"Are you talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here."

Join us on Sunday, August 17 for a double feature that celebrates actor Robert De Niro (on his birthday!) and includes two of our favourite performances from his many collaborations with filmmaker Martin Scorsese - RAGING BULL and TAXI DRIVER.

Released in 1976 and scripted by Paul Schrader (who also wrote 1980s's RAGING BULL), Scorsese's intense psychological thriller TAXI DRIVER offers one of the quintessential cinematic captures of New York City at peak 70s grit in a film that borders on the neo-noir. Robert De Niro offers a career-defining performance as Travis Bickle, a Vietnam vet who is effectively a mentally disturbed loner. Suffering from insomnia, Bickle takes a job as a New York City cabbie, haunting the streets nightly and growing increasingly detached from reality as he dreams of cleaning up the filthy metropolis. When Travis meets pretty campaign worker Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), he becomes obsessed with the idea of saving the world, first plotting to assassinate a presidential candidate, then directing his attentions toward rescuing 12-year-old prostitute Iris (Jodie Foster). Also starring Harvey Keitel, Albert Brooks, and Peter Boyle.

"Utter alone-ness is at the center of Taxi Driver, one of the best and most powerful of all films, and perhaps it is why so many people connect with it even though Travis Bickle would seem to be the most alienating of movie heroes. We have all felt as alone as Travis. Most of us are better at dealing with it... Martin Scorsese's 1976 film is a film that does not grow dated, or over-familiar. I have seen it dozens of times. Every time I see it, it works; I am drawn into Travis' underworld of alienation, loneliness, haplessness and anger." (Roger Ebert)

"This is a wholly remarkable film, flaws and all. In fact, even the flaws are significant." (The Guardian)

Sunday, August 17

TAXI DRIVER
Movie 9:30 pm *As this is a double feature, this is an approximate start time.

TAXI DRIVER (Martin Scorsese, 1976 / 113 mins / 18A) Robert De Niro stars as Travis Bickle in this oppressive psychodrama about a Vietnam veteran who rebels against the decadence and immorality of big city life in New York while working the nightshift as a taxi driver.

Get ready to boogie down at The Rio Theatre as we turn back the clock for a night of nonstop 70's disco magic! Featuring a high-energy live stage show from DISCOBABY, The Retrolytes band, Anushka Kashyap, + more, plus a 70s costume contest with prizes and an all-out dance party that will keep you groovin’ all night long! So brush off those bell bottoms, shine up those platform shoes, and join the throwback fun!  Featuring music from The Bee Gees, ABBA, Donna Summer, Chic, Jackson 5 & more…

Saturday, August 23
Doors 8:15 pm | Event 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time. 

**Early Bird tickets just $20 + s/c (Available only till midnight, July 18)***
Advanced General Admission $25 + s/c | At the door $30 + s/c

Book your TICKETS now baby!

DISCOBABY Website: https://www.beautyshopdolls. com/discobaby-1970s
Instagram: @discobabydolls

KEVIN NEALON
Presented by Gotpop? Concerts

The Rio Theatre is pleased to welcome Kevin Nealon to the stage for a night of standup comedy on Sunday, August 24.

Sunday, August 24
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Main Floor (Assigned) $85+ s/c
Balcony (General Admission) $75+ s/c

Kevin Nealon is an Emmy and SAG-nominated actor and comedian who sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit and likable demeanor. Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and received critical acclaim for his role in the hit Showtime series Weeds. Kevin currently produces and hosts his digital series Hiking with Kevin, and tours his stand-up globally. In 2022 he released his, I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame. Part art book, part memoir -- the book is full of original full-color caricatures Kevin has created along with funny, endearing personal essays about his famous friends.

Nealon’s extensive television credits include the CBS sitcom, Man With a Plan, in which he starred alongside Matt LeBlanc; Showtime’s Weeds, which ran for eight seasons. Additional television roles include two critically acclaimed stand-up
specials for Showtime and a number of appearances on Hot In Cleveland, Franklin & Bash, Monk, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Still Standing.

