From “The Aluminum Show,” a performance combining visual theater, dance and futuristic props to the classic “Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet,” the Craterian Theater is bringing virtuosity, variety and vibrancy to its stage for the 2024-2025 presenting season.

The theater unveiled 27 upcoming shows and performances to take place from Aug. 3, 2024, to May 2, 2025, when it announced its new season on May 28.

The new lineup includes a diverse selection of crowd-drawing performers including the Teen Musical Theater of Oregon, comedian Tom Papa, singer and pianist Michael Feinstein, composer Jake Shimabukuro, Trinity Irish Dance Company, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Queen’s Cartoonists, Mariachi Herencia De México and others.

“I’m always excited by everything on our roster and there are particulars about each program that make them compelling,” said Stephen McCandless, executive director of Craterian Performances. “But to name a few, I appreciate having Michael Feinstein on our stage so I don’t have to go to New York to see him. I love the idea of the American Patchwork Quartet as an antidote to all the distrust and tension between us as Americans.

“I’m proud we’re bringing back Mariachi Herencia De México because at last year’s concert, since most of the audience had never been under our roof before, they understood the concert was for them,” McCandless added.

Whether it’s dance, song, comedy, theater or other art forms, there’s something in the new lineup for everyone.

To view the full list of entertainers and find details on what days and times they’ll be performing, visit craterian.org. Tickets for the upcoming season will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 25.

The 2024-2025 presenting season includes multiple first-time Craterian Theater debuts such as Tom Papa, The Pack Drumline, Seals & Crofts 2 and more.

A lot goes into the selection process for which performers to bring in and how to make it affordable and doable for all parties, according to McCandless.

“The selection process is influenced by lots of factors; we consider how a program fits our mission and brand, how it relates to other programs we’re considering, whether or how often it’s been in the valley, where it lands on the calendar and whether there’s something else going on that would compete for ticket sales,” he said, listing some of the factors organizers consider. “The affordability piece is really important to us; I negotiate the best deals I can so we can keep the ticket prices as low as possible, versus marking them up as much as possible.”

“As a nonprofit, our goal is to serve the community and promote cultural vitality. You can’t do that by always charging as much as the market will bear and leaving a lot of other people outside the lobby door,” McCandless added.

Another major consideration for selecting the acts is providing variety and diversity on the stage.

“Our mission as a cultural center is to present a wide variety of programs in as many performing arts disciplines as possible; I think the life of the mind is all about exploring other worldviews, cultures and experiences, and you can’t do that if you’re always making the same choices,” McCandless said.

Entering its 100-year anniversary this year as one of the Rogue Valley’s premier hubs for the arts, the Craterian Theater’s stage is a rare combination of intimacy at a large scale with influence from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Angus Bowmer Theatre.

“Our auditorium feels intimate even though we can seat 750 people, and the distance from the farthest seat to the stage is less than 80 feet and it’s designed to focus all your attention on the stage without distraction,” McCandless said.

The Craterian headquarters, located at 23 S. Central Ave. in Medford, underwent a $5.2 million renovation in 1996 to expand the theater, convert to continental seating, improve acoustics and sightlines, create better lighting and add additional features to make it a top-class venue with equipment and features akin to some of the world’s best stages.

“We have the same stage floor surface as the MGM Grand in (Las) Vegas; there are over 200 lights pointed at our stage and we have Meyer speakers, considered among the best in the industry,” McCandless said.

But a theater’s reputation is built through much more than fancy equipment, and the venue has had more than 1 million admissions for more than 2,000 shows since first opening its doors 100 years ago.

“I think history proves that everyone who’s been involved with the Craterian, going all the way back to its opening in 1924, made good decisions about what and where it should be, and what it should be doing,” McCandless said, adding, “it’s a testament to the leadership of our generations of boards of directors, the loyalty and hard work of our volunteers, and to our incredible staff who are dedicated to creating the best possible customer experience.”

While plans haven’t been fully discussed and finalized on what the Craterian will do to celebrate those 100 years, some ideas are in the works.

“What we’re zeroing in on right now is several free events that pay homage to the venue’s history and the folks who have substantially supported it over the years, but our plans are far from finalized and they’ll continue to evolve,” McCandless said.

To learn more about the Craterian Theater and its history, visit craterian.org or call 541-779-3000.

Craterian Performances brings the following nationally and internationally touring shows to Medford’s Craterian Theater:

Teen Musical Theater of Oregon: ‘How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,’ Aug. 3-4 & 9-11, 2024

The Modern Gentlemen, Sept. 27, 2024

Tom Papa, Oct. 5, 2024

Tapestry: ‘Tribute to Carole King,’ Oct. 6, 2024

Michael Feinstein: ‘Because of You,’ Oct. 8, 2024

Home Free: ‘Crazy(er) Life Tour,’ Oct. 14, 2024

Howlin’ Halloween, Oct. 25-27, 2024

Jake Shimabukuro’s Holidays in Hawaii, Nov. 14, 2024

Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet, Nov. 16, 2024

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr., Dec. 14-21, 2024

Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas, Dec. 22, 2024

The Pack Drumline, Jan. 19, 2025

The Aluminum Show, Jan. 22, 2025

Trinity Irish Dance Company presents ‘JIG,’ Jan. 26, 2025

Whose Live Anyway?, Feb. 4, 2025

I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song — Starring Jim Witter, Feb. 14, 2025

Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout, Feb. 15, 2025

R.E.S.P.E.C.T, Feb. 19, 2025

Hadestown: Teen Edition, March 8-16, 2025

The Glenn Miller Orchestra, March 22, 2025

Paula Poundstone, March 29, 2025

Seals & Crofts 2, April 5, 2025

The Queen’s Cartoonists, April 6, 2025

Pink Martini, April 13, 2025

American Patchwork Quartet, April 27, 2025

Mariachi Herencia De México, May 2, 2025