Morrison Center for the Performing Arts

Located on the campus of Boise State University, the 1,994-seat Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts is Idaho's home for the arts. Nestled on the banks of the Boise River, with a panoramic view of the city, parks, and foothills, the Center's 10-story stage house is a recognizable fixture of the Capitol's picturesque skyline. The realization of a life-long dream of Harry W. Morrison and championed by his widow, Velma, the Center opened its doors on April 7, 1984. Today, the Center is recognized as a major destination for arts and culture, annually hosting hundreds of live entertainment shows, touring Broadway, and offering arts education that enrich the lives of patrons of all ages. As a Boise State affiliate, the Center's budget is supported by ticket sales, facility rentals, donations, and grants. The latest economic impact study for the Morrison Center shows the generation of $27.9M in value to the local and state economy. Designed to be a flagship venue for the performing arts, the Morrison Center also provides academic spaces for the university's music and theater departments and serves as a stage for community arts groups. On its 10th anniversary, the center was renamed in honor of Velma V. Morrison, reflecting her significant contributions to the arts. The Morrison Center boasts a range of venues, from a cozy 200-seat recital hall to the grand 2,000-seat Main Hall, capable of accommodating large-scale Broadway productions. The center also features the Danny Petersen Theatre, a black-box theater that supports student and intimate theatrical performances. Over the past four decades, the Morrison Center has hosted an array of distinguished artists and performances, including Itzhak Perlman, B.B. King, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Robert Redford, Tony Bennett, and Harry Belafonte. In 1990, it became the home of touring Broadway shows in Idaho, presenting acclaimed productions such as "Wicked," "The Lion King," "Hamilton," "Les Misérables," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "Cats." The Boise Philharmonic, Ballet Idaho, and Opera Idaho also hold their seasonal performances at the center. The Morrison Center operates as an auxiliary unit of Boise State University and does not receive appropriated funds for its operations. It relies on the generous support of donors and sponsors to maintain its status as a state-of-the-art facility and to fund its education and community engagement programs, including The Patty Duke Awards. As it looks to the future, the Morrison Center is committed to further expanding and upgrading its facilities, building partnerships across Idaho, and ensuring the arts are accessible to all residents of the state.