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Craterian Performances’ 25th anniversary season has TMTO, the Beatles, GingerBread Jubilee and more By Tempo staff Jun 10, 2022 06:15 AM A A The Teen Musical Theater of Oregon performed “The Drowsy Chaperone” this spring at The Craterian. TMTO is just one of the many featured talent that will perform at the theater in the 2022-2023 season. Photo by Jim Craven Craterian Performances’ 25th anniversary season in 2022-23 includes 19 touring shows, plus productions by Teen Musical Theater of Oregon, Next Stage Repertory Company and the beloved holiday community event, the GingerBread Jubilee. The community-supported nonprofit organization owns and operates the 732-seat Craterian Theater at The Collier Center for the Performing Arts, 23 S. Central Ave. in Medford. “Twenty-five years in business and nearly a million tickets sold is an incredible milestone, especially when you consider what those 25 years have looked like,” the theater stated in a press release. “After an energetic capital campaign to renovate the theater and a rollicking reopening, we had to endure the economic, emotional and psychological upheavals of 9/11, the Great Recession and now the pandemic. But through it all the community stood beside us, so here we are, announcing our 25th season, with one of the most exciting lineups we’ve ever presented. The Craterian is a success story because of our incredibly generous community and the resolve of our board, staff and volunteers to keep the Craterian strong as a cultural influencer and an art and entertainment hub in downtown Medford.” From the Japanese drummers of Yamato (Feb. 14, 2023) to Israel’s “The Aluminum Show” (Oct. 29) and from Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir (Nov. 8) to the cool sounds of “Live from Laurel Canyon” (Feb. 4, 2023), the world comes to Medford on the Craterian stage, the release stated. Other scheduled acts include “The Buddy Holly Story” (Sept. 28), Mandy Patinkin (Oct. 8), Jefferson Starship (Nov. 12), Tomáseen Foley’s “A Celtic Christmas” (Dec. 22), and “Yesterday and Today: An Interactive Beatles Experience.” (April 13). The 2022-23 season closes May 5, 2023, with Luis Bravo’s “Forever Tango.” For more information on the theater and its full 2022-23 lineup and programs, visit craterian.org. Teen Musical Theater of Oregon (TMTO), Craterian Performances’ youth theater program, features talented local youth in professionally staged, large scale musical theater productions. This season’s lineup begins this summer with Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” opening July 29 (two weekends). In December, Roger’s & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” (December 10-11,16-18) will dance across the stage. In March 2023, look for the return of your favorite green ogre when “SHREK: The Musical” flies its freak flag for two weekends (March 10-12, 17-19). Craterian Performances’ Next Stage Repertory Company (NSRC) returns to the Craterian stage in January with the production of “Songs for a New World,” the exuberantly tuneful, compellingly dramatic song cycle has been a perennial crowd-pleaser since its off-Broadway debut in the mid-’90’s. Sporting a rousing mix of musical styles — pop, gospel, jazz — Jason Robert Brown’s score highlights the timeless theme of The Moment of Truth, and features such gems as “The River Won’t Flow,” “The Stars and the Moon,” and “Hear My Song.” The 20th annual GingerBread Jubilee in November includes a gingerbread design-and-create competition, benefit auction and community tour. All proceeds from GingerBread Jubilee events help Craterian Performances present arts and culture programs, produce TMTO, Next Stage Repertory Company, and provide a state-of-the-art venue and gathering place for the community. The James Collier GingerBread Jubilee Gala Dinner & Auction is Nov. 18, followed by the community tour Nov. 19-21. In addition to booking performing artists from around the world for its own season, Craterian Performances makes the theater available as a rental venue for various nonprofit and commercial uses. The Rogue Valley Chorale, Rogue Valley Symphony, and Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon will all have event listings on the Craterian website. If you are interested in renting the Craterian venue for your own event, it offers everything from small meeting rooms, to the stage and professional production staff. Please contact Event Manager, Eric Strahl, at 541-779-8195 ext. 301, for more information. Those interested in purchasing tickets for the 2022-23 season are encouraged to submit ticket order forms as soon as possible. Public sales open June 28, but Craterian Performances is a nonprofit organization, and contributing members receive, among other benefits, presale privileges in advance of sales to the general public. Annual memberships begin with a $50 tax-deductible contribution and support the theater’s programming and operations. For membership information, visitcraterian.org or contact Aspen Droesch at 541-779-8195, ext. 303. Member-priority ticket orders will be processed in each membership level according to date received, beginning June 7 and continuing for three weeks. The Box Office is located at 16 S. Bartlett, or you can reach box office staff by phone at 541-779-3000. Internet sales are set to begin June 28.