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.

"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

This year, The Angie Haze Annual Time Machine Shows will honor the beloved Luck Dragon, Reggio Geppetto. To celebrate th...
05/12/2025

This year, The Angie Haze Annual Time Machine Shows will honor the beloved Luck Dragon, Reggio Geppetto.

To celebrate the unconditional love our furry companions give us, we’ll have a memory board where you can add photos of pets who’ve crossed over the rainbow. In a time that feels isolating, confusing, and heavy, we want to reflect on the love that never leaves us—the kind our animals model so effortlessly. They are our teachers. If we can carry just a fraction of that love into our daily lives, relationships, and communities, I truly believe we can build a world rooted in compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and peace.

Catch Angie Haze on May 22nd and 23rd as part of our month long 10th Anniversary Celebration! Tickets, May Music Passes, and more at therialtotheatre.com

Time Cat is a raw and explosive rock band from Akron, Ohio, led by guitarist and singer Jeri Sapronetti. Formed in 2011 ...
05/12/2025

Time Cat is a raw and explosive rock band from Akron, Ohio, led by guitarist and singer Jeri Sapronetti. Formed in 2011 with drummer Sam Caler, the band grew into a powerful four-piece with the additions of bassist Colten Huffman and guitarist Donald Alan. Their sound fuses the spirit of Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Bowie, and Jefferson Airplane with a fierce modern edge.

Catch Time Cat on May 17th as part of our month long 10th Anniversary Celebration! Tickets, May Music Passes, and Additional Info: therialtotheatre.com

❇️ 5/10 AT THE RIALTO ❇️2:00 PM: SHEP / Lake District7:00 PM: Doug Kleiner / Jim Ballard and The Strangs / Katy Robinson...
05/10/2025

❇️ 5/10 AT THE RIALTO ❇️

2:00 PM: SHEP / Lake District
7:00 PM: Doug Kleiner / Jim Ballard and The Strangs / Katy Robinson and The Wanderers / Brian Lisik

Don’t miss a single beat this month and get your May Music Pass now at therialtotheatre.com !

An Akron native, Jim Ballard has long been a part of the Northeast Ohio music scene. He has recorded and released 15 alb...
05/09/2025

An Akron native, Jim Ballard has long been a part of the Northeast Ohio music scene. He has recorded and released 15 albums and continues to write and record new music. Having traveled the country playing and singing his songs, Jim has worked with a diverse list of artists from Pete Seeger and Odetta to Gordon Lightfoot and Ten Thousand Maniacs. Joined by his band The Strangs, Jim brings a well honed set and sense to the audience, graced by the playing of The Strangs, all seasoned musicians in their own right. Be it a club, a concert opener or a feature, Jim Ballard and The Strangs’ mix of rock, indie, americana and singer/songwriter will keep the audience there and bring them to their feet. From uptempo rockers to fiery topical songs to ballads where you can hear a pin drop, Jim Ballard and The Strangs should be seen...

And heard.

Catch Jim Ballard and The Strangs on May 10th as part of our month long 10th Anniversary Celebration! Tickets, May Music Passes, and Additional Info: therialtotheatre.com

🔅 5/9 AT THE RIALTO 🔅Happy Friday!! We made it to the weekend! 🎉 What better way to kick it off than with Blue Radio, Su...
05/09/2025

🔅 5/9 AT THE RIALTO 🔅

Happy Friday!! We made it to the weekend! 🎉 What better way to kick it off than with Blue Radio, Super Culture, Talk Less, AND Jones’n?! We’ve got them all TONIGHT!

Doors: 7:00 PM / Showtime: 7:30 PM

Drawing from a variety of musical influences, Doug Kleiner's song writing and storytelling are often a dark and moody ex...
05/08/2025

Drawing from a variety of musical influences, Doug Kleiner's song writing and storytelling are often a dark and moody expedition into raw emotions. This wide array of influences is evident on his first solo album, Sing When I'm Down. Evoking elements of '90s era grunge on songs such as Dark Day and Get By along with the straightforward early '50s Country sound of the title track, Sing When I'm Down and Tomorrow's too Soon, Doug draws inspiration from a wide range of song writers.

