Inside the Roundabout Archives Day 7- AMERICAN AIRLINES THEATRE

Roundabout Theatre Company recently announced the theatre organization's permanent archives, which document the company's illustrious 46-year production history. The archives are a resource for the theatre community, Roundabout's audiences, students and researchers. The digital archives showcase selections from Roundabout's general collection, featuring items that chronicle and celebrate the company's impact on the American theatre movement, and BroadwayWorld is excited to share featured pieces from the archives. Featured today:

AMERICAN AIRLINES THEATRE:

Design mold of a griffin used throughout the historic Selwyn Theatre renovation. Roundabout Theatre Company Archives.
American Airlines Theatre (circa 1999/2000)

Roundabout's first permanent home, the American Airlines Theatre (previously known as the Selwyn Theatre) underwent dramatic renovations overseen by the city's Historic Preservation Committee. Period details, including murals and turn-of-the-20th century color schemes, were restored to their original grandeur. For its inaugural play, Roundabout mounted its production of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's The Man Who Came to Dinner. The production was filmed as part of PBS's Stage on Screen series with narration by Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson. American Airlines is Roundabout's primary stage for classic revivals.

Click here to explore Roundabout's current production of Athol Fugard's Road to Mecca at American Airlines.

During the last 46 years Roundabout has become one of the country's largest non-profit theatre organizations yet, until 2008, had no central repository for its records. Having re-located several times since 1965, many historical documents have moved to private hands, been collected by souvenir hunters, been thrown out or given away. The materials that exist were scattered among Roundabout's buildings, theatres and off-site storage and were in need of urgent archival care and preservation.

With the establishment of the permanent archives, Roundabout documents and preserves its rich history and offers access to the collection by the theatre community and qualified researchers. Materials connected to staging live theatre, such as scripts, letters and negotiations, marketing publications, photos and memorabilia are carefully preserved and will provide valuable record of Roundabout's legacy and contribution to the American theatre movement.

The physical archives are located at Roundabout's administrative offices at 231 W. 39th Street. Appointments to access the collection must be made in advance. Tiffany Nixon is the on-staff archivist.

Click here to visit the archives.

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