The Rialto Theatre Foundation’s 10th Annual Fundraising Gala, I Want My MTV— A Totally Outrageous ’80s Party, starts at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.
The big party is happening inside the Rialto Theatre at 318 E. Congress St. and will feature food tastings and samplings of beer, wine, spirits, and tea from local restaurants.
Plus, this is all while ’80s music fills the theatre. You’re encouraged to dress up because there’s going to be an ’80s customer party, a karaoke bar, a video arcade, and more — you’re practically stepping back in time to the era of neon colors, mullets, enormous amounts of hairspray, and synthesizers.
Tickets are $125 per person and include two drink tickets, beer/wine/liquor tastings, and a selection of food from local restaurants. Proceeds go toward maintaining the Rialto Theatre, which is celebrating its 104th birthday this year.
Participating Food & Beverage Vendors
- Barrio Brewing Company
- Batch
- Bawker Bawker Cider House
- Catalina Brewing Company
- Cobra Arcade Bar
- Commoner & Co.
- Contigo Latin Kitchen
- Crooked Tooth Brewing Company
- Culinary Dropout
- Doughbird
- Elliott’s on Congress
- Flora’s Market Run
- HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery
- Kingfisher
- Locale Neighborhood Italian
- Obon
- Penca
- Playground
- Prep & Pastry
- Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea
- Sauce Pizza & Wine
- Sidecar
- Sonoran Wines
- Snake & Barrel
- Uncle Bob’s Popcorn
- Wildflower
The ’80s MTV Dance Hits will be spun by Future Syndicate with performances by Beat Drop Kidz and MC Chach Snook. The costume contest starts at 7:45 p.m.
Also, a free parking and shuttle service will be provided from 191 Toole to the Rialto Theatre from 5 – 10 p.m.
The Rialto Theatre is located at 318 E. Congress St. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit rialtotheatre.com. If you can’t make it to the gala, there’s always the option to donate online.
The Rialto Theatre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship and preservation of the historic Rialto Theatre and its affiliates. The Rialto is a unique entertainment venue and cornerstone of downtown Tucson, which for decades has professionally produced a broad range of cultural performing arts and education programs that are reflective of the diverse and vibrant community it serves.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