Kevin has also has found great comedic success in his extensive film career. In Anger Management, he played opposite Jack Nicholson and fellow SNL comedian, Adam Sandler. He and Sandler also teamed up in Eight Crazy Nights, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Just Go With It, Blended, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, the latter of which grossed over $200 million worldwide. In Joe Dirt, Nealon joined another SNL alumnus David Spade. Additional film credits include Daddy Day Care with Eddie Murphy, Good Boy with Molly Shannon, Bucky Larsen: Born to be a Star with Nick Swardson, Roxanne with Steve Martin and the cult hit Grandma’s Boy, also with Nick Swardson and Jonah Hill.

As one of the longest running cast members on NBC’s Saturday Night Live (1986-1995), Nealon created some of the show’s most memorable characters, including ‘The Subliminal Man’ and ‘Hans and Franz.’ Nealon’s recurring role as an anchor on ‘Weekend Update’ helped make the sketch a show staple. In 1988, he earned an Emmy nomination as part of the SNL writing team. In 2008, Nealon released his first book, Yes, You’re Pregnant, But What About Me? - a comical look at the male perspective of pregnancy.

Currently, Kevin resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

The Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party is returning to the Rio Theatre with a back-to-school event featuring an all-new lineup of retro TV goodness covered in sugary cereal. It's Volume IX!

Kids today may not realize the significance of the Saturday morning ritual, but once upon a time, we had to wait a whole week to get our cartoon fix, and when we got it, we tended to binge. Well – welcome to The Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party - that special time when kids and kids-at-heart get to relive the exciting Saturday Morning ritual of non-stop retro cartoons, and binge on the multi-colored sugary cereals that used to be a part of every “balanced” breakfast!

The cartoon lineup is always a mystery, but expect to see monsters, sci-fi, sleuths, superheroes and all kinds of 2D silliness, both faves and obscurities spanning the '30s through the '90s, all punctuated with vintage commercials, PSAs and station IDs for a 3-hour trip down memory lane! So get ready for a sugar rush and an explosion of nostalgia all wrapped up in one candy-coated package.

Curated by David Bertrand

Dairy-free and gluten-free options available! Compostable bowls and spoons will be provided, however we welcome and encourage guests to bring their own NON-BREAKABLE (ie, not ceramic) bowls and spoons.

Saturday, September 6
Doors 10:00 am | Event 10:30 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adults $22
Kids Pricing (13 and under) $15

This September, the Rio Theatre is putting out the mic stand and stool for North America's Premier Filipino-American Comedian, Rex Navarrete. Don't miss this one night only show!

Sunday, September 7
Doors 6:45 PM | Show 7:30 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time. 

Main Floor Assigned - $48 + s/c
VIP (Rows A-G, Centre Section with photo-opp) - $58 +s/c

About Rex Navarrete

Many claim that college is the turning point in one’s life, when one finds his or her future. This was the case for San Francisco Bay Area comedian Rex Navarrete, when Navarrete’s college professor told him he was wasting his talents. “He told me, ‘Get out of my office-we shouldn’t be joking here, you should be taking those jokes to the stage,” recalls Navarrete of his Asian American Studies professor Dan Gonzales, the teacher who encouraged his dream to be a comedian in 1989. That spring, 19 year-old Navarrete was baptised by fire, entertaining a crowd of 800 at the annual Asian Pacific Islander Student Union conference at UC Santa Cruz.

A lot has happened since then. Navarrete has performed his brand of comedy all across the nation touring numerous colleges, universities and community events. He has become a household name in Filipino American homes. In 1998, he released his first comedy CD entitled, “Badly Browned”, which was followed by another CD in the summer of 1999, “Husky Boy”. Both have become bestsellers on the Classified Records label and have brought high praise by listeners across the country.

In the summer of 2001, he released his third CD album this time under his own label Kakarabaw Productions entitled, “Bastos”.

Rex’s fourth live comedy album was recorded at Cobb’s Comedy Club in the famous North Beach district of San Francisco, CA. “Live at Cobb’s” is a 2010 digital release available on iTunes worldwide, alongside the reissue of his original three CDs in digital download format. Now fans can own all four albums with a click of the mouse or the swipe of a finger.

