The Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
The Theatre Arts Department is housed in the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, one of the finest performance facilities in the United States. Situated on the banks of the beautiful Boise River near downtown Boise, the Morrison Center greatly enhances the cultural life of Boise, Boise State University and the State of Idaho. It includes a 2,000-seat main hall used by Boise State performing arts departments, touring groups and local arts organizations such as the Boise Opera, Boise Philharmonic and Ballet Idaho.
- A 10-story stagehouse, which drops to six stories for the performing hall, 455 feet in length and 183,885 square feet total
- The lobby, with its rich burgundy carpeting and cedar ceiling, leads to the Main Hall, where patrons can be seated on either the mezzanine level (732 seats) or the orchestra level (1268 seats)
- The proscenium arch is 60’ wide and 30’ high; the stage is 68’ deep and features an orchestra pit large enough to accommodate 75 musicians
- Managed by non-academic personnel
- Non-union house—the crews are composed of local hands and part-time student employees
- Performing and designing for a space like the Morrison Center provides unique and important experiences for theatre students
- Opportunities to work backstage with national touring productions is valuable to theatre students
The Danny Peterson Theatre
The Danny Peterson Theatre is a 3600 square-foot black box space with four moveable seating banks holding a capacity of 210 audience members. The height of the service grid is 21 feet. An additional 900 square feet for the storage of seating units is available under the control booths and is often used as a backstage area. The space is used as a primary theatre arts classroom.
A multi-configuration (60×60) black box with cat-walk grid (21’ high) with:
- Flexible configuration seating units accommodating 210 patrons
- Double-tracked masking drapery around the perimeter with additional masking available
- Second-floor control booths for lighting/stage management and sound operations
- Digital ETC lighting system with Ion board
- Eight Martin moving heads
- Digital Roland soundboard
- Computer sound editing system with CD player and burner, mini-disc player/recorder, reel-to-reel tape deck, dual cassette deck, digital recorder
- Fully networked computer and printer dedicated to student stage managers
- Wired Intercom system
Additional Information
Dance Studio (MCB111)
- 600 square foot studio:
- 20’x30’
- Basic theatrical lighting and sound capabilities
- Mirrored wall
- Portable and permanent dance barres
- Marley flooring to cushion linoleum-over-concrete
- Curtains to cover mirrored wall
- Sound equipment and wall-mounted flat-screen monitor/DVD player
The Hemingway Center
Rich with history, the Hemingway Center resides at the heart of campus, intending to support and cultivate a vibrant arts scene in Boise and beyond. One of the oldest buildings on campus, the Hemingway Center was built in 1941 by the Works Progress Administration and was initially known as the Assembly Hall.
In 1953 the Laura Moore Cunningham Memorial Organ was installed. An iconic landmark in Boise’s and Boise State University’s history, the Hemingway Center has continually been a place to celebrate community, art and the intersecting space between.
Click here to visit the Hemingway Center website
Theatre Arts Annex – Scenic and Costume Shops
The Theatre Arts Annex was remodeled in 1999 from its former use as a sign shop. The building houses the department’s scenic and costume shops. It is also used as classroom space for the Technical Theatre class and labs, as well as classes in Scene Painting and Costume Design. It also houses costume storage and scenic and props storage.
The scene shop is divided into 4 main sections: office space for the tech director and assistant tech director, tool and material storage and operation, assembly and painting area, and props and scenic storage. The high ceilings and adequate floor space are convenient for most set construction. Large garage doors make loading in and out relatively convenient.
- A renovated outdoor sign shop located a few blocks from the main campus houses the scenic and costume shops for the Theatre Arts Department.
- Approximately 6000 square feet
- Houses the scene shop, costume shop, costume storage, and office space for the Technical Director and Costume Shop Supervisor
- Limited parking adjacent to the building
The Special Events Center
The Theatre Department also has access to the Student Union Special Events Center, a 435-seat proscenium theater. All performance spaces have computerized lighting boards and state-of-the-art sound equipment.
- Managed by the Student Union Building
- Medium-sized proscenium theatre with 435 seats
- Proscenium is 36’ wide x 20’ high
- Orchestra pit can be covered to extend the stage
- Counterweight system with 44 lines
- Digital light board and equipment
- Cassette deck, CD player, microphones and intercom system available
- Two well-equipped dressing rooms and a green room
- Full proscenium projection screen with 35mm, 16mm and video projection equipment available
- Attached to the Student Union Building
Additional Information
For information about the performance spaces and to find driving directions and parking information, visit the Patron Experience and Parking page.
Room scheduling
The Theatre Arts schedules events and classes in four rooms in the Academic Wing of the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts. The Danny Peterson Theatre (MC B100), The Theatre Arts Design Lab (MC B214), The Theatre Arts Dance Studio (MC B 111) and The Faculty Lounge (MC C 307).
Please contact Natanya Biskar at natanyabiskar@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-3957 to schedule your event. The department has final approval over all event scheduling and you will be notified if your event is accepted.
The priority for scheduling is as follows:
- Theatre Arts Classes
- Theatre Arts Rehearsals, Performances, Meetings and Events
- Theatre Majors Association Rehearsals, Performances and Events
- Theatre Arts Student Work where entire room is necessary for performance or presentation
- Music Department Events, Meetings and Performances
- Music Department Student Work – including using the Faculty Lounge kitchen for recital receptions
- Outside performance companies (as negotiated and arranged with the department)
Ticket policy
Tickets for Theatre Program productions:
- Online at Ticketmaster.com
- In person at the Morrison Center Box Office: 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise, ID 83725, Monday-Friday, 10 am – 3 pm, and one hour prior to showtime (subject to availability)
- By phone: 208-426-1110
Rates:
- $20 General Admission plus ticketing fees
- Thrifty Thursdays: Tickets for all Thursday shows are 30% off
- Ticketing fees and taxes apply. Parking is included in the ticket price. Seating is general admission (first come first served). Special seating arrangements are available for wheelchair or disabled individuals. ADA seating accommodations do not need to be arranged in advance.
- Boise State students, faculty, staff, and emeriti receive one (1) free ticket with a valid Boise State ID at the Morrison Center Box Office. Please secure your free ticket in advance of the performance during Box Office hours.
Audio Description: We are proud to offer audio description for each production. To see AD performance dates and purchase tickets, please visit the ticketing website.