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About The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center

The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center

The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center is the hub of cultural activity at the Montgomery College Rockville campus. Patrons can select from a wide variety of performances including music, drama, and dance. Discover the Guest Artist Series, Saturday Morning Children’s Series, College Performing Arts Series, and College Music Series. For detailed maps and driving directions please visit Montgomery College's Rockville locations page.


FAQs

Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On performance dates, the Box Office opens two hours prior to Center-sponsored events and remains open through intermission.

Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center
Montgomery College
51 Mannakee Street
Rockville, MD 20850-1195

The Box Office phone number is 240-567-5301.

Free parking is available for both cars and buses on the Montgomery College campus and/or overflow lots. Handicapped parking and the access ramp are located on the north side, when facing the center. Please refer to the campus map for available parking lot sites.

The house is the seating area where audience members are seated during performances.

“Will Call” is when you pick up your tickets at the door when you come for the performance, rather than have them mailed or you print them at home. Simply go to the Will Call window and provide the Box Office agent the purchaser’s last name and the photo ID to pick up your tickets.

If purchasing tickets via telephone or our website, you may use VISA, MasterCard or Discover. In person, you may also use cash or check as well as the cards.

We charge a $3/ticket fee for all Regular/Senior tickets and a $1/ticket fee for all Student tickets.

Tickets may not be reserved. Tickets may be purchased in advance by phone, mail, in person at the Box Office, or online with VISA, MasterCard or Discover, to be mailed, held at Will Call, or printed at home. The Box Office is unable to hold seats or tickets without payment.

Sometimes standing room is available for some of our performances. The seating capacity of the theatre ranges from 509 to 530 persons. Ticket price varies depending on the performance.

General admission seating means seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is not reserved. Tickets are still required for general admission seating performances and these performances are limited to a maximum of 530 persons.

Yes, group discounts are available. Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount and groups of 25 or more receive a 15% discount. Call the Box Office for more information.

Yes. Everyone, regardless of age, needs to have a ticket to be admitted to the performance.

It is advisable to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to curtain. This will allow ample time to pick up your tickets, have a drink, relax, and find your seat. Generally, seating begins about 30 minutes prior to curtain time.

Generally, the doors to the lobby open approximately an hour prior to curtain and seating begins a half hour prior to curtain.

Latecomers will be seated only at appropriate intervals in the program as determined by the performing artists and the management. If your tickets are being held at Will Call you will still be able to pick them up.

Tickets are non-refundable, but you may contact the Box Office to release them if you choose. When performances are sold-out this is a nice option and will mean that other patrons can get to see the show.

The Center has a proscenium theatre with theatre-style seating. It has 2 orchestra sections with a center aisle and 2 side aisle. It is a small, intimate theatre, which seats 509-530 persons. It is 20 rows deep with approximately 26 seats in each row. There are no “bad” seats as visibility is quite good from every seat in the house. Please see our Seating Chart. Please see our Seating Chart.

Yes, the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center features wheelchair accessible parking, entrances, restrooms, and seating.

The Center is committed to making the arts accessible to all. Under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this information is available in alternative formats. To request an alternative format and/or other disability related accommodations, please contact the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center Box Office at 240-567-5301; Maryland Relay is available at 1-800-552-7724. Please provide the Center with sufficient advanced notice to arrange accommodations. Patrons with special seating needs should inform the Box Office at the time of ticket purchase.

It depends on the child and on the show. Our Saturday Morning Children’s Series is generally enjoyed by children of all ages, though oftentimes toddlers find it difficult to sit for the entire performance. Everyone coming to the theatre, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

Yes, the Center is located between the Rockville and Shady Grove Metrorail stations on the Red Line and is accessible by Metro buses Q-2 or Q-6 and Ride-On Buses 46 or 55. Call 202-637-7000 for information on Metro; for Ride-On, call 240-777-0311.

Yes, gift certificates may be purchased in any amount of you choose. If you know of a particular show that the person may be interested in, it might be best to use the ticket price for that particular show as the amount of your gift certificate. Gift certificates are valid through the end of the current season and are not redeemable for cash.

No, food and beverages are not permitted inside the house.

No, videotaping and photography, including using your cell phone to take pictures or video of the performance, are strictly prohibited for copyright reasons. Aside from being distracting and discourteous to fellow theatre-goers, flash photography can momentarily blind performers, causing injury or a disruption to the performance.

Yes, you may inquire about rental of the theater by emailing pacrentals@montgomerycollege.edu.

No, there is not a dress code.

Please call the Box Office to inquire about opportunities to usher an event. Requirements include a Dress code and arriving at least one hour prior to opening curtain to assist with various preparations and patron seating. Availability will vary by performance.


Theatre Seating

The Center has a proscenium theatre with one orchestra section that has a center aisle and two side aisles. It is a small, intimate theatre, which seats 530 persons; it is 20 rows deep with approximately 30 seats in each row. There are no “bad” seats; visibility is quite good from every seat in the house. The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center features wheelchair accessible parking, entrances, restrooms, and seating. 


Theatre Technical Specifications

The Center is a professional event venue with full-time professional staffing. We do not staff or crew professional events with college students at the Center. We are a professional non-union “road house” that is extremely flexible in its ability to host local community events, full industrials, touring concerts, ballet & opera tours to major theater tours. A state-of-the-art production facility featuring theatre-style seating; a stage thrust apron extended over the orchestra pit beyond the proscenium for additional room; 55’ grid-to-stage fly tower space, and industry-current Lighting, Sound and Video systems. Equipment and amenities are listed for The Guest Artist Series only. Equipment for Rentals and College users are on an as-needed basis.