The Velma V. Morrison Center is Idaho's most prestigious performance complex, nestled on the bank of the Boise River and a part of Boise State University. With a panoramic view of the city, parks and mountains, it enriches the lives of all its patrons. The product of a life-long dream of Harry W. Morrison, and championed by his widow, Velma, the Center opened its doors on April 7, 1984.
The Center features a 10-story stagehouse that drops to six stories for the performing hall and three stories for the academic portion. It is 455 feet in length and 183,885 square feet in area.
The lobby, with its rich burgundy carpet and cedar ceiling, leads to the Main Hall, where patrons can be seated on either the Mezzanine level (732 seats) or the Orchestra level (1,268 seats). The proscenium arch is 60 feet wide and 30 feet high. The stage, 68 feet deep, features an orchestra pit large enough to accommodate 75 musicians.
The Main Hall combines tan brick walls, wooden diffusion panels, and burgundy carpet and seats to create a warm ambiance. Acoustically, the room is akin to a large musical instrument that can be tuned by adjusting ceiling and wall acoustical drapery. Whether the performance is a solo or a full musical production, the Center has excellent acoustics. Because no seat is further than 131 feet from stage, audiences will have an unusual intimacy with the performers.
The Center, clearly one of the finest performing arts halls in the country, continues to bring artistic excellence to Boise and southern Idaho. Whether it is a ballet, musical, symphony, chorus, opera ensemble, or solo, the Center provides an unsurpassed setting for performers and audiences alike.
It has hosted such greats as Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Harry Bellefonte, Bill Cosby, Jerry Seinfeld, David Copperfield, Hal Holbrook?s-Mark Twain and Josh Groban?s 1st US tour. The hit Broadway show Miss Saigon had a two-week run in the Center, and numerous other
Broadway productions have been here as part of the Center's Broadway in Boise series since 1997 that include; Jesus Christ Superstar; Annie; Cats; Chicago; Rent; and most recently the international mega hit Mamma Mia!.
In 2006-07 the Morrison Center had over 122,000 patrons seeing 98 performances through out the season.
Website: http://mc.boisestate.edu
Administrative Office
2201 Cesar Chavez Lane
Boise, ID 83725
Phone: 208-426-1609
Tickets:
Fax: 208-426-3021
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-4:00pm
Seating
2,000 Seats
Parking
There is ample parking surrounding the Morrison Center building. Visit http://mc.boisestate.edu/park.html for more information.
Note:
Beginning, Wednesday, May 7, 2008, a portion of Cesar Chavez Lane in front of the Morrison Center will be closed to allow for greenbelt, roadway improvements and a new plaza. Parking for the box-office will be on the west-side next to the Towers in meter parking. During the months of May and June, patrons who need assistance into the venue for performances should be drop off on south-side near the Academic entrance. The project is scheduled to be completed by August 2008.
Thank you for your patience.
Directions
The Morrison Center is located along the beautiful Boise River on the Boise State University campus.
From Interstate 84: Take the Vista Ave. Exit #53 and proceed North on Vista Ave. Vista Ave. turns into Capitol at the Boise Train Depot. Follow Capitol to University Ave and turn right on University Drive. Take your first left into the parking lot adjacent to the Morrison Center.
From 184 (the "Connector"): Heading east on 184, the connector becomes Myrtle Street. Continue straight (east) on Myrtle Street. Turn right on 9th Street. Turn left onto University Drive. Take your first left into the parking lot adjacent to the Morrison Center.