He currently travels all over North America, touring cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Hawaii doing his one-man show. In 2004, he brought his act to the peoples of Germany, Austria and Switzerland sharing the bill with renowned Philippine vocalist, Regine Velasquez. He has also had the distinction of becoming the most celebrated stand-up comic to perform to multiple sold-out shows in Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia since 2002. He regularly returns to Manila which has become fertile ground for his style of stand-up, inspiring the growth of an emerging local stand-up comedy scene. His next plan of attack is to perform in the United Kingdom, where fans eagerly await his arrival.

For more info visit www.rexnavarrete.com

Metta Grove is a cinematic visionary art concert merging the essence of guided meditation, sound journeys, cinematic films, and psychedelic experiences.

It is a multimedia symphony that elicits nourishing relaxation, wonder, and euphoria.

Simon Haiduk is a multimedia artist working with visual art and sonic mediums in themes that emphasize nature and spiritual energy. Many years of thematic creativity have led to a synthesis of expressions as a cinematic audiovisual concert.

This concert features stunning visuals of Simon’s digital paintings transformed into animations and then woven with layers of light and sound in a harmonious fusion. The soundtrack is a dynamic range of musical experiences from various artists, carefully curated to engage your soul, with heartwarming melodies, ambient spaces and pulsing rhythms.

The show includes an introductory presentation where Simon will share insights about his creative inspiration, tools, process and integration of plant medicines. His partner, Jane Calm, a
somatic therapeutic counsellor, will speak about everyone’s inherited access to psychic abilities.

Metta Grove is a meditation on our intrinsic connection to nature and the foundations of this reality as light and sound. Please join us for this rejuvenating immersive experience in an unforgettable night of inspired spiritual connection, musical majesty and visionary art that will leave you in awe.

*If you’ve seen Metta Grove in Vancouver previously, this is a similar show as part of “Realm 1”, but with many new and enhanced features. Realm 2 arrives in 2027.

Thursday, September 11
Doors 6:45 PM | Event 7:30 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird tickets just $25! Hurry, deadline is midnight August 11.

Main Floor Assigned - $35 + s/c
Balcony General Admission - $30 + s/c

Tickets, trailers, testimonials, and more info at: mg.artbysimon.com

Ashwyn Singh comes to the Rio Theatre's stage with his latest show on Thursday, September 18.

Thursday, September 18
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 6:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

VVIP (Front Row) $45 + s/c
VIP (Rows B-F) $35+ s/c
Main Floor $30+ s/c
Group Pass (4 Tickets) $108+ s/c

Ashwyn Singh is a standup comedian, musician, and writer whose work blends incisive humor with heartfelt social commentary. An Indian immigrant turned Canadian resident, Ashwyn draws on his unique perspective to explore themes of cultural identity, immigration, and family with wit and relatability.

His viral Desi Translations series, which has over 40 million views, celebrates the artistry of Hindi and Urdu lyrics by reinterpreting everyday English phrases. Beyond social media, Ashwyn’s standup comedy tackles social issues like immigration, religion, politics, mental health, and global conflicts, highlighting the hypocrisy in human behavior with sharp humor.

Featured on Canada’s Got Talent, CBC’s The Debaters, and major comedy festivals like Winnipeg and Halifax, Ashwyn has opened for acclaimed acts such as Mark Normand, Sammy Obeid, and Zarna Garg, establishing himself as a standout talent in comedy.

Join us on Saturday, September 20, as we premiere the first three episodes of The Wheel Deal documentary series! This is a series following the rise and fall and rise again of Vancouver's first roller derby team: Terminal City. (And yes, this is the sport on rollerskates where people slam into each other at full speed.)

Terminal City Roller Derby used to be one of the top teams in the world. But in 2023, the league almost collapsed. Now the league is back in a big way, and is playing their first competitive season in five years. This series follows Terminal City and the unique array of people in it — as they figure out who they are as individuals, and as a team.

We'll hear how the league first started over nachos and beer at the Lamplighter pub in 2005, how the movie 'Whip It' caused roller derby to explode across North America, and how the pandemic caused a mass collapse across the globe. But despite these challenges, and the bruises, broken bones, and concussions, you can't keep the players away from derby.

Saturday, September 20
Doors 3:00 pm | Event 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Partial proceeds from this event will go towards Terminal City’s tournament travel costs, so they can keep roller derby financially accessible for all.

