How do I get to the Rialto Theatre?
Short answer? Practice, practice, practice.

See below for non-joke answers:

Check our directions page, which is a link to a Google Maps interface that will give you precise directions from whatever start address you choose. Or use the handy guide below:

--From the north, take I-10 to the Congress/Broadway exit downtown, and turn left on Congress/Broadway (which turns into Broadway) at the end of the exit ramp. Look to park after you cross 5th Av. and the Theatre will be one block north of you on Congress Street.

--From the south, take I-19 north to I-10 and then take the Congress/Broadway exit downtown. Turn right on Congress/Broadway at the end of the exit ramp. Look to park after you cross 5th Av. and the Theatre will be one block north of you on Congress Street.

--From the east, take Broadway west until you cross under the Aviation Highway underpass just after Euclid Ave. Stay in the left hand lane and as you come up the hill, the Rialto (and parking) will be on your left hand side.

--From the west, take Congress Street east until you reach 5th Avenue downtown. Look to park after you cross 5th Av. and the Theatre will be one block north of you on Congress Street.

Do you serve alcoholic beverages? What about food?
Yes, the Rialto serves beer, wine and cocktails in addition to energy drinks, various sodas, and good old-fashioned water. Service of alcoholic beverages is of course limited to those 21 years of age and older, and strictly enforced.

We're somewhat limited in the breadth of our selection by space, but have plans to expand both the physical area of the concessions operation and the theatre itself, at which time we'll be able to offer a broader range that might include several Hefeweizens, some Lambics; Ales, of course, and their cousin the Lager; a full range of Stouts, and shoot, we may even go crazy and start serving Mead. Oh, and dandelion wine.

Suffice to say, we loves us some beer nerds. Come one come all.

As for food, we have a fine assortment of chips available for snacking.

What is the age limit for attending events at Rialto?
Most shows at Rialto are Ågall agesÅh but we have some informal limits - it's generally not a good idea to bring a child younger than 6 to any show, but this is an absolute rule at shows with reserved seating, because having a young child affects people in the seats nearby you. Also, we do not allow children under the age of 12 without adult supervision. The exception to these rules arises on occasions where the Rialto hosts a show geared specifically toward young children. However, we refuse to book the Wiggles, Barney, or Raffi, so it doesn't usually come up.

I'd like to bring my infant son or daughter because I can't find a babysitter. That's cool, right? I mean, rock and roll - anything goes.
No, this is generally a terrible idea. Young children's ears are sensitive and subjecting them to loud music is bad for them. We reserve the right to refuse service to infants and even toddlers. And even if they put up a fight, we have a distinct size advantage. Please, do your infant and the Rialto a favor by not bringing them here to shows.

Am I guaranteed a seat?
Rialto show seating falls into three categories: Reserved Seating, meaning that every ticket represents an assigned seat; General Admission Seated, meaning there isn't assigned seating, but there will be enough seats for all in attendance (as in a movie theater); and General Admission, which essentially means ÅgStanding Room Only.Åh For General Admission shows, there is usually limited seating available, either in the back of the Theatre or in the Balcony, if it's open, but it's available on a first-come, first-served basis. We also make seating available to anyone with special needs - ie, you recently broke your leg or you have a disability and would like to sit down. Or standing up is against your religion -- we will accomodate you, but we need a document signed by your high priest and notarized, along with a copy of your principii primi.

I'm in a wheelchair and I need to be accomodated. How should I go about ensuring this?
Arrangements can be made in advance for those in wheelchairs - just let us know when you order your ticket. For a reserved-seating show, we suggest that the person in the wheelchair purchase an aisle seat; typically, we can simply remove the chair and put their wheelchair right in the row. For standing-room shows, wheelchairs are more problematic because it's usually hard to find a position with a good sight line. We will, however, place a person in a wheelchair wherever they'd like to set up on the floor of the theatre. We have steel plates that can be used to help block the wheels to prevent unintended rolling.

Where can I park?
Since the demolition of the Greyhound bus station on the theatre's east side, there is usually plentiful parking right next to the theatre, almost always staffed by City of Tucson security and has a fee of $5. Check out the Rialto's Parking page for a comprehensive map of nearby parking options.

Will my son or daughter be safe at a concert?
We strive to make the Rialto safe for all patrons and we ensure that each show has a substantial security presence that is commensurate with the nature and number of attendees. For obvious reasons, the security requirements for heavy metal shows are far greater than what is needed for, say, cuddlecore. The best guideline here is to know your child and what they can handle at their age. But any security or conflict issues that come up during the course of a show will be handled professionally with an emphasis on protecting the patron.

Can I get a refund for my ticket? I just found out I'm a finalist on ÅeAmerica's Got Talent' and I can no longer attend the concert.
Sorry, Rialto Theatre ticket purchases are non-refundable. No exceptions. Good luck with the talent competition, however. One word of advice: rhinestones.

What's the bathroom situation like?
There is a men's main bathroom, a women's main bathroom, a women's auxiliary bathroom, and a handicap-accessible bathroom. There are occasionally lines, but we see them as opportunities to learn patience.

Might I get a job at Rialto?
Anyone is welcome to put in an application to work at the Rialto Theatre. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other arbitrary criterion. However, we are not able to hire all that frequently. If you would like to work here, it is advisable to put in an application - circumstances arise all the time where we need staff on short notice, and that's perhaps the best route to longer-term employment. We also accept bribes, but they must be substantial! (note to those that would audit us: preceding sentence NOT TRUE!)

