Rialto Center for the Arts

Beautiful acoustics, comfy seating, very nice employees with lots of smiles. We saw an amazing concert of Buena Vista Social Club and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We were so happy that the sound was fantastic in there.
Only wish, that they had wine inside. We assume because it’s part of the University system they can’t but we weren’t sure. Would definitely come back if we were in town again.

The Rialto is home to the arts at GSU. Shows are playing all season, ranging from music to dance, to say it vaguely.
I’ve been a couple times to see orchestral concerts, dance shows, and this particular time, an opera. The facilities are clean and easily navigated, as the Rialto is not very large. I picked up my tickets in will call, where all is required was my ID.
There was food sold in the lobby the particular show I went to. There was no sign showing that food and drink were not allowed in the theater itself, so I brought my Dunkin Donuts coffee inside, although very warily. The three or so times I could have been stopped, no one asked me to throw away my coffee, so I guess that it is ok to bring outside food/​drink?
My friend advised that the Rialto series performances will also validate your parking in the Rialto parking deck. GSU shows tend to have a $ 3 flat charge.
Look on the website to check out what’s going down at the Rialto, buy some tickets and support the arts!

Recently I attended a Georgia State University student production at the Rialto. It was my first time there but the seats were comfortable, the acoustics were great and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was a 4 or 5 star review kind of night. Unfortunately, it was all overshadowed by the ordeal in getting back into my car.
When I arrived to the theater hours earlier, I’d hoped to find on-​street parking. However, quite a few spaces in the area were roped off by a production crew that was filming nearby. An A-​frame sign on the sidewalk pointed theater patrons into «the official parking deck of the Rialto,» the Equitable Parking Deck. Special event parking was $ 4 and it was only a two minute walk back to the Rialto. Perfect.
Once the feature ended, a friend and I walked back to our cars and we noticed people standing on the sidewalk in front of the garage. They were staring at a rolling grille door that loomed like a wall in front of them. Yes, the gates were down on the garage with dozens of cars trapped inside. No parking attendant in sight… no security guard at the station… and all of the exterior doors were locked.
Two members of Atlanta’s Ambassador Force (bless their hearts) noticed the growing crowd and walked over to radio for help. But since they weren’t affiliated with the Rialto or the parking deck they were as confused as we were. Somehow they managed to get inside after we spent several minutes waiting in the cold. To add insult to injury the ticket machine charged $ 12 instead of the advertised $ 4 event rate.
The event hall was top-​notch but the parking fiasco left a bad taste in my mouth for attending future events at the Rialto.

This venue is beautiful and while I attended Georgia State from 2008 through 2012, I had walked by and been in the lobby a handful of times. The building from the outside is attractive and adds to its surroundings.
I came here earlier this month with bf to see the Pepe Romero and the GSU Symphony Orchestra perform. Bf is a HUGE music lover and he enjoys all types of music even more so live. Back in his home country, he studied the guitar and is quite talented (though he’s given up on the habit and doesn’t do it too much anymore – so like anyone else, he gets rusty when he first picks up the string instrument) so he has an appreciation for music that goes beyond maybe the casual observer.
We arrived a bit early (my whole life, I had always been late to everything – I mean, EVERYTHING – and now I am trying to semi-​redeem myself) and noticed the lobby full of people. It was no surprise, considering a legendary Spanish guitarist, accompanied by a symphony orchestra, was performing a complimentary concert). I could hear people speaking the Iberian country’s flavor of Spanish, so I knew that Mr. Romero’s compatriots were there to support him. The lobby is attractive and looks modern. After piling into the concert hall, I looked around at the seating and the architecture. Bf explained why the structures were as they were and why they were placed just so (so that the music could reverberate throughout the space and be heard even at the back with as little distortion as possible). He told me that only certain types of woods had to be used. Understanding that there was a method used to give us all a good listening experience, I appreciated the beautiful hall even more so.
The concert was amazing and we listened and watched with pleasure from the middle seats in the first row. It felt like the concert was just for us. The musical director was extremely talented, as was the entire symphony orchestra. We were in awe of the guitarist and his charisma from stage.
After the concert concluded, bf had to run to the bathroom and I remained outside, looking at the wall with artwork. Everything was beautiful and I left Rialto with a heightened love of music and art in general.

I was here for the Arts walk today. and they had some really awesome black and white pictures of ballet dancers. The photography really captured the beauty of the human form, the a non traditional sense. My favorite picture was of a dancer, and she looked very whimsical, with her scarf. it captured the free flow of the dance itself, as well as it’s grace and beauty.
The center is pretty large, and the staff was very friendly. and it’s great a venue like this is willing to open it doors to artists to showcase their work.

This is one of the better venues in the ATL. I’ve primarily been to a number of movie screenings here. It is a well kept auditorium with nice sound quality. I like the lobby and have been to some nice receptions here.
Parking is somewhat of a mystery, but somehow, everyone works it out. Park on the street if you can, but make sure it is after 6PM or you have to feed the meter.

I’ve lost count of how many films I’ve seen here during the last few years of the Atlanta Film Festival. Everything from nature documentaries to martial arts flicks featuring blind swordsmen. One of my favorite events I saw here was a cultural exchange performance form a troupe of performing arts students from China. There were little acrobatic children flying all over the stage… it was an unexpected circus atmosphere with a coat and tie crowd.
I love the old school look and feel of the building, to the point that I don’t mind the lack of typical theater amenities. The types of films or events at the Rialto are going to be a bit more highbrow than your typical theater, so you’re not there for the picture and sound quality anyway.

The Rialto Theatre is the life line for national and international performing arts in Atlanta. Seating just under a thousand, you’ll find everything from Latin, jazz and world music events to spoken word, visual arts, The Atlanta Film Festival and a host of other films at the Rialto. Free events include Turner First Thursdays and art displays as well as shows put on through The Georgia State School of Music. If you work in the Downtown area, every third Wednesday at noon, The Rialto offers a free lunchtime performing arts series called Feed Your Senses; free lunch is provided or you can bring your own. Additionally, The Rialto offers educational programs including Jazz for Kids.
Quarterly I go to the BMW Black Film Series at The Rialto. Located in the Fairlie Poplar District, The Rialto Theatre, lobby and suites can be rented for special events. If you’re in the mood for the arts, this is a great place to go. The Rialto is always seeking volunteers as well as donations. For information regarding tickets, performing arts, events, sponsorships and donations, visit
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