Policies
Handicap Accessible Seating is available at all performances. Please arrive at the venue 15 minutes prior to the doors opening. Once checked in, you may use the wheelchair ramp to the left of the box office for any Logan Stage (Floor 1) performances or, you may use the elevator located to the left of the box office, and take up to Floor 2 (lobby, bar, and bathrooms), Floor 3 (Reehl Stage floor seating), or Floor 4 (balcony).
We care about our patrons and want to ensure everyone has a great time here at Johnson Hall Opera House. For the safety of our staff, crew, performers, and patrons, the following are not allowed inside Johnson Hall Opera House: backpacks, large bags, weapons of any kind, including pocket knives, and/or outside food or drink. All bags are subject to searching at any time.
Handicapped seating is available. Please arrive at the venue 15 minutes prior to the doors opening.
You must provide proof of age by a government-issued photo ID in order to be served at the bar.
You will be ejected from the venue if you throw anything.
Gift Certificate can be purchased year round at our box office. Gift certificates can be purchased for any value and can be used for all performances at Johnson Hall.
Gift Certificate holders must make a reservation by calling our box office at 207-582-7144
Free parking is available in Gardiner. Please see the map attached. Free Parking is marked in blue. Please be aware that parking on Water Street should be used as a last resort.
Johnson Hall Opera House does not issue refunds for live events, including but not limited to: concerts, comedy shows, plays, musicals, etc.
If the event is canceled or otherwise not fully performed, or the event is postponed and not rescheduled within 90 days of the postponement, a refund will be issued. Refund requests will be responded to within (5) business days for a first response. In order to request a refund, please submit a refund request here: https://www.eventbrite.com/attendee-refund-request/ within 45 days of the event being canceled. If you have additional questions regarding a refund, please contact our box office at 207-582-7144. If your refund request is approved, your original payment will be automatically refunded to the bank account used for your original purchase.
Tickets at Johnson Hall Opera House are sold as either general admission or reserved seating. For general admission shows, seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. For most performances, the house will open for seating 60 minutes before show time.
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover accepted.
The Johnson Hall Opera House facility is available for individuals and organizations to rent for the purposes and according to the terms described in this policy.
Permitted Activities
1. The facility may be rented for gatherings, such as meetings, public speakers, receptions, award ceremonies, private entertainment functions, weddings, non-political demonstrations, workshops, classes and private parties.
2. As a general rule, rentals for ticketed entertainment events that are open to the public are not permitted. Exceptions may be made for charitable events, depending on the circumstances. If you are interested in producing such an event, please contact our Executive/Artistic Director, Mike Miclon (mike@johnsonhall.org).
3. Johnson Hall is not available to rent for political events to support or oppose candidates for public office or referendum campaigns.
4. All rentals are subject to the approval of the Executive/Artistic Director. Rentals that will not be allowed include those involving inappropriate content, high-risk activities, or activities that risk excessive mess, damage to the physical space, or a violation of any policies adopted by the Board.
5. The minimum age for any renter to rent space at Johnson Hall is 21.
Staffing and equipment
6. A Johnson Hall staff person must be present at all rental functions, and such arrangements must be made with the Executive/Artistic Director or a staff member designated as the Rental Manager.
7. Sound and lighting equipment and projection screens are available at the facility but must only be operated by an approved Johnson Hall staff person.
8. Renters who wish to project slides, movies, powerpoint presentations, etc. must provide their own laptop and connectors.
Fees and deposits
9. Johnson Hall uses an “a la carte” rental system based on the services renters wish to use. Services renters may request include use of lighting and sound equipment, projection screen, bar and bartenders.
10. Applicable fees are determined based on which space(s) in the building are rented and what additional services are requested, as described below.
a. Base rent: There will be a different base rate for renting each of the following spaces in the building: the ground floor Logan Stage; the second floor lobby; and the third floor Reehl Stage.
b. Audio-visual equipment: There will be an hourly fee for using Johnson Hall’s audio-visual equipment, which must be operated by an approved Johnson Hall staff person.
c. Bartending services: There is an hourly fee for Bartending services.
d. Janitorial services: A fee for two hours of janitorial services per floor and per day of use is required for all rentals and must be deposited in advance, no later than 24 hours before the rental date.
Applicable rates will be listed on the website (www.johnsonhall.org) under “Rentals.”
11. Requests to use spaces in Johnson Hall at a reduced rate or free of charge may be approved at the discretion of the Executive/Artistic Director for events such as municipal or community gatherings and civic events, and special events with artistic merit that further the mission of Johnson Hall. Minimum fees to cover an audio visual technician (if applicable) and janitorial fees will generally apply.
12. A deposit of 50% of the total rental fee is required to hold the date and is nonrefundable if the renter cancels less than 60 days in advance of the planned usage.
13. The balance of the rental fee must be paid on the first day of the rental usage.
Alcohol
14. Renters are not permitted to bring in or serve alcohol in Johnson Hall’s facility, due to the terms of Johnson Hall’s liquor license. If alcohol is to be served, it must be acquired and provided by Johnson Hall and served by trained Johnson Hall staff. Some food must also be available. Strict adherence to Johnson Hall’s liquor policy is required.
15. Only a cash bar is allowed. No open bar or complimentary beverages will be allowed at any function in the facility because that would violate the terms of Johnson Hall’s liquor license. However, the renter is permitted to purchase up to two drink tickets for each of their guests, and allow their guests to redeem those tickets at the cash bar.
Other responsibilities of the Renter
16. The renter is responsible for setting up and cleaning up whatever areas of the facility they use. Please be sure to include time for these activities in your requested rental time. Otherwise, there will be an extra charge for the additional time.
Circumstances under which a Rental may be terminated by Johnson Hall
17. If a rental event involves inappropriate content or high-risk activities, or is causing excessive mess, dangerous conditions, destruction of personal property or damage to the physical space, or a violation of any policies adopted by the Board, Johnson Hall reserves the right to shut down the event immediately and remove the Renter and his or her guests from the building. If this occurs, there will be no refund.
Adopted by the Board: May 15, 2025
Johnson Hall donates performance vouchers to civic groups, community organizations and fund raising teams each year. All vouchers have a 0 (zero) cash value and can only be used on regular priced performances that do not exceed $16. (Vouchers can not be used on All Seats priced performances.)
Voucher holders must make a reservation by calling our box office at 207-582-7144
**All policies are subject to change at any time.
