Rio Theatre

Rio Theatre The Rio Theatre currently presents a wide variety of events including: concerts, lectures, video presentations, movies, and theatre. How does it work?
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Also just added: we now do weddings and meeting conferences! For more info email: [email protected] The Rio Theatre can accommodate a wide variety of events, including concerts, lectures, video presentations, movies and theatre. Our multi-purpose venue has 680 seats and a thrust stage 40 feet wide, with center section at 24 feet. Pricing for the Rio Theatre is based on the particular event, dep

endant of technical needs and staffing needs . Rehearsals and classes are charged hourly. Non-profit educational Organizations and public schools get special deals ....


The Foyer and Cabaret Space:
Tear drop shaped, with an approximate size of 24 feet wide and 60 feet deep..This is the main lobby space. The Beautiful Main Theatre:
Historic, romantic and very functional..

685 original historic movie theatre seats + wheel chair spaces
Thrust stage is 40 feet wide total, with center section at 24 feet
Stage floor is masonite
Large movie screen 20 feet high by 30 feet wide
Grand drape can close to cover movie screen
Complete sound system ( below )
Lighting system ( below )
35 mm film projector
Panasonic PT-D5700U Digital projection unit, compatible with HD , Blu-Ray and other audio visual equipment using worlwide playback standards
Backstage area behind movie screen, approximately 400 square feet
Open space in front of stage for dance, orchestra pit, special effects
Standard rental rate for rehearsals and classes in the main theatre is $40 hourly with a 2 hour minimum. Standard rental rate, well, is not standard.. Since every event is different, with varying budgets, all rentals are negotiated individually. The mission of the Rio Theatre is to make space available for the arts, at an affordable price. There is a sliding scale from commercial events to Non-profit organization and schools. This does not include sound system and operators, nor lighting operator. We need the technical requirements in order to price these items correctly.. If you are interested in booking the Rio Theatre, please fill out our booking form here. Keep in mind, the Rio Theatre's newly renovated marquee will be made available to promote your event with a full price rental.. This is a boon for advertising your event, on one of the busiest intersections in Santa Cruz.. The Crying Room
Used mainly as a green room ( hospitality), this room is on the second floor, with a full view of the main theatre. Couches, table and chairs. Used also as a dressing room, with another smaller private dressing room across the hall..Private rest room can be made available. Rio Theatre Audio Spec's:

RIO THEATRE SOUND SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS AS OF JANUARY 2011
Front of House:
Midas 56 channel Verona console
8 channels of DBX 1231 EQ
10 channels of DBX 166 compression / gates
1 x TC electronics M1 Reverb unit
1 x TC electronics D2 Delay unit
1 x Yamaha SPX 990 multi effect unit
1 x Drawmer DS404 Quad Gate unit

Main Speakers:
4 per side PAS model FT-1 ( 15"x 1")
2 per side YorkVille (RCF drivers) 18" subs
2 PAS 15" Subwoofers
System is Tri Amped with a DBX Drive rack and with about 10,000 watts of QSC PLX amps
1 per side passive PAS model FT- 1 for front fills. Monitors:
Monitor desk is a Soundcraft SM 20 - 40 inputs ( 6 mono 7 stereo mixes total 20 mix outputs)
Mid Eqs (2)are full parametric /sweepable hi pass filter / sweep able high and low bands or switch able to shelf Eqs.

10 channels DBX 1231 Eqs
4 channels DBX 166 compressor/gates
10 EAW SM159zi (15"x 1") monitors and QSC PLX amps for up to 10 mi

Snake and Splits :
40 channel split to FOH and to Monitors ( Monitor split is to stage right but will reach stage left ) The snake is new and in perfect working condition! There are also left and right sends on this snake

There is a 16 channel send snake at FOH to Stage right (only) this snake has both genders on all 16 Channels at both ends and is used to get signal from FOH to amp racks and my be used for clear coms etc. There are TWO 16 channel break out snakes , used to patch from front and back line to main snake box. Microphones :
SHURE : sm-58
Beta 58
SM-57
55SH
B-52
Beta-91
Sm-7

Audix : adx-50
ADU small diaphram condensers
adu large diaphram condensers

Crown PZM

Direct boxes:
BSS active
Whirlwind active
CBI, Rolls, ART passive

Art stereo isolationtransformers

Light Pilot
The RIO light pilot must be restored after every show with the colors wich are in every instruments. Please refocus as follows:

