Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing arts

From the Craterian Performances Board

Dear Friends of the Craterian:

If you’ve been paying attention to the performing arts scene in Southern Oregon, or recently attended a performance by the Rogue Valley Symphony, or Rogue Opera, or the Rogue Valley Chorale, or gone to a show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival or Camelot Theatre, chances are you’re familiar with the name James Collier.

Mr. Collier is arguably the Valley’s most prominent and generous patron-of-the-arts, and Craterian Performances is proud to be among his chosen beneficiaries: he paid for our Yamaha grand piano and new LED marquee, and has now given us a pledge for one of the largest unrestricted donations in the Valley’s history. Indeed, the scale of this gift is such that we believe Mr. Collier deserves special recognition for his philanthropy. At the same time, we know it’s because of your generous support that we’ve been a success so far, and it’s because of that success that Mr. Collier is confident in our mission and our future. To put it another way, he trusts us because of what you’ve helped us become.
And what have we become? Over the past several years and despite the challenges we’ve faced from our troubled economy, the Craterian facility has evolved into a true performing arts center, where collective resources come together to explore and create and present as many performing arts disciplines as possible, for as many people as possible. For instance, we’ve developed two in-house producing companies: Next Stage Repertory, our professional acting company, and the Teen Musical Theater of Oregon. We’ve also increased the number of shows we’re presenting and continue to host the programs and activities of some of the Valley’s most respected performing arts organizations.

So, to honor Mr. Collier’s extraordinary generosity and in recognition of the variety and scope of what goes on under our roof, we’ve renamed our building the Collier Center for the Performing Arts. Of course, the Craterian Theater still exists within the Collier Center and, as Ginger Rogers danced on the Craterian stage in 1926 and was a beloved citizen of the Rogue Valley, our stage is now named in her honor. Operating within the Collier Center for the Performing Arts, and undergirded by the financial support of our members, sponsors and donors, Craterian Performances will continue to look for opportunities to expand our programs and to engage the community in ways that impact individual lives and enrich our community, now, and for generations to come.

What an exciting future! Thank you James Collier, and thank you, our loyal and generous friend.

With gratitude,
Stephen McCandless
Executive Director