“Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.”
Volunteers with the Rialto Theatre Foundation will help the public relive the iconic era of MTV with the 10th Annual Fundraising Gala: “I Want My MTV—A Totally Outrageous 80s Party!” at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.
“I think the ’80s are the generation that many Rialto employees and board members grew up in and everyone can identify with that decade. And what better dance party than an ’80s party?” said Kelly Barnhill, co-vice chair of the nonprofit board of directors with Michael Duran.
Barnhill said the musical theme also ties in naturally with the landmark theatre, which celebrates its 104th birthday this year and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Built as a sister structure to Hotel Congress in 1920, the Rialto originally headlined vaudeville shows and performers such as the Sistine Choir and the Georgia Minstrels. As the Vaudeville era gave way to “talking” pictures, the theatre came under the management of Paramount until the 1960s. Years of independent management and screenings of Spanish-language and other films followed until a fire forced closure in the 1980s.
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The theatre reopened in 1995 as a concert venue, and in 2005, the nonprofit Rialto Theatre Foundation assumed operations. The foundation also manages adjacent venues, 191 Toole and R Bar as well as the recently-opened Shop El Regalo, which offers music-themed and Rialto-related merchandise.
The Rialto averages about 300 shows annually and has been recognized by Pollstar as a Top 100 Major Club Venue worldwide. It hosts comedy revues, spoken word shows, DJ battles, movie screenings and other events, and has a growing reputation for high-profile concerts. It is also increasingly known as a venue for Latin music and events. Popular artists in the last few years have included Charley Crockett, Parker McCollum, Shakey Graves, Caifanes and Omar Apollo; upcoming performances of Toto and Ministry are already sold out.
Barnhhill said the annual gala, which has raised $500,000 over the past decade, is key not only to funding operations and maintenance costs for the theatre, but also to promoting awareness about its nonprofit status.
“People don’t equate a music venue with a nonprofit, but we have a historic building that is a cornerstone of the community and the culture in downtown Tucson. Not only does it expand people’s horizons by exposing them to different types of music, but it brings people together,” said Barnhill, who owns Pima Frame and describes art as “engrained in every aspect of her life.” The performances staged by the Rialto ultimately help to build a stronger community, according to Kristin Evans, a volunteer who has been involved with the Rialto for more than a decade and is assisting with the gala.
“To have a shared experience, whether you know people in a crowd or not, is a powerful thing, especially when it comes to music,” said Evans.
She emphasized that the annual gala, which has raised $500,000 over the past decade, also fulfills another role.
“These fundraisers are important to allow us to continue to expand and bring in larger artists and more diverse offerings, like Toto and Ministry and Gary Neumann. We wouldn’t have been able to do that ten years ago. The more support we have from the community, the better entertainment we can bring to Tucson,” Evans said.
Barnhill also hopes to distinguish the event from other fundraisers. She credits more than 20 local restaurants, eateries, breweries, distilleries and distributors for providing the distinctive small bites and libations that she said have become favorites with attendees.
“The food and drinks are a huge draw. Our goal is always to make this different from standard galas with sit-down dinners and speakers ... we try to make this the biggest party in Tucson,” she said.
Ultimately, Barnhill said that the benefit for the Rialto also impacts the well-being of downtown Tucson.
“The revenue the Rialto brings to downtown Tucson is astounding. Concerts and artists bring in tourism and people go to dinner prior to shows and sometimes stay overnight, so the economic impact is huge,” she said.
