One of the last great theatres to be built on 42nd Street, the former Selwyn Theatre opened in 1918 and was initially home to works by George Kaufman, Noel Coward and Cole Porter. Over the decades, hard times and the deterioration of the Times Square area took their toll on the theatre, leaving it derelict and in disrepair. With guidance from the City's Historical Preservation Committee and dedicated craftsmen, artists and construction professionals, the space was transformed, excavated, reshaped and restored to become a beautiful new home for the Roundabout Theatre Company and its audiences. With restored murals and theatre boxes, excellent acoustics and sightlines and a complete restoration of original ornamental plasterwork, Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre is truly a gem in the heart of the rejuvenated Times Square district.