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The venue

About The James Theater

Welcome to The James Theater, a vibrant community performing arts venue in downtown Iowa City. Opened in June 2022 after renovating the former Riverside Theatre space, The James offers flexible seating that adapts to each show. With 121 fixed seats and retractable risers, the space can expand to accommodate roughly 240–250 attendees depending on configuration. While there’s no public official seating chart published on the venue site, the setup is intentionally flexible to host a wide range of performances—from intimate drama and concerts to burlesque and variety shows like the popular Bawdy Horror series.

Located at 213 N Gilbert St, The James is part of the city’s arts-forward neighborhood, easily reachable from downtown Iowa City’s transit lines and within walking distance of several hotels and dining options. Whether you’re planning a night of local culture or a special event, we’ve got you covered with practical tips to secure your seats and make the most of your visit.

Parking options include nearby off-street lots, metered spots, and several parking ramps in downtown Iowa City. The James sits along the downtown bus line, making public transit a convenient choice for guests traveling from surrounding areas. For visitors planning an extended stay, Hotel Chauncey (404 E College St) is within walking distance, with a Hilton-affiliated option nearby for convenient lodging. When you’re ready to attend, we’ll help you find available tickets, confirm seating arrangements for each show, and point you toward partner recommendations for hotels and meals that fit your itinerary. If a show date changes, we’ll note it as RESCHEDULED from its original date. For any Date to be announced (TBA) events, we’ll share updates as soon as they’re available.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

  • Address: 213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52245.
  • Venue type: community performing arts venue, renovated from Riverside Theatre’s space and opened June 2022.
  • Seating: 121 fixed seats with retractable risers to expand floor space; capacity up to about 240–250 depending on configuration.
  • Seating chart: no public official seating chart published on the venue site; seating is configured flexibly for each show.
  • Parking: off-street and metered parking nearby; several parking ramps in downtown Iowa City.
  • Transit: located on the downtown bus line (busSchedules referenced for local transit).
  • Nearby hotels: Hotel Chauncey (404 E College St) within walking distance; Hilton-affiliated Hotel Chauncey option available nearby.
  • Notable events hosted: June @ The James opening series; ongoing community events and performances; burlesque/variety events such as Bawdy Horror shows; the venue originated from Riverside Theatre and was renamed/rebranded from that space.