The Venue
The American Airlines Theater is a historic, neo-renaissance-styled screening space with impeccable architectural design, accessible to those with wheelchair, assistive listening and sign interpretation accommodation needs. First opened in 1918 as the Selwyn Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company acquired the space in 2000 when they renovated it – making it ideal for their flagship location.
Theresa Rebeck and Moritz von Stuelpnagel are the pair behind Broadway’s Bernhardt/Hamlet (2018). Following its success, the pair called on Fitz Patton, an accomplished sound designer, composer and musician with Broadway credits including Bernhart/Hamlet, Meteor Shower, Present Laughter, The Little Foxes, The Humans, Blackbird, It’s Only a Play, Airline Highway, The Other Place and Casa Valentina. Two-time winner of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design in a Play and recipient of the 2019 Tony for Sound, Patton is also the founding editor of Chance Magazine, a publication on performance and design.
Synopsis
I Need That is a dramedy, following the life of Sam, who doesn’t get out much. Instead, he prefers “the safety of his house in the company of his things — his many, many things. But when a notice from the government arrives alerting Sam that he must clean up his property or face eviction, he’s forced to reckon with what’s trash, what’s treasure, and whether we can ever know the difference between the two.”
Starring in the leading role is Danny Devito, alongside his daughter, Lucy DeVito, and Ray Anthony Thomas, as supporting characters. In an interview with the Washington Post, Danny DeVito remarked, “[The show’s] got humor in it and everything, but its also a story about like…what’s underneath.” Danny and Lucy DeVito, real-life father and daughter, are excited to take their talent to the main stage together. A New Jersey native, Danny DeVito is one of the entertainment industry’s most influential stars, having credits as an actor, producer and director. His award-winning performance as Louie De Palma on the popular television show “Taxi” was what bought DeVito fame, having since won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Getting There
The American Airlines Theater is accessible via the A, C, E, 7, S, N, R, Q, W, B, D, F, or M trains to Times Square-42nd Street. Posted to the Roundabout Site are also directions for arriving by bus. Extended through December 30, there’s still time to grab a ticket and catch a screening of I Need That. DeVito is also the founder of Jersey Films, which produced well-known films like Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich, Gattaca and Garden State.