A native Chicagoan, James served the Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo from his co-founding of the theatre in 1996 until 2012, when he handed the creative reins to fellow Meier Awardee Nick Sandys. Among the many shows he has directed for the company are Hapgood, Some Americans Abroad, Arcadia and Tartuffe. James has directed for many seasons at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin. He came late to the theatre, after spending his twenties teaching history and English in a program for high school dropouts.

Productions with Remy Bumppo

Night and Day, The Seagull, Waiting for Godot, Rockabye, Heartbreak House, Road to Mecca, Man & Superman, Hapgood, No Man’s Land, Top Girls, The Secret Rapture, Holiday, Money, Major Barbara, Some Americans Abroad, Hidden Laughter, A Delicate Balance, Arcadia, Humble Boy, Tartuffe, Power, The Best Man, The Real Thing, Bronte, On the Verge, The Voysey Inheritance, Old Times, Heroes, The Island.