Special, Original, Benefit "Jack on Film" written by Adam Rapp; "The Blizzard" written by David Ives; "The First Tree in Antartica" written by Julia Cho; "The Sunday Times" written by Terrence McNally; "Three Girls and Bob" written by Adam Bock; "Toccata and Fugue" written by Tina Howe	10/23/2006
The 24 Hour Plays 2005 Special, Original, Benefit "Claire's Intervention" by Greg Kotis; "In the Dark" by Warren Leight; "Pressure is a Privelege" by Betty Shamieh; "That Other Person" by David Lindsay-Abaire; "The Windows" by Adam Bock; "This is Now" by Steve Harper; "Why I Write" by Clevins Browne, Jenn Nenadich	10/24/2005
The 24 Hour Plays 2004 Special, Original, Benefit "Baby Food" by David Lindsay-Abaire; "Carousel Four" by Julia Jordan; "Poem" by Christopher Shinn; "South of the Border" by Chris Henchy; "Sparkle" by Jeff Whitty; "United" by Warren Leight; "Why Should I Vote" by Heritage School 12th Grade Class	09/13/2004
The 24 Hour Plays 2003 Special, Original, Benefit "A Long Story" by Nicole Burdette; "Crazy Eights" by David Lindsay-Abaire; "Dance of Life" by Christopher Shinn; "Mars Has Never Been So Close" by Warren Leight; "Pleasure" by Matthew Barber; "Sleep Deprived" by Diana Son; Prologue: "Where I'm From" by Emily Genao	09/15/2003