Applegater Winter 2017
Each theater nestles into its own niche
of production specialties.
■ THEATRICAL OPPORTUNITIES
Continued from page 1
musicals; Clarion Theater in family-
friendly, faith-based musical theater;
One Eleven Theatre in shows for
children. Barnstormers, founded in
1952 and the longest continuously
running community theater in
Oregon, accepts auditions from
anyone interested, as do Rogue
Music Theatre and Medford’s
new Collaborative Theatre
Pro j e c t . Br a va ! Op e r a
Theater produces full-scale
operas and focuses on training
“the complete singer/actor.”
The Oregon Center for the
Arts at Southern Oregon
University uses only student
actors and crew. Camelot
Theatre in Talent seats 164,
while Medford’s 1,000-seat
Holly Theatre, which closed
in 1986, will be the largest
indoor venue between Eugene
Barnstormers Theater (top photo) and a scene from
and Redding when it reopens
Self Help by Norm Foster (bottom photo).
next year. Other choices for
theater in the area include
Randall Theatre, which produces plays in
The Holly Theatre is primarily a concert
both Medford and Jacksonville; Oregon venue, suitable for big-scale Broadway-
Cabaret Theatre, which opened the same style musicals. Barnstormers’ niche is its
year the Holly Theatre closed; Ashland dedication to community tastes, producing
Contemporary Theatre, now in its tenth mostly comedies, a Christmas play,
season, whose motto is “Come play with musicals, and maybe “something edgy,”
us!” and Madrone Theatre Company, a says Wayd Drake, theater manager.
small group of actors presenting unique,
The Craterian Theater, in the Collier
intimate drama in Jacksonville.
Center for the Performing Arts, presents
The theater buildings are as diverse everything from dance to comedy,
as the productions. Signpost Theatre, Broadway to rock ’n’ roll, symphony
without a building, turns non-theater to Shakespeare, and has three in-house
spaces throughout the area into temporary production companies: the Teen Musical
black-box style theaters. The Craterian and Theater of Oregon, Next Stage Repertory
Holly are historic theaters, built in 1924 Company, and Craterian Music Hall.
and 1930, respectively; the Craterian for “The purpose of these companies is to
vaudeville and the Holly as a movie palace, focus on developing and showcasing local
the first theater in the region designed for artists of all ages, while building on our
talkies. The Oregon Cabaret Theatre is commitment to make the arts accessible
housed in Ashland’s “old pink church,” to all through affordable ticket pricing,”
built in 1911 and renovated as a theater explains Aspen Droesch, development
in 1986. Barnstormers also bought an old manager.
church, the 1923 First Church of Christ
Signpost Theatre neither holds open
in Grants Pass, and turned it into a theater auditions nor brings in professionals. “We
in 1961.
select a play, then offer roles to actors from
Each theater nestles into its own niche the community who are right for the part
of production specialties. Oregon Cabaret, [and] who want to dig deeply into the
for instance, aims to “produce topnotch script and live the role,” Eugene says.
theater in an elegant nightclub-like
Rogue Music Theatre fulfills a niche
atmosphere,” says artistic director Valerie for lovers of musicals who, like board
Rachelle. Ashland Contemporary Theatre president, Mollie Means, feel that, “for a
is the only regional company outside of the while, if you are watching a live musical
Oregon Shakespeare Festival to focus on show, you can take a mental and emotional
productions and dramatic readings of plays vacation from life.” Clarion Theatre’s
by Rogue Valley playwrights. “We’re all musicals are specifically intended to
about local talent and thought-provoking promote the Judeo-Christian ethic and
writing that stirs the imagination,” they world view.
tell us.
Brava! Opera Theater is the only
Madrone Theatre Company does company in the area producing a full-scale
dramatic readings, accompanied by music, opera annually. The 2018 show will be
of such classics as Spoon River Anthology Abduction from the Seraglio, by Mozart.
and A Child’s Christmas in Wales, which
Randall Theatre is unique in having a
they call “a timeless holiday classic filled “pay what you want” ticket price at both
with laughter, nostalgia, and heart.” venues, fulfilling its desire to make live
David Gordon, a former singer with theater affordable for all.
the San Francisco Opera, adds musical
Camelot Theatre, founded as Actors’
enhancement (guitar and voice) to the Theatre in 1982 and housed in the state-
performances.
of-the-art James Morrison Collier Theatre
15
Theater information
and upcoming presentations
Ashland Contemporary Theatre • 541-646-2871 •
ashlandcontemporarytheatre.org.
