ðə ɹˈaɪəltˌoʊ θˈiəɾɚ faʊndˈeɪʃən wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd ɪn ˈeɪpɹəl tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ baɪ tˈʌksən wˈiːkli kˈoʊfˈaʊndɚ dˈʌɡləz bˈɪɡɚz, hˌuː spˈɪɹhɛdᵻd ðɪ ɐkwɪsˈɪʃən baɪ ðə sˈɪɾi ænd wʌzðɪ ɛɡzˈɛkjuːtˌɪv dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌvðə pɹˈɑːdʒɛkt fɹʌm mˈɪd tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ ʌntˈɪl dᵻsˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ɪlˈɛvən.
The Rialto Theatre Foundation was founded in April 2004 by Tucson Weekly co-founder Douglas Biggers, who spearheaded the acquisition by the city and was the executive director of the project from mid-2004 until December 2011.