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 live shows in Medford, Oregon. It's a special spot where people can enjoy many different kinds of performances.
Even though it has 732 seats, the theater often hosts big national concerts. It also welcomes dance groups and touring plays. The Craterian Theater is a busy place. It's used for community events, rehearsals, and classes. You can also find conferences and receptions happening there.
The theater features many types of shows. These include Broadway tours and traveling musicians. Local groups like the Rogue Valley Symphony also perform here. The Rogue Valley Chorale is another group that uses the theater. The Craterian Theater also supports two theater companies. These are Teen Musical Theater of Oregon and Next Stage Repertory Company.
The Theater's History
How the Craterian Began
In 1923, a theater called the Page Theater burned down. It had been open for ten years. At that time, Medford didn't have another large theater. So, in 1924, two people decided to build a new one. These were business owner Jeremiah Henry Cooley and lawyer Porter Joseph Neff.
The building was designed by an architect named Frank Chamberlain Clark. It was then leased to George A. Hunt. The theater's first name was chosen in a contest in 1925. The winner received $25. Mrs. W.P. Brooks, a Medford resident, suggested "Hunt's Craterian Theater." She named it after the nearby famous Crater Lake.
Renaming for a Star
The building was later restored between 1996 and 1997. After this, it was renamed "Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater" in 1997. This was done to honor Ginger Rogers. She was a famous actress who performed there as early as 1926.
A New Name for a New Era
On August 30, 2012, the theater was renamed again. It became "The Craterian Theater at The Collier Center for the Performing Arts." This name honors James Collier. He was a very generous supporter in the Rogue Valley area.