Catch Doug Kleiner on May 10th as part of our month long 10th Anniversary Celebration! Tickets, May Music Passes, and Additional Info: therialtotheatre.com

⚡️ 5/8 AT THE RIALTO ⚡️Finals Week is wrapping up for our University of Akron students! To celebrate, we have College Ni...
05/08/2025

⚡️ 5/8 AT THE RIALTO ⚡️

Finals Week is wrapping up for our University of Akron students! To celebrate, we have College Night co-presented with Late Night Local Talent featuring Mud Whale, Funeral Proposals, and Sea of Ghosts!

Doors: 7:00 PM | Showtime: 7:30 PM

Did you know that on Mondays at 10:00 PM, you can tune into 88.1 for an hour of Ohio artists from Rap to Hip-Hop to Alt Rock and more! You may even hear some artists you’ve seen at The Rialto! Don’t miss it!⚡️⚡️

05/07/2025

Akron - just ONE WEEK from tonight- Wednesday May 14th at Akron's The Rialto Theatre!!

SWING DANCERS and SWING MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS -

(No, you don’t have to dance if you don’t want to!! Just enjoy the music if you don’t wish to dance :)

Join acclaimed NE Ohio native saxophonist Matthew Alec and his all-star jazz group for a night of old school SWING MUSIC!!

Featuring:
Matthew Alec - tenor saxophone
Greg Banaszak - alto saxophone
Brian Woods -keys & vocals
Miguel Tarin Torres - bass
Drew Parent - drums

Swing LESSONS begin at 6pm with LIVE MUSIC at 8pm!
Advanced Lesson (6:00 PM)
Beginner Lesson (7:00 PM)
Special guest Matthew Alec Band for Open Dance (8:00 PM)
Doors: 5:30 PM



Blue Radio began 65,000,000 years ago in the Cretaceous period when their space ship crashed violently into the earth. T...
05/07/2025

Blue Radio began 65,000,000 years ago in the Cretaceous period when their space ship crashed violently into the earth. The resulting sound gave them the idea for rock and roll music, which they started to slowly perfect over the millennia. They were also inspired by the great taste of dinosaur, but they foolishly hunted and barbecued these magnificent animals to extinction. After millions of years of writing and rehearsing, Blue Radio finally released their debut album, Famous Fellow Losers, in 2019. Unfortunately, while promoting the album, Blue Radio tore a hole in the fabric of this dimension and were sucked into a different reality. Before they were able to return home, they were declared Fugitives of Rock and had to go on the lamb. Eventually, the members had to separate and assume new identities. Their second album, The Good Times, was written after the band's lead guitarist, Sam, fraudulently became president of a tropical island paradise. The Good Times was recorded in secret in 2020 and released in this dimension in 2022. Recent radio activity in this dimension has indicated that Blue Radio may have successfully returned to home. This is, however, unconfirmed.

Catch Blue Radio on May 9th as part of our month long 10th Anniversary Celebration! Tickets, May Music Passes, and Additional Info: therialtotheatre.com

🎙️ 5/7 AT THE RIALTO 🎙️Join us for Angry Cow Poetry featuring Tory, Artistic Genius, and Silent Knight and a DJ. Plus th...
05/07/2025

🎙️ 5/7 AT THE RIALTO 🎙️

Join us for Angry Cow Poetry featuring Tory, Artistic Genius, and Silent Knight and a DJ. Plus that open mic waiting for your voice. All in the Theatre tonight!

Open Mic: 7:15 PM

Sea of Ghosts is a genre-bending trio from Northeast Ohio. With roots in alternative, indie, grunge, and progressive sty...
05/06/2025

Sea of Ghosts is a genre-bending trio from Northeast Ohio. With roots in alternative, indie, grunge, and progressive styles, Sea of Ghosts delivers a sound that weaves together raw emotion, haunting melodies, and explosive energy. Known for their intense live shows and unfiltered storytelling, Sea of Ghosts isn’t afraid to dig deep. Whether it’s themes of isolation, inner demons, or fleeting beauty, their songs hit with emotional weight and sonic depth. With DIY ethics and a relentless drive, the band is carving out its place in the underground.

Catch Sea of Ghosts on May 8th as part of our month long 10th Anniversary Celebration! Tickets, May Music Passes, and Additional Info: therialtotheatre.com

Address

1000 Kenmore Boulevard
Akron, OH
44314

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+13306317381

Website

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