Barnstormers, 112 NE Evelyn Street, Grants Pass • 541-479-3557 •
barnstormersgp.com. Playing A Christmas Carol, weekends,
December 1 - 17.
Brava! Opera Theater, 2924 Siskiyou Boulevard, Suite 204, Medford •
541-261-5776 • bravaopera.com.
Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Avenue, Talent • 541-535-5250 •
camelottheatre.org. Playing Mary Poppins, November 29 - December 31.
Clarion Theatre Company, 1051 NE 6th Street, No. 5000, Grants Pass •
541-761-1733 • clariontheatregp.wixsite.com.
Collaborative Theatre Project, 555 Medford Center, Medford •
541-779-1055 • ctporegon.org. Playing The Snow Queen,
November 25 - December 31.
Craterian Theater, Collier Center for the Performing Arts, 23 South Central
Avenue, Medford • 541-779-3000 • craterian.org. Playing Holiday Concert,
Rogue Valley Symphony, December 1; Gloria!, Rogue Valley Chorale,
December 2 - 3; Seussical, Teen Musical Theater of Oregon, December
8; Youth Symphony alumni concert, December 20; A Celtic Christmas,
Tomáseen Foley, December 23; Storm Large’s Holiday Ordeal, December 30;
Broadway’s Guide to a Happy New Year, mcubed, January 5 - 6.
Holly Theatre, 226 West 6th Street, Medford • 541-772-3797 •
hollytheatre.org.
Madrone Theatre Company, 206 N 5th Street (New City Hall), Jacksonville
• facebook.com/madronetheatre. Playing A Child’s Christmas in Wales,
December 8 - 10.
One Eleven Theatre Company, 205 SW 5th Street, Grants Pass •
541-450-9778 • oneeleventheatrecompany.com.
Oregon Cabaret Theatre, 241 Hargadine Street, Ashland • 541-488-2902
• theoregoncabaret.com. Playing She Loves Me, music by Jerry Bock and
Sheldon Harnick, book by Joe Masteroff, November 16 - December 31.
Oregon Center for the Arts, Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou
Boulevard, Ashland • 541-552-6101 • oca.sou.edu.
Randall Theatre, 520 N 5th Street, Jacksonville • 10 East 3rd Street,
Medford • 541-632-3258 • randalltheatre.com. Playing, in Medford,
With Every Christmas Card I Write, December 14 - 17. Playing, in
Jacksonville, Little Women, the Musical, December 8 - 31.
Rogue Music Theatre, 830 NE 8th Street, Grants Pass • 541-659-0602 •
roguemusictheatre.org.
Signpost Theatre Project • 541-761-1261 • signposttheatre.com.
Opportunities to see The Nutcracker
Miss Diana’s School of Ballet. Performances at Sjolund Auditorium, North
Medford High School, 1900 Keene Way, Medford. December 16 and 17.
541-941-7007 • missdianas.com.
Stillpoint Dance Studio. Performances at Grants Pass Performing Arts
Center, Grants Pass High School, 8th and Olive Street, Grants Pass.
December 9, 10, 16, 17. 541-476-4641 • stillpointballet.com.
Studio Roxander Academy of Ballet. Performances at Crater Performing
Arts Center, Crater High School, 655 N 3rd Street, Central Point.
December 9, 10, 15, 16, 17. 541-773-7272 • studioroxander.com.
(Medford Civic Ballet’s performances were in November.)
Building in Talent, is a “semiprofessional
community theater” and one of the largest
community theaters in the valley. It offers
a Spotlight Series, defined by artistic
director, Roy Rains, as “small concerts
highlighting various musical artists as
well as touching on their biographies with
narration and video.”
Besides using local talent, Oregon
Cabaret brings in professional actors from
all over the country. “Its intimate setting
and fine dining options allow audiences to
have a unique night out on the town,” says
Valerie Rachelle, artistic director.
“Clearly there is a love of theater in
the Rogue Valley,” says Aspen Droesch.
“Community members are passionate
about the arts and have their own vision
and sense of purpose.”
Valerie Rachelle points to the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival as an influence: “We
are theater savvy here, in part due to the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival and its deep
theatrical roots in southern Oregon.”
Wayd Drake, however, just attributes
the large number of theater companies
in the Rogue Valley to theater itself: “The
magic of theater is super appealing to
people. Theater is such an amazing art
form—the study of humanity itself.”
That magic is never more apparent than
in Christmas shows. If you are looking
for holiday entertainment, take a look at
what some of these theaters are offering
(see sidebar). Good theater is only a few
miles down the road from the Applegate,
in any direction.
Diana Coogle • dicoog@gmail.com