2 Source Four 19 degre 575W (FHO #1) Focus Dowstage C
6 Parnel 575W front of the stage wash (FHO #1) Focus Downstage SR, C, SL (FHO #1)) - Focus Upstage SR, C, SL
3 specials Source Four 26 degre 575W (FHO #1) Focus SR, C, SL
6 Par 64 500W over the stage as over head or back light) Focus Downstage SR, C, SL and Upstage SR, C, SL
2 Source Four 26 degre 575W (Ladder House Right) Focus Side Wash
3 Source Four 36 degre 575W (Ladder House Right) Focus Side Wash
1 Par 64 M 500W (Ladder House Right)
2 Source Four 26 degre 575W (Ladder House Left) Focus Side Wash
2 Source Four 36 degre 575W (Ladder House Left) Focus Side Wash
2 Par 64 M 500W (Ladder House Left) Focus Side Wash
1 FollowSpot in house. Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RioTheatreSC

NEW EVENT! SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
09/03/2026

NEW EVENT! SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

Show time: 1:00 PM, doors 12:00 PM Tickets: Free

09/03/2026

Just a heads up our Ocean Film Festival is SOLD OUT! Thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket. We will see you there.

Screens at Ocean Films Festival September 4th @ 7 pmSupporting Save Our ShoresANTARCTICA: DOMAIN ONE Argentina: 27 minut...
08/20/2026

Screens at Ocean Films Festival September 4th @ 7 pm
Supporting Save Our Shores
ANTARCTICA: DOMAIN ONE Argentina: 27 minutes

Narrated by surfing legend Kelly Slater, this stunning documentary follows two Argentinian brothers on an extraordinary expedition to the end of the Earth. United by their passion for riding waves and protecting our oceans, the Gauchos del Mar embark on a sailing, trekking, and surfing adventure through Antarctica’s breathtaking landscapes.

This is more than a film about adventure. It’s a powerful rallying cry for the conservation of our planet’s last great frontier – and a reminder that what happens in Antarctica affects us all. Will you answer the call?
Locally sponsored by Sandbar Solar & Electric, Chardonnay Sailing Charters, Seymour Discovery Center, Event Santa Cruz, 1440 Multiversity and swellcycle

NEW FILM ! AUGUST 29, 2026
08/19/2026

NEW FILM ! AUGUST 29, 2026

A film by Kolohe Andino / Jacob Vanderwork · One night only FUDŌ is a 35-minute surf film shot on RED and 16mm across Indonesia, Australia, Hawaii, Mexico and California. Eight surfers, each assigned a single color that runs through everything in their section — boards, wetsuits, the trucks, the...

08/15/2026

Tickets on sale now for Ocean Film Festival World Tour September 4th.

NEW SHOW! NOVEMBER 14, 2026
08/14/2026

NEW SHOW! NOVEMBER 14, 2026

Supporting Second Harvest Food Bank Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. The tour will visit the Rio Theatre on November 14th with films that explore themes connect

NEW LECTURE! OCTOBER 11, 2026
08/14/2026

NEW LECTURE! OCTOBER 11, 2026

Cosponsored by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz "A novel of extraordinary ambition. Min Jin Lee has constructed a world so rich and intricate that you forget you're reading—you're simply living alongside the Kohs as they navigate betrayal, displacement, and the shifting promises of a

NEW SHOW! OCTOBER 31, 2026
07/28/2026

NEW SHOW! OCTOBER 31, 2026

A virtuosic four-piece that’s taken the progressive bluegrass world by storm, AJ Lee & Blue Summit came together as teenagers in the fertile California festival scene, cutting their teeth at campsite jams and parking lot picking sessions before landing their first gigs at bars and cafes arou

NEW SHOW! DECEMBER 11, 2026
07/28/2026

NEW SHOW! DECEMBER 11, 2026

“Richman is one of America’s most unique and dynamic songwriters…” – Nashville Scene “Richman didn’t need much else besides a beat to work his magic.” – New York Daily News “Buy tickets early. Buy tickets often. This is just good general life advice, but even more so when you’r...

NEW SHOW! SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
07/28/2026

NEW SHOW! SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

Moe's Alley presents the Rolling Together R***e featuring Donavon Frankenreiter + The Band Of Heathens live at The Rio Theatre! Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm $40 in advance / $45 day of the show / $55 for Gold Circle All Ages * Tickets on sale Friday, July 31st at 10am PT * *

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1205 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
95062

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