THE WHEEL DEAL is made possible with the support from TELUS STORYHIVE, and will be available for free on TELUS Optik TV.

LADIES OF VANCOUVER ARE YOU READY?!

The Magic Men Australia "LARGER THAN LIFE" WORLD TOUR is hitting town, and this is your chance to witness the ultimate, high-energy, jaw-dropping, pulse-racing male revue show LIVE!

Featuring TIKTOK SENSATION WILL PARFITT! With millions of fans worldwide, this Channing Tatum lookalike is ready to bring the heat, charm, and signature moves that have made him a global sensation! Expect an all-star lineup of chiseled hunks, heart-racing performances, and electrifying stage presence that will leave you breathless and begging for more!

Round up your squad for the ULTIMATE Girls’ Night Out! Get ready for a night packed with jaw-dropping entertainment, cheeky surprises, and non-stop fun. TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST – DON’T MISS OUT! Secure yours NOW and experience the Magic Men Australia WORLD TOUR LIVE!

Saturday, September 27
Doors 7:00 PM | Event 8:00 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Ticket levels

Premium - Main Floor (first 5 rows): $85 + s/c
•   Exclusive Early Entry: Doors open 30 minutes earlier than regular door opening time.
•   Prime Seating: Seated closest to the action for the best viewing experience.
•   Stage Participation Opportunity: Approximately 40 audience members will have the chance to get on stage.
•   Meet & Greet & Photos: Early access to the meet-and-greet team for photo opportunities.
•   Early Merchandise Sales: Priority access to merchandise sales before general entry, ensuring a quicker, smoother experience.

Deluxe - Main Floor: $65 + s/c
•   Second-Tier Seating: The second closest seating category to the stage, offering a great view of the show.
•   Meet & Greet & Photos: Enjoy the opportunity to meet the team and take photos.
•   Stage Participation Opportunity: A  smaller chance to be invited on stage during the show over Premium.

General Admission - Balcony: $40 + s/c
•   Non-Reserved Seating
Entry to the show.
Full stage performance experience.

LADIES OF VANCOUVER ARE YOU READY?!

The Magic Men Australia "LARGER THAN LIFE" WORLD TOUR is hitting town, and this is your chance to witness the ultimate, high-energy, jaw-dropping, pulse-racing male revue show LIVE!

Featuring TIKTOK SENSATION WILL PARFITT! With millions of fans worldwide, this Channing Tatum lookalike is ready to bring the heat, charm, and signature moves that have made him a global sensation! Expect an all-star lineup of chiseled hunks, heart-racing performances, and electrifying stage presence that will leave you breathless and begging for more!

Round up your squad for the ULTIMATE Girls’ Night Out! Get ready for a night packed with jaw-dropping entertainment, cheeky surprises, and non-stop fun. TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST – DON’T MISS OUT! Secure yours NOW and experience the Magic Men Australia WORLD TOUR LIVE!

Monday, September 29
Doors 7:00 PM | Event 8:00 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Ticket levels

Premium - Main Floor (first 5 rows): $85 + s/c
•   Exclusive Early Entry: Doors open 30 minutes earlier than regular door opening time.
•   Prime Seating: Seated closest to the action for the best viewing experience.
•   Stage Participation Opportunity: Approximately 40 audience members will have the chance to get on stage.
•   Meet & Greet & Photos: Early access to the meet-and-greet team for photo opportunities.
•   Early Merchandise Sales: Priority access to merchandise sales before general entry, ensuring a quicker, smoother experience.

Deluxe - Main Floor: $65 + s/c
•   Second-Tier Seating: The second closest seating category to the stage, offering a great view of the show.
•   Meet & Greet & Photos: Enjoy the opportunity to meet the team and take photos.
•   Stage Participation Opportunity: A  smaller chance to be invited on stage during the show over Premium.

General Admission - Balcony: $40 + s/c
•   Non-Reserved Seating
Entry to the show.
Full stage performance experience.

This Rio Theatre gift certificate is good for entry to any single regular screening and includes one medium popcorn, one medium fountain beverage, and one small candy. If you prefer a physical card, this gift certificate is also available for purchase from our conession stand during open business hours.