Rental Policies and Facility Specifications

Rentals at the historic Newtown Theatre are very popular. To make the rental process as smooth as possible, please review these policies and procedures.

HOW RENTALS WORK

Newtown Theatre rentals are perfect for private events. Whether you’re celebrating your parents’ anniversary with a family movie night or inviting your ballet students to perform for their parents, we can accommodate you. However, we do not allow renters to book our facility for public movies and performances. That is, all events open to the general public are booked and managed by our team. Renters may not open up their special event to the general public (even if admission is free), nor will their events be included on the Newtown Theatre’s website and other promotional materials. If you’d like to suggest a movie, performer, or another public event, please feel free to get in touch.

HOLDING DATES/TIMES

The Newtown Theatre does not temporarily hold dates and times for renters for any reason. All rental slots available to renters are open to anyone, and can be booked at any time. By choosing a date and time and submitting payment, renters “lock in” their event with the Newtown Theatre. The date and time of the event cannot be moved unless the renter cancels the original event and books for another date and time. See our Refund/Cancellation Policy below for additional information.

Arrival/Departure Times

Unless other arrangements have been made, renters have a 15-minute window before their event starts to load into the theatre. Load out times are firm. Because we book events back-to-back, we are unable to give you more time for load-in and load-out. Thank you for understanding.

Cost and payment

Children’s birthday parties are a $500 flat and can be booked immediately, without contacting us. For all other private events, cost is an hourly rate that can vary depending on the day of the week. Please contact us for a quote.

Payment for all rentals must be submitted online, in full, upon booking. All major credit cards are accepted. We do not reserve or hold rental slots or accept down payments to hold slots.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

Our rental calendar fills up weeks and even months in advance, so if you need to cancel or reschedule your event, please contact us right away.

1. If you cancel or reschedule more than two weeks (14 days) before your event, for any reason, we will refund half the cost of the rental. If you reschedule, you must book your second event at full price.

2. If you cancel or reschedule less than two weeks (14 days) before your event, for any reason, we will not refund any portion of your rental fee. If you reschedule, you must book your second event at full price.

3. If your event cannot be held due to serious inclement weather (e.g., a blizzard or hurricane), we will work with you to reschedule your event as soon as possible at no charge. However, we can’t guarantee that we can reschedule your event close to its original date.

Tours for prospective renters

If you would like to see the space before you book a rental, the easiest way is to drop in 15-30 minutes before any upcoming event. We are typically closed during the day.

ADDITIONAL TIME WITH MANAGER

For certain types of events, renters may need additional time with the Newtown Theatre’s house staff before the big day. This time can be used to rehearse, test your independent movie before a private screening, review our sound/light equipment, or consult with our team on-site for any other reason. There is an additional fee for pre-event time with our staff.

Screening Capabilities

For rentals involving a movie screening, you may bring either a regular Blu-Ray or DVD. Please test your disc before your event. We can’t be responsible for a disc that doesn’t work. Our projector system cannot play:

• Film files saved on a flash/USB drive

• 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray discs

• Anything that must be streamed from Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon, etc.

If you'd like guests to be able to chat/mingle during your event, we can lower the volume of the film for you.

Facility specifications

• The theatre has 242 seats, but we cap attendance at 230.

• The theatre is accessible for patrons, with a wheelchair lift out front and an ADA-compliant restroom on the first floor.

• The theatre’s stage is 24 feet wide and 12 feet deep.

• The theatre has a green room with a single restroom and two dressing rooms.

• The theatre has a full sound system that can accommodate most bands and performers.

• The theatre has a basic lighting system.

• The theatre’s concession stand sells popcorn, candy, and drinks.

• For private events, renters may bring in their own food and drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic). For public events, the theatre sells its own concessions and alcohol unless special arrangements have been made.

• No animals other than service animals are permitted in the theatre.

• The theatre management reserves the right to decline to rent its facilities to anyone.

• The only parking is street parking. Renters may want to direct their guests to the free municipal lot a few blocks away from the theatre.