Holly Theatre’s Grand Reopening Kicks Off Thursday
Published on March 06, 2025
Closed for nearly 40 years, the historic Holly Theatre will soon reopen its doors, marking the beginning of a new era of live performances in downtown Medford.
The Piano Guys will headline the grand reopening on Thursday, March 13, at 8:00 p.m., followed by Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts on March 14 at 7:30 p.m. The Warren Haynes Band will perform on April 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Opened in 1930 and known as a cultural icon of the city’s downtown for nearly 60 years, the Holly was the first grand movie palace in Southern Oregon built for “talking pictures.”
In 1986, the theatre closed its doors due to changes in the movie industry that forced many single-screen theaters to shutter.
It was later purchased by the Art Alfinito family in the mid-1990s and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. However, the Holly remained empty and was eventually condemned due to a failed ceiling truss.
In 2011, the theatre was purchased by the JPR Foundation, and with support from the Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA), work immediately began on the building’s exterior. The agency allocated $100,000 for the façade project.
In January 2012, an additional $200,000 from MURA was granted for design and consulting costs, and in May 2024, $50,000 was approved for sprinkler upgrades.
In December 2022, the Medford City Council granted $250,000 toward final construction costs from the Council Community Initiative Fund, which is comprised of marijuana tax revenue the city receives from local and state taxes, bringing the City of Medford’s total contribution to $600,000.
Since the purchase, community volunteers, led by the Holly Restoration Committee, have raised nearly $13 million from over 3,300 donors.
The project was completed in early 2025, and with more than 1,000 seats, it is the largest indoor performing arts venue between Eugene and Redding. The theatre will be managed by Jefferson Live, a self-supporting division of the JPR Foundation.
For tickets and information, visit https://www.hollytheatre.org.