Morris Performing Arts Center facts for kids
Front of the center
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| Former names | Palace Theatre Morris Civic Auditorium |
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| Address | 211 N. Michigan St. South Bend, Indiana United States |
| Owner | City of South Bend |
| Operator | Morris Entertainment, Inc. |
| Type | Vaudeville house |
| Capacity | 2,564 |
| Current use | Performing arts center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1922 |
| Reopened | March 3, 2000 |
| Website | |
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Palace Theatre
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architect | J.S. Aroner; Ralph Sollitt Co. |
| Architectural style | Spanish Renaissance Revival |
| MPS | Downtown South Bend Historic MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001226 |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1985 |
The Morris Performing Arts Center is a large concert hall located in South Bend, Indiana. It has 2,564 seats, making it a popular spot for many different events. This historic building first opened its doors in 1922.
When it first opened, it was called the Palace Theatre. It was a place for vaudeville shows, which were live performances with singing, dancing, comedy, and magic acts. Later, it became a movie palace, showing films on a big screen. For a while, it was also known as the Morris Civic Auditorium.
Contents
A Look Inside the Morris
The Morris Performing Arts Center is known for its beautiful design.
Building Style and Details
The building is made of brick and has a special look called Spanish Renaissance Revival style. This means it was designed to look like grand buildings from a historical period in Spain. It features detailed decorations made from terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay.
Stage and Seating
The theater's stage is quite large, measuring 56 feet by 57 feet. A striking red and gold main curtain, added during a restoration in 2000, hangs on the stage. The inside of the theater has a lovely color scheme of rose, blue, and cream, just like when it first opened.
More than half of the seats, about 1,282 of them, are located in the balcony. The rest of the seats are on the lower level, closer to the stage.
What Happens at the Morris?
Today, the Morris Performing Arts Center is a busy place.
Home to Music and Shows
It is the main home for the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, which performs many concerts there. The center also hosts big Broadway shows, popular concerts, and other special events. For example, Marian High School holds its yearly graduation ceremony at the Morris.
History and Recognition
The Morris Performing Arts Center has a rich history and is an important part of the community.
Saved from Demolition
In 1959, there were plans to tear down the building. However, it was saved! Between 1998 and 2000, the center went through a big restoration and remodeling project. This brought the building back to its original beauty and updated it for modern performances.
Historic Landmark Status
Because of its important place in the region's history and its unique architecture, the center was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This special listing helps protect important historical sites.
Celebrating 100 Years
In 2022, the Morris Performing Arts Center celebrated its 100th birthday! To mark this big milestone, a documentary about the theater's history was shown on the local PBS TV station, WNIT-TV, on November 2 of that year.
