Morrison Center for the Performing Arts

The Morrison Center is a great gem of Boise. I’ve been there for concerts, theatre and community events and each time the experience is great. My most recent visit was our annual Christmas Nutcracker experience.
There are better seats than others but there is not really a bad seat in the house. The medium sized, intimate atmosphere is comfortable and the acoustics are great. You can see, hear and experience the event no matter where you sit.
The only complaint I may have is the limited number of people working the snack areas at intermissions. It backs up really quickly. The other downside is that parking isn’t always convenient though the new parking garage makes it easier.
Overall, I feel like this is a venue that eventually has an event for everyone. Don’t miss an opportunity to experience this great part of our community.

We went to see Beauty and the Beast. It was a nice time. Everyone was very helpful. I did find it strange that they made a point to have security at the doors that were only briefly peeking in large bags; and then telling people that offered their bags that it was small enough not to be checked.

The Morrison Center is the best theater experience in Boise! I have been there for concerts, dance events, and Broadway theater. Our community is lucky to have this resource in town, bringing national events and acts to our small city. The venue is always impeccably clean and staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly.

I’ve been there for several events and there some pros and cons.
Pros:
–The building interior is quite pretty
–There are some refreshments and concessions
–Good lighting
–Seats are comfortable
–Some decent shows are put on there
Cons:
–The staff consists almost entirely of grumpy older women who are quite disrespectful
–Concessions are overpriced and do not taste good
–The staff’s attitude gives the venue a very stuffy and uncomfortable vibe
–The rows are very long and there’s no center aisle, so you have to do that sideways scoot to get to your seat, which is annoying
–You can’t bring concessions into the theater
Overall you go there to see a decent show and try not to let the rude customer service ruin your night. :/

The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts claims to be Idaho’s premier performing arts center. The Center opened its doors in April, 1984 and has over 2,000 seats. From the standpoint of what else is available, it probably meets that claim
Unfortunately there are several quirks that make this theater a trial to enjoy. This review is not about any performance, as the variety and quality is usually quite good. The theater has excellent lines of sight and acoustics. The stage is large and versatile for any production. This review is based on the experience of being an attendee in the audience.
First, the theater has what is called «continental seating» which is defined as a theater seating plan in which there is no center aisle, but with wide spacing between each row of seats to allow for ease of passage. What they fail to state is that some rows exceed about 80 seats in length. So when you pick out your seats when buying your tickets, you have to make a «Devil’s Compromise» no matter where you select. If you want to be seated stage center, than unless you get there early, you might have to tread over 30 – 40 peoples’ feet. With the increasing girth of Americans, the width for this passage becomes problematic. On the other hand, if you chose end of row seats, you may be subjected to 30 to 40 people having to pass over you, if you got there early. And of course, for those in the center seats, leaving for a rest room call during the performance is more than disruptive. Since the doors do not open until 30 minutes before the start of a performance, there is going to be the Devil to pay no matter where you sit. Also, the seating pitch/​incline isn’t high enough to see over the head of the person sitting in front of you, so you’ll have to peak over the side of people’s heads.
For the mobility handicapped, the wheel-​chair reserved places appear to be limited. Also access is limited normally to entrances 1, 11, and 12 which are free of stairs. All other theater entrances involve stairs. Elevators are located in the northeast corner of the main lobby, allowing access to the upper levels. You actually have to climb/​elevator to the highest level to access the closest rows to the stage and all access is from the sides.
While the Morrison Center claims that all restrooms have disability access, it would appear that a wheelchair patron would have to have assistance to leave the theater and could only exit the non stair entrances listed above. Also, on the night we attended, signs indicated that the womens’ loos were on floors 2 and 4, while the mens’ loos were on floors 1 and 3.
I would attend another performance in this theater, but only for something I absolutely, positively needed to see. Otherwise, I am thinking the «Devils Compromise» may be too high a price to endure again, hence the 2 star rating.

The center was very nice but when I purchased my tickets and made clear that the tickets were ground level. At arrival we found out otherwise.. so far away you couldn’t even make out the face of the garbage comedian. A double screw… not only the seats were shit and cramped but also the comedian was making 5 year old jokes about eating and farting… wtf. Paid waaayyy to much for these bullshit tickets. Even watched a few people leave but was personally trying to be optimistic in hopes it MIGHT get better

I want to preface this by saying I came from Portland Oregon to Boise– therefore I have been previously spoiled having had the Civic Auditorium as my venue for stage events musical and dramatic. :) That being said. I have found the Morrison Center rivals the Civic in many ways, AND (in terms of parking) is even a smidge better! I have experienced seating in all parts of the Morrison and I’ve yet to find a seat that was ‘bad’. I can’t say I’m impressed entirely with the way seat access was designed, as full solid rows with no aisles and the ‘Hogwarts’ type stairwell plans to access seats– BUT the Morrison is neither cavernous nor cramped. I do have to throw out a hug BOO for the restroom situation as well and wonder why OH WHY the powers that be do not (after a fashion) allow women to use the mens room about when it seems the fellas are done. a fifteen minute intermission is not long enough to ascend/​descend from your seat find a restroom, wait in line and get back to your seat. Though I’ll end with a THANK YOU as the Morrison now allows people to take bottled water into the auditorium (provided you buy it there). I also love the scenery on the river side of the Morrison. it make for charming access and egress to the auditorium proper.

I have held season tickets for Broadway productions in another midsized city and have enjoyed musicals in many different venues in the U.S. and abroad. This is simply the worst designed theater I have ever attended. Since every row are solid seats from one side of the theater to another with no aisles, access is ridiculously complicated. You actually have to climb to the highest level to access the closest rows to the stage and all access is from the sides. Acoustics are adequate but the sound level of the audience during funny shows will drown out the actors. The bathrooms, like many theater, have long lines during intermission. Site lines are good but the best are in the center and you have to step over 30 – 40 people to get to them. Going to the bathroom during a performance would be disruptive and blasphemous! A very austere, plain theater. Kuna High has a better facility. Boise you deserve better!

The Morrison Center is on the Boise State campus next to the Boise River, and the surrounding area has nice landscaping and scenic views. The theater has about 2,000 shoulder-​height seats and an incredibly large stage. It’s a nice theater built in 1984, so the architecture and décor is a little dated. The theater and bathrooms were clean. I give the theater four-​stars because of the viewing from the seats. The seating pitch/​incline isn’t high enough to see over the head of the person sitting in front of you, so you’ll have to peak over the side of people’s heads. We watched «War Horse,» and I sat in the Door 7 area, aisle «X» seat 35, almost to the back of the theater. I prefer to sit in the back where I can see and experience the whole theater. If you want to hear the actors, then I suggest sitting closer to the front. I’m a little hearing-​impaired, and I don’t think the production we watched used any microphones to amplify the actors’ voices. The staff and ushers were friendly and helpful collecting our tickets and directing us to our seat. The Morrison Center hosts many Broadway, concert, and comic shows, and you can check out the events calendar on their website.