The Rialto Theatre opened on August 29, 1920. In 2020, the Rialto was all set to give Tucson the party of the century to celebrate its 100-year anniversary; but on March 12, the doors were closed and events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Rialto Theatre Foundation has lost over $5 million in revenue and was forced to lay off over 100 staff members. A year of lost shows and memories has passed, and they’re ready to shake things up!
On Friday, April 2, 2021, the Rialto Theatre will open its doors for The Gallery Project sponsored by Lerner & Rowe Injury Attorneys. Taking place Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9 PM, the Rialto will be showcasing photography and posters from past live events. Images have been curated from the photographs of C. Elliott and Mark Martinez, and event poster designs from Ryan Trayte. This is a free event by reservation only. Reservations can be made for groups up to four people in ten-minute intervals. Safety protocols will be strictly enforced, including temperature checks at the door, social distancing measures, and masks required while inside the theatre. The Rialto patio bar will be open for guests to purchase a cocktail and popcorn from Uncle Bob’s Popcorn before or after the event. Rialto merchandise, event posters, and photos will be for sale. Donations will be accepted to help raise funds for the official reopening of the theatre.
Ranked among the top 40 venues in the country by Pollstar Magazine, the historic Rialto Theatre has brought diverse, high-quality live entertainment to downtown, in part by the generous support of the Tucson community. They present more than 350 shows and entertain more than 185,000 patrons annually.
This event is sponsored in part by The Prime Leaf, The Heath Team Nova Home Loans, Mister Car Wash, and Chasse Building Team.
For more details on the event or sponsorships, please contact Kristin Evans at marketing@rialtotheatre.com.