The Rialto Theatre

The Rialto Theatre Akron's Premier Live Music Venue. Run by Musicians for Musicians and Music Fans. The theatre and its marquee graced the boulevard on the south side.
(1)

"Colors we share paint the world more brightly…
Music we celebrate show the heart more clearly"
-Poet THE RIALTO THEATRE
In the teen years of the 1900s, Akron had its own Rialto Theatre. The word “rialto’ is borrowed from the Italians as a good name for a place where people go for marketing and entertainment. For over forty years, our Rialto was loved by the local residents as its neighborhood ga

thering place. The new movie media was just beginning and the Rialto was one of the earliest show places to feature a “silver screen.” The theatre was lost in the 1950s. It no longer competed with the malls and the multiplexes. A new marquee will now mark 1000 Kenmore Boulevard as it looked a century ago. The new Rialto is part of a gentrification of the grand old neighborhood. It has been restored and is now managed by Just A Dream Entertainment, Inc. JADE is the dream of two brothers whose goal is to bring the performing arts to serve Kenmore and the greater Akron area. Opening in 2015, the facility features two recording studios, a live room with a stage, full sound and lighting, café tables, stools, chairs, and a full bar. The live room is available for music concerts, comedy clubs, little theater, art displays, parties and receptions. For more information, call the Rialto Theatre at 330-631-7381

THEATRE STAFF
Seth Vaill | Owner
Nate Vaill | Owner/Executive Producer
Jude Lewis | Booking Agent/Marketing/Bartender
Lauren Brabson | Content Creator/Marketing
Brandon Kiser | Sound Engineer
Sean Atkinson | Bartender

We’ve got a full week ahead at The Rialto, and honestly, there’s a little something for everyone.Tuesday, June 2IRISH JA...
06/01/2026

We’ve got a full week ahead at The Rialto, and honestly, there’s a little something for everyone.

Tuesday, June 2
IRISH JAM SESSION
6:30 PM

Wednesday, June 3
ANGRY COW POETRY featuring RAJA BELLE FREEMAN
6:30 PM

Thursday, June 4
JIM BALLARD’S FIRST THURSDAY IN THE RIALTO LIVING ROOM
5:00 PM

Then later that evening…

POINT OF NO RETURN IMPROV
7:00 PM

Friday, June 5
GLENN SONODA AND SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE RIALTO LIVING ROOM
5:00 PM

And then we close out the night with…

A BAND NAMED ASHES
DOUG KLEINER
FRIDA AND THE MANN
7:00 PM

Some of y’all basically live here already, so we’ll see you this week. The rest of ya should probably come see what all the fuss is about. Lots of good humans, good art, good music, and plenty of reasons to get outta the house. ❤️

05/28/2026

Okayyyy June 5th is about to be one of those Rialto nights 🤌⚡️

Glenn Sonoda’s settin the tone in the living room at 5pm, then we roll right into a stacked night with:
✨ A Band Named Ashes
✨ Frida and the Man
✨ Doug Kleiner

Doors at 7pm. Music all night. Good humans everywhere. The kinda night where you show up for “a little bit” and suddenly it’s midnight.

Y’all already know the deal. Come be part of it. 💃🎤

This week at the The Rialto Theatre is absolutely unhinged in the best possible way.From living room blues sessions to w...
05/27/2026

This week at the The Rialto Theatre is absolutely unhinged in the best possible way.

From living room blues sessions to walls of distortion, anniversary celebrations, underground chaos, dreamy soundscapes, and the kind of nights you accidentally remember forever…

We’ve got it all packed into ONE week.

⚡️ WEDNESDAY
STAY GONE / STMNTS / BURY THE PINES

⚡️ THURSDAY
VARSITY GOLF / BWAK DWAGON / HOBO PHANTASM

⚡️ FRIDAY
COLIN JOHN in the Rialto Living Room
then
CHURCH OF STARRY WISDOM 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY w/ Emergence Ensemble

⚡️ SATURDAY
BRYAN LOWEREE in the Rialto Living Room
then
REDACTED / LILIEAE / FRAMESHIFTER / DEADBUDS

Music. Community. Sweat. Weirdness. Art.
Exactly how it should be.

Pull up. Bring your people. Stay too late

05/25/2026
Happy Memorial Day from all of us at the The Rialto Theatre 🇺🇸Today we’re thinking about all of the friends, families, s...
05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day from all of us at the The Rialto Theatre 🇺🇸

Today we’re thinking about all of the friends, families, service members, and loved ones who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. We hope everyone has a safe weekend filled with love, gratitude, good company, and remembrance.

