With nearly 3,000 seats, the Jim and Jan Moran Theater is the big hall at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, the riverfront complex on West Water Street downtown. Broadway tours land here, and so do comedians big enough to fill a full size theater but who still want a proper stage and a seated crowd instead of an arena.
One Building, Three Halls
The center holds three halls under one roof. The Moran is the largest, Jacoby Symphony Hall is home to the Jacksonville Symphony, and the much smaller Terry Theater handles the more intimate shows. All three share the main entrance at 300 Water Street, so check which hall is printed on your ticket.
The building opened in 1962 as the Civic Auditorium and was rebuilt in the 1990s, when the Moran took the place of the old main auditorium. If you know it as the Times-Union Center, that was its name from 1994 until January 2022, when the city dropped the newspaper's name after the paper's new owners passed on renewing the deal. It has gone by the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts since.
Arriving on Water Street
Drivers can pull into the circular drive on Water Street to drop off riders, who can wait at the security desk on the right side of the lobby while the car gets parked. The center points to three nearby options, the Water Street Garage at Water and Broad streets, the lot and garage at the Marriott on West Bay Street, and a paved lot directly across Water Street. Rates vary by lot and by night. The center sits on the Northbank Riverwalk, so a walk along the St. Johns before the show is easy.
Bags, Cameras and Re-entry
Bags must be 12 by 6 by 12 inches or smaller, and every bag is searched. Personal cameras are fine, but detachable lenses, professional gear and audio or video recorders are not, and some shows set stricter rules. Leaving and coming back on the same ticket is not allowed except in emergencies. Concession stands are cashless, and the building is smoke free, vapes included. Check your ticket for the night's rules.
Access and Hearing Help
Wheelchair seats are sold at every price level, with one companion seat for each, and the building has an elevator. Assistive listening devices are available at the security desk, and the AudioFetch app can send show audio to a phone, headphones or Bluetooth hearing aids. Sign language interpreters are free when requested at least two weeks ahead.
For the rest of downtown, including VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and The Florida Theatre, see the downtown area page.