04-13-2005 Our Dream is Becoming a Reality

Home Browse Search

Page 1 of 2 � v%• 'Building a 21St Century City " ' rs Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor RELEASE FROM: FOR RELEASE: Office of the Mayor April 13, 2005 OUR DREAM IS BECOMING A REALITY! The Morris Performing Arts Center not only has the HOTTEST tickets to great acts, it has the very generous support of its community who have donated over$ 750,000 towards the Morris Entertainment, Ines goal of building a new "state of the art" marquee. Morris Entertainment, Inc. serves as the advisory board to the Morris Performing Arts Center administration and has long fostered a strong commitment in their efforts to restore the Morris to its beauty and grandeur. The Morris, which seats 2,501 patrons, is handicap accessible and is a rental facility. The Morris continues to be listed among the top '50 Theater Venues' in the nation with 2,500 seats or less, according to Pollstar, a nationally recognized industry publication! In addition to national ratings, for the past three years our community has continually ranked the Morris Performing Arts Center as the best theater in the South Bend Tribune's Readers' Choice Award and this year the Morris earned further recognition in WNDLI Viewers' Choice Award for favorite concert venue. These rankings help attract new business and supports continued business from promoters, agents and artists throughout the country. Because the Morris relies on promoters to keep bringing great events to its stage, the promoters who lease the theater must experience a positive return on their investment. The promoters need to sell more seats to our events which calls for more advertising and this is where a new "state of the art" marquee will help. In our industry it is generally found that marquee advertising generates up to 20% of an audience and provides either first hand knowledge of an event or reinforces other forms of media advertising and word of mouth news. According to Dennis J. Andres, executive director of the Morris Performing Arts Center, "We would like to have more sell-out houses as that will help bring more promoters and shows to the Morris and the new marquee is key in this endeavor". On a daily basis we have the potential of over 100,000 people viewing information provided on the new marquee as the traffic flow collectively traveling north on St. Joseph, west on Colfax and LaSalle streets averages 48,000 vehicles per day[l]. Due to its tremendous deterioration, the marquee that once adorned the face of the Morris was removed and destroyed in the late 1950's. Much work has gone into restoring and renovating the Morris to return the inside to the splendor of its glory years. Due to the tremendous support from private citizens, a "state of the art" Morris Marquee complete with large computer controlled full color LED display areas will now become a reality and will be installed on the face of the building to market the events at the Morris and help to build a sustaining audience for many years to come. For further information please contact Dennis J.Andres, Executive Director, Morris Performing Arts Center 235-5603; Linda Doshi, President, Morris Entertainment, Inc. 259-3398; or Margaret King, Secretary and Chair of Fundraising Committee, Morris Entertainment, Inc. 232-3401 http://www.ci.south-bend.in.us/Press/Releases 2005/041305 morris.htm 1/13/2006