American Theater
The American Theater is a restored 1942 Art Deco movie house at 446 King Street on Charleston's Upper King Street, with a stadium-seat cinema, a ballroom with a stage and a lounge bar across 8,000 square feet. It is a private event venue that only opens for events, so you come in on a festival ticket rather than by walking up. There is no parking of its own; garages and hotels are within walking distance, and the main level, restrooms included, is wheelchair accessible.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 8,000 square feet of event space
- Indoor or outdoor
- Indoor: stadium-seat cinema, ballroom with stage, lobby and lounge bar
- Official site
- pphgcharleston.com
- Next festival here
- Charleston Jazz Festival, Apr 11 to 20, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- There is no venue lot: for the Charleston Jazz Festival the garages to aim for are 35 John St, 15 Ann St and 63 Mary St, with metered spaces nearby.
- At Charleston Jazz Festival shows nothing is sold to eat or drink inside, so eat on King Street before you arrive.
- Only the main level, the ballroom and cinema, is wheelchair accessible.
- It is a private venue, not open to the public outside events.
- Events here can run until 2am.
Festivals here
Venue basics: 1942 Art Deco cinema with stadium seats · Main level wheelchair accessible · Parking garages within walking distance.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- you want jazz in a restored Art Deco cinema
- you are staying downtown and walking or using the DASH shuttle
- you want a stadium-seat room
- you want King Street restaurants a short walk away
Think twice if
- you want a drink or a snack during a festival show
- you need step-free access beyond the main level
- you want to park at the door
- you want to drop in outside an event; it is a private venue
Getting there and parking
The American Theater is at 446 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, a centerpiece of Upper King Street on the downtown peninsula. It is a private venue that is not open to the public outside events, and events can run as late as 2am.
The theater has no parking of its own; hotels and parking garages are within walking distance.
Festival-specific · Charleston Jazz FestivalFor festival shows the organiser points drivers to the garages at 35 John St, 15 Ann St and 63 Mary St, with metered parking nearby. Without a car, the CARTA bus system's free downtown DASH shuttle serves the area, and taxis, Uber, Lyft and pedicabs are all available.
Accessibility
The main level of the American Theater is wheelchair accessible, including the restrooms; that covers the first-floor ballroom and cinema.
Festival-specific · Charleston Jazz FestivalThe festival takes assisted listening device requests for its shows here; contact Charleston Jazz before the show.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (pphgcharleston.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the American Theater. The venue's own pages are the place to check: pphgcharleston.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
Food and drink at the theater are in house, with bar service packages and an intimate lounge with a bar for private events.
Festival-specific · Charleston Jazz FestivalAt festival shows there is no food or drink for purchase at the American Theater. The festival lists nearby restaurants on King Street instead, so eat before you arrive.
Quick answers
Is there parking at the American Theater?
No, not on site. Garages and hotels are within walking distance; for festival shows Charleston Jazz points to the garages at 35 John St, 15 Ann St and 63 Mary St, plus metered parking nearby.
Is the American Theater wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The main level, including the restrooms, is wheelchair accessible: the first-floor ballroom and cinema.
Can I buy food or drink at a Charleston Jazz Festival show here?
No. Nothing is sold to eat or drink at the American Theater during festival shows, so eat on King Street beforehand.
How do I get there without a car?
During the festival the CARTA bus system's free downtown DASH shuttle serves the area, and taxis, Uber, Lyft and pedicabs are available.
What is the American Theater like inside?
A restored 1942 Art Deco movie house with a stadium-seat cinema, a ballroom with a stage under milk-glass chandeliers, a lobby and concessions area and an intimate lounge bar, across 8,000 square feet.
Can I get an assisted listening device?
Yes, for festival shows. Charleston Jazz takes assisted listening device requests; contact the festival before the show.
Can I camp at the American Theater?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the American Theater. The venue's own pages at pphgcharleston.com are the place to check.
A little history
The American Theater opened in 1942 as Charleston's premier movie house, with Art Deco architecture, a vintage exterior marquee and handmade milk-glass chandeliers in the ballroom. A meticulous restoration returned it to use as an event venue, and it appeared in the film The Notebook.
The American Theater is one of the Charleston Jazz Festival's downtown venues. The 2026 festival ran for nine days across the city, and the festival's page for the theater covers parking garages, the free DASH shuttle and accessibility.