Take a moment today to honor the people who gave everything so we could live freely. ❤️🤍💙

🎤 KARAOKE NIGHT 🎤at the historic Rialto Theatre🍻 $2 Well Drinks🍺 $2 Domestics⏰ Happy Hour Specials from 6–8PM📍 1000 Kenm...
05/20/2026

🎤 KARAOKE NIGHT 🎤
at the historic Rialto Theatre

🍻 $2 Well Drinks
🍺 $2 Domestics
⏰ Happy Hour Specials from 6–8PM

📍 1000 Kenmore Blvd
📅 Friday, May 22
🎶 Karaoke from 8PM–11PM

Grab some folks, enjoy happy hour, and sing some Madonna for us🎙️✨

💥WEEK AND THE RIALTO💥Wednesday, May 20, 2026COMEDY OPEN MIC W/ SPECIAL MUSIC GUEST🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM⸻Thursday, May 21,...
05/19/2026

💥WEEK AND THE RIALTO💥

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

COMEDY OPEN MIC W/ SPECIAL MUSIC GUEST
🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

⸻

Thursday, May 21, 2026

TRIVIA NIGHT
🕕 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

LAKE ERIE HIGH BALL / ANNA BEAU / WENDY DARLING / ALEXIS JAMES
🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

⸻

Friday, May 22, 2026

FERAL COMPANY W/ SUSAN WOJNAR / KATY ROBINSON
🕔 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

⸻

Saturday, May 23, 2026

ED AMANN IN THE RIALTO LIVING ROOM
🕔 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

BY LIGHT WE LOOM / VANISHING SHORES / RIVAL HEARTS
🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

.rival.hearts

🎭✨ THIS WEEK AT THE RIALTO THEATRE ✨🎶Downtown magic, live music, dancing, drag, burlesque, community, and unforgettable ...
05/11/2026

🎭✨ THIS WEEK AT THE RIALTO THEATRE ✨🎶
Downtown magic, live music, dancing, drag, burlesque, community, and unforgettable nights all under one roof. There is truly something for everyone this week at Rialto Theatre and you do NOT want to miss it.

💃 WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
SWING DANCING @ THE RIALTO
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Step onto the dance floor and swing the night away. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or have two left feet, this is your chance to move, laugh, connect, and experience the energy of live swing culture in one of Akron’s most historic spaces.

🎸 THURSDAY, MAY 14
IDOLOS / SUNDIVER / THE STEREOFLOWERS / KID PRIMITIVE
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
An explosive night of live original music featuring four incredible bands bringing alternative, indie, rock, and raw underground energy to the stage. Discover your next favorite band and support local and touring artists doing what they love.

🔥 FRIDAY, MAY 15
THE LAST POST / SKELETON DRIVE / LAST PICK / MORGEN RAT
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday night gets loud with a stacked lineup delivering heavy riffs, unforgettable performances, and pure live music adrenaline. Grab your friends and come experience the kind of night that reminds you why live music matters.

🌈✨ SATURDAY, MAY 16
NERDY BURLESQUE AND DRAG SHOW
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Costumes. Characters. Comedy. Glamour. Chaos.
This wildly entertaining evening combines fandom culture with dazzling drag and burlesque performances for a night that is bold, hilarious, creative, and unapologetically fun. Expect surprises all night long.

🎟 Come support independent art, local music, performers, and community at the Rialto. Every ticket, every share, every person through the door helps keep spaces like this alive.

📍 See you at the Rialto this week.


.primitive @

• THIS WEEK AT THE RIALTO •Your week just got a whole lot louder, livelier, and way more fun. From Irish tunes and poetr...
05/05/2026

• THIS WEEK AT THE RIALTO •

Your week just got a whole lot louder, livelier, and way more fun. From Irish tunes and poetry nights to improv, album releases, and rock ’n’ roll… there’s something happening every night at The Rialto. 👇

🍀 Tuesday, May 5Irish Jam Session6:30 PM • 9:00 PM

🎤 Wednesday, May 6Angry Cow Poetry ft. Smiley Kylie6:30 PM • 9:00 PM

🎶 Thursday, May 7Jim Ballard’s First Thursday in The Rialto Living Room5:00 PM • 7:00 PM

🎭 Thursday, May 7Point of No Return Improv7:00 PM • 10:00 PM

🎸 Friday, May 8Glenn Sonoda & Special Guests in The Rialto Living Room5:00 PM • 7:00 PM

🔥 Friday, May 8Nine O Seven / Whippet / PENK / Johnny Kopen7:00 PM • 10:30 PM

🐇 Saturday, May 9Rockin’ Rabbits / Blues & Rock ’N’ Roll1:00 PM • 4:00 PM

💿 Saturday, May 9Solice Album Release Partyw/ Graveridden / The Exiled7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Grab your people, grab a drink, and make a week of it.Live music, local talent, and good trouble all week long at The Rialto. 🖤



This Week at the Rialto TheaterThursday, April 30Folk Punk Night ft. When September Ends / Miguel Cafe / Don Beck7:00 PM...
04/28/2026

This Week at the Rialto Theater

Thursday, April 30
Folk Punk Night ft. When September Ends / Miguel Cafe / Don Beck
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Friday, May 1
Joey Adams / Spencer Hutchison / Ethan Butcher
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Saturday, May 2
Michelle Hall
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Saturday, May 2
Future Perfect Album Release Party
Special Guests: Beezy Douglas / Andie Ferman
7:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Address

1000 Kenmore Boulevard
Akron, OH
44314

Opening Hours

Wednesday 5pm - 11pm
Thursday 5pm - 11pm
Friday 5pm - 11pm
Saturday 5pm - 11pm

Telephone

+13306317381

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Rialto Theatre posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Rialto Theatre:

Shortcuts

Share

Category