What about volunteering opportunities?
Anyone who wishes to volunteer their time should contact Curtis McCrary via the Contacts page. Volunteer ushers, in particular, are frequently needed. But we could also use a couple volunteer stevedores and fishmongers. Oh, and podiatrists.

Can I bring my brass knuckles, knife, wallet chain, caribiner, bazooka, or RPG to the concert?
No, what are you, a maniac? We apologize about having to confiscate chains or caribiners, but to the extent they can be used as weapons, we cannot have them in the theatre. When you come to a show you are always given the option of returning such items to your car, but if you elect not to do so, we take the items and do not return them, no matter how much crap you give us.

I'd like to meet the band. Is this possible?
Usually it is not unless there's an officially-arranged meet-and-greet kind of event. Some artists will sign items in the lobby after a performance. The Rialto does not sell Ågbackstage passesÅh or VIP tickets. Typically the only way to get backstage at all is if you're on the crew working or you know someone in the band personally. Remember, ÅgbackstageÅh is pretty overrated as a phenomenon, not the shangri-la that some people assume, unless for some reason you really enjoy getting ignored by slightly famous people.

Are all of these questions really asked frequently?
You wouldn't believe how frequently. The phone rings non-stop. Why, here's a caller right now wondering what time ÄÄ"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestÄÄ" is playing.

Can I have one of those cool posters in the window for next week's show?
No. It's for a future show. It wouldn't make any sense at all for us to give away advertising materials like that for an upcoming show, would it? Unless we for some reason didn't want people to attend.

Can I have one of those cool posters in the window for last week's show?
Maybe. If you catch us at the right time and we're not busy, then perhaps we can grab one for you. Sometimes we simply cannot do it. However, if you wanted to make a small donation toward our lunch fund, then the answer will probably be yes.

What's the deal with all those service fees?
Providing a secure ticketing service in-house (as opposed to using a service like Ticketmaster) is a priority of ours, but it presents certain costs - ticket printing, costs imposed by the service provider, box office labor, ticket stock, and the expense associated with using credit cards. To recoup those costs, we apply fees to ticket purchases. We make a priority of making those fees far lower than someone would pay for a comparable ticket purchased through Ticketmaster or Ticketweb.

Furthermore, a portion of our ticketing fees is earmarked for a renovation fund and goes toward ongoing improvements to the theatre. We are a non-profit organization, so it's tantamount to a donation. In essence, it's another way in which you, the concertgoer, help us to make the concertgoing experience at Rialto continually better.

Do you guys have air-conditioning?
Yes, as of this June, the Rialto has an air-conditioning system, and Phase I of the installation is now complete. There will be a phase II and III. Patron comfort during shows in summer is at an all-time high.

My totally awesome band, Satan's Fingers, wants to headline the Rialto. How do we get a gig and rock your world and then play bass licks on your grave, man?
The reality is that the Rialto is a big venue, and unless your band is a touring act with a sizable national following or a local band that draws hundreds of people, the Rialto is probably too big. If you're packing them in on a regular basis at clubs and smaller venues, then perhaps a show might work. Send inquiries to b00king at rialtotheatre (dot) (com). Note that that email address uses zeroes instead of the letter ÄÄ"oÄÄ". You can also mail a press kit to P.O. Box 1728, Tucson, AZ 85702 Attn: Booking. Please do not stop by the theatre or expect to discuss your band with anyone in person. Phone calls are discouraged as well, because if we fielded every call from every group of miscreants with a mySpace page and bad hair looking to get booked, how would we find time to sort all the brown M&Ms out?

My totally awesome band The Octoberists would be perfect to open up for The Decemberists. So book us already! I once met Colin Meloy at Dairy Queen and he said we could play with them next time!
The type of touring bands that play the Rialto almost always have support bands on tour with them. It is the headlining band that dictates whether there is room for local support, and roughly 90% of the time, there simply isn't a slot on the bill. In the exceedingly rare cases where there is an opening slot available, we look to fill it with bands that have a proven draw and that go well with the headliner. We do what we can for locals, but we're constrained by circumstance. Take some comfort in the knowledge that once your band is huge, it'll be so satisfying to completely snub us.

What is your smoking policy?
The Rialto Theatre is a non-smoking venue. We make a smoking area available outside the theatre during most shows. People that smoke in the bathrooms will be ejected with no questions asked. In fact, using advanced Psi-ray technology, we'll throw you out even for THINKING about smoking. How do you like them apples?

What about re-entry?
It depends on the show, but as with most theatre-sized concert venues, re-entry is usually not allowed, especially for those under the age of 21. This is for security and other reasons -- namely, that we like to think of you as our captives while you are here. MWAH HAH HAH!

Can I purchase tickets for another show when you're open at night for a show?
Sure, depending on how busy it is. It's more advisable to buy a ticket during daylight hours, but if you're in attendance at one concert and want to buy tickets for another concert, and we're open... well, hell, we'd be foolish to stop you, right?

Can I use your phone?
No.

Your ticketing company screwed up my order. What are you gonna do about it?
It's important to us that Rialto patrons have a satisfactory experience. We have various methods of dealing with a ticketing error. We will find you another seat and ensure that you're satisfied, even if we have to use balms and ointments and various other palliatives. Please call us at 520.740.1000 and we'll get it straightened out for you.

Can I pick up my Will Call tickets in advance?

Nope sorry, Will Call tickets will be available for pick-up 1 hour prior to the Doors time on the night of the show only!