The Craterian brings tens of thousands of people into Downtown Medford every year – people who enjoy the performances and also dine and shop in downtown. “We are happy to be bringing art and culture to Downtown Medford and to the Southern Oregon community and are proud and pleased to be located in the center of Downtown Medford,” said Stephen McCandless, Executive Director of Craterian Performances.
One of the Craterian’s goals is “Presenting quality productions that are within the economic reach of a broad spectrum of the community.“ McCandless, who has been Executive Director of Craterian Performances since 1995, does the booking. “We try to book a variety of performing arts programs and present them to the community as affordably as possible,” said McCandless.
Take a look at what The Craterian will be bringing you in 2025: Craterian website 2025 schedule
In addition to presenting professional entertainment, The Craterian’s “pride and joy” is TMTO (Teen Musical Theater of Oregon). TMTO just completed a very successful run of Alice in Wonderland and has several productions scheduled in 2025. This program teaches teens performing skills and puts on delightful musical performances. “We are exhilarated by what we see on stage and the efforts we see in the kids in the program and the families involved. Kids develop friendships and self-confidence, along with performing skills. . . and the performances are a real benefit to the community,” said McCandless.
Another important community offering and major fundraiser for The Craterian is the annual Gingerbread Jubilee. People of all ages create gingerbread houses (and other displays) using gingerbread and other edible materials. Prizes are awarded, some of the creations are auctioned off at the Gala Dinner and Auction, and thousands of people pay to tour the displays during the three-day community tour.
Now for just a little bit of History of The Craterian:
What is now The Craterian was erected at 23 S Central in 1924 by J.C. Cooley and P.J. Neff. It housed law offices, shops, and a theater leased by George A. Hunt. Hunt staged a naming contest with a $25 prize.
From 1500 entries, Hunt chose “Craterian” for nearby Crater Lake, a creative variation of that era’s familiar movie house name, Criterion.
The theater saw the evolution of the movie industry through the years, but the audience diminished by the late 70s when multi-screen theaters and home television took their toll on movie houses like the Craterian. By the end of 1985 the building had been given to the Rogue Valley Art Association with the hope it might foster community theater activities.
After several years, the Craterian Performances Company (CPC), a nonprofit volunteer group, was formed. Its vision was to create a performing arts center, rich with history but modern in facilities for public multi-purpose use, in the heart of downtown Medford.
Response was enthusiastic: $5.2 million was pledged by more than 600 individuals, businesses and foundations, as well as the state, county, city and the urban renewal agency. Renovation and construction with innovative use of large portions of the original structure, began in 1996. A March 1997 opening date was set…and met!
Today The Craterian Theater at The Collier Center (named for the late James Collier, a major arts patron and donor) is a state-of-the-art performance venue and gathering place for the community of Southern Oregon. The facility features excellent acoustics and sightlines, an impressive array of theatrical equipment, and is operated by a professional staff. The auditorium is intimate and comfortable and can seat up to 750 patrons, and the stage can accommodate large music, dance and theatrical tours, as well as local productions. The Craterian Theater is a vibrant facility utilized by all parts of the community for performances, rehearsals, classes and workshops, conferences, receptions, parties, seminars, trainings, etc.
The one thing that McCandless would like to see happen to make The Craterian experience even better for the community would be “to have more places like shops and restaurants downtown for people to enjoy before and after the show.”
We at DMA couldn’t agree more!