They Knew What They Wanted (play)

They Knew What They Wanted is a 1924 play written by Sidney Howard. The play premiered on Broadway in 1924 and had three Broadway revivals, as well as a London production.

They Knew What They Wanted tells the story of Tony, an aging Italian winegrower in the California Napa Valley, who proposes by letter to Amy, a San Francisco waitress who waited on him once. Fearing that she will find him too old and ugly, Tony sends her a photograph of Joe, his young hired hand, instead of himself. When Amy comes to the vineyard she discovers Tony has lied to her and problems ensue between Tony, Amy, and Joe.

The play premiered on Broadway at the Garrick Theatre on November 24, 1924 and closed in October 1925, after 192 performances. The original Broadway cast included Richard Bennet as Tony, Pauline Lord as Amy, and Glenn Anders as Joe. The play was directed by Phillip Moeller.

They Knew What They Wanted has been performed subsequently numerous times, including three Broadway revivals.

The play was revived on Broadway at the Empire Theatre from October 2, 1939 to October 21, 1939, staged by Robert Ross and featuring Giuseppe Sterni as Tony, June Walker as Amy and Douglass Montgomery as Joe.

A revival ran on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre from February 16, 1949 to April 9, 1949. Directed by Robert Perry, the cast starred Paul Muni (Joe), Carol Stone (Amy) and Edward Andrews (Joe).

The Phoenix Theatre presented a critically acclaimed Broadway revival at the Playhouse Theatre, from January 27, 1976 to March 6, 1976. Directed by Stephen Porter, the cast starred Barry Bostwick (Joe), Lois Nettleton (Amy), and Louis Zorich (Tony).

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