Rental Rates
Every theater rental estimate has up to four parts. Our office prepares your final estimate after reviewing your request, but this page will help you plan a realistic budget. The official 2026–27 rate sheets are at the bottom of this page.
1. Theater rental
Each theater has two hourly rates:
- Performance rate: for days with a performance or public event. 4-hour minimum.
- Rehearsal rate: for rehearsal-only days. 3-hour minimum.
How a performance day is billed: your show gets a performance block of at least 4 hours, covering the performance plus the time right around it (house opening and strike). Any other hours that day, such as load-in, sound check, or a dress rehearsal, are billed at the lower rehearsal rate. For example, if your group arrives at 9:00 AM for a 2:30 PM concert, 9:00 AM–2:30 PM is billed at the rehearsal rate and 2:30–6:30 PM at the performance rate.
Your rate also depends on your group type:
- Group B — Nonprofit: requires a valid IRS EIN on your Civic Permits account. Rates are lower Monday–Thursday than Friday–Sunday.
- Group C — All others: one rate for any day.
| Venue | Seats | Performance Nonprofit Mon–Thu | Performance Nonprofit Fri–Sun | Performance All others | Rehearsal All groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo Performing Arts Center | 1,540 | $925 | $1,030 | $1,440 | $381 |
| Samuel Johnson, Jr. PAC | 938 | $589 | $696 | $799 | $309 |
| Hillsdale High School Theater | 764 | $529 | $623 | $730 | $294 |
| Mills High School Theater | 715 | $529 | $623 | $717 | $294 |
| Aragon High School Theater | 614 | $464 | $544 | $646 | $277 |
| Burlingame High School Theater | 593 | $283 | $324 | $373 | $261 |
| Hillsdale Little Theater | 259 | $169 | $207 | $234 | $159 |
| Capuchino Little Theater | 181 | $168 | $199 | $225 | $153 |
All rates are per hour.
2. Staffing
Every rental is supported by district theater staff. Staffing rates are the same for all groups.
| Role | Regular (up to 8 hrs) | Overtime (8–12 hrs) | Double time (12+ hrs & holidays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auditorium Supervisor/Foreperson | $58/hr | $105/hr | $136/hr |
| Stagehand | $55/hr | $101/hr | $131/hr |
| Lighting or Sound Technician | $72/hr | $108/hr | $157/hr |
| Custodial | $77/hr | $108/hr | $143/hr |
Who will be on your crew: every event has an Auditorium Supervisor/Foreperson (our on-site supervisor) for your full permit time, and custodial staff for the hours your audience is in the building. Stagehands and lighting and sound technicians are added to fit your production. A comedy show or lecture may need just one stagehand; a dance recital usually has a lighting tech and a sound tech; an orchestra concert needs extra stagehands for the setup.
3. What's included and what costs extra
Included with every theater rental:
- Use of the lobby, box office, auditorium/stage, dressing rooms, green room (where available), and restrooms
- Concession sales in the lobby, with no extra fee
- Basic stage lighting
- The venue's sound mixing console
- 4 handheld wireless microphones
- Movie screen and house projector (fixed position)
- 4 wireless intercom headsets (not available in the Little Theaters)
- Podium, plus tables and chairs from within the building
Optional add-ons (per day):
| Item | Daily rate |
|---|---|
| Full orchestra setup (shells, platforms, chairs, and stands) | $383 |
| Marley dance floor | $306 |
| Stage platforms | $306 |
| Piano | $286 |
| Design fee — lighting, sound, or projection | $255 |
| Drum microphones | $238 |
| Orchestra shell setup | $230 |
| Low-lying CO₂ fog machine (no haze) | $230 |
| Additional projector | $190 |
| Choir risers | $190 |
| Follow spot (operator billed separately) | $190 |
| Black scrim / white cyc | $153 |
| Pipe and drape | $153 |
4. Deposit, payment, and fees
- Security deposit: this is your first payment. We invoice it as soon as the school site approves your dates. It's refunded after your event, subject to the cancellation rules and the condition the theater is left in.
- Annual application fee: $55 per organization, per year.
- Payment due date: the rest of your invoice is due at least 60 days before your first date. Permits approved less than 60 days out are due on approval. Unpaid permits cancel automatically.
- Credit card fee: 3.5%. There's no fee for checks, payable to San Mateo Union High School District, Attn: Facilities Use, 839 Hinckley Road, Burlingame, CA 94010.
- Running late: if you're still in the building after your permit end time, you'll be charged additional labor and rental fees.
Security deposit amounts
| Venue | Single-day event | Multi-day event |
|---|---|---|
| Little Theaters (Hillsdale, Capuchino) | $500 | $500 |
| Main Theaters (Samuel Johnson PAC, Aragon, Burlingame, Hillsdale, Mills) | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| San Mateo Performing Arts Center | $1,500 | $2,500 |
Your official estimate comes from our office after the school approves your dates.
Ready to book? See How to Rent a Theater or request a theater on Civic Permits.