Craterian Theater facts for kids
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The Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing Arts
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The Craterian from Vogel Plaza
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| Address | 23 South Central Ave Medford, Oregon United States |
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| Owner | Craterian Performance Company |
| Capacity | 732 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1924-October-20 |
| Rebuilt | 1996-1997 |
| Architect | Frank Chamberlain Clark |
| Website | |
| craterian.org | |
The Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing Arts is a modern place for shows and performances in Medford, Oregon. It's a performing arts center, which means it hosts many different kinds of live events.
This theater can seat 732 people. Even though it's not huge, it often brings in big national concerts, dance shows, and plays. The Craterian Theater is also used by the local community. People use it for their own performances, rehearsals, classes, and even special events like conferences or parties. You can see Broadway tours, traveling musicians, and local groups like the Rogue Valley Symphony perform here.
The Craterian Theater also supports two special theater groups. These are the Teen Musical Theater of Oregon and the Next Stage Repertory Company.
Contents
The Craterian Theater's Story
In 1923, a theater called the Page Theater burned down. There were no other large theaters in Medford at that time. So, in 1924, a business owner named Jeremiah Henry Cooley and a lawyer named Porter Joseph Neff decided to build a new one.
Building the New Theater
The famous architect Frank Chamberlain Clark designed the building. It was then rented out to George A. Hunt. To find a name for the new theater, a contest was held in 1925. The winner received a $25 prize. Mrs. W.P. Brooks, who lived in Medford, won the contest. She suggested the name "Hunt's Craterian Theater." She chose this name because of the nearby famous Crater Lake.
Renaming for a Star
Years later, the theater was restored. In 1997, it was renamed the "Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater." This was done to honor Ginger Rogers. She was a very famous actress and dancer. She had performed at this theater as early as 1926.
A New Name for a New Era
On August 30, 2012, the theater got another new name. It became "The Craterian Theater at The Collier Center for the Performing Arts." This name honors James Collier. He was a very generous person who gave a lot of support to the Rogue Valley community.
