In late 2005 the old Morse Theatre was purchased by an investment group in Chicago, with plans to redevelop the existing 1912 theater building. Construction has begun as of June, 2007, and should be completed in the spring of 2008. When completed, the Morse Theatre will include a 299 seat live performance venue, and a 100 seat full service restaurant. The redevelopment will feature a restoration of the original 1912 terra cotta façade, as well as a recreation of the Art Modern style cinema marquee which advertised coming attractions from 1935 until 1954 when the Morse was operated as a one screen neighborhood cinema under the Co-Ed name. Sadly, little remains of the theater’s original interior. The new performance space will feature cabaret style seating on multiple levels rather than traditional cinema seating.
The Morse Theatre performance venue will feature a state of the art digital audio system as well as full audio and video sound stage production capability. While our primary focus will be seated live concerts, with a focus on jazz, traditional old time, country, bluegrass and contemporary singer songwriters, we also plan to offer classic, documentary and independent films digitally, on a 22 foot wide screen.
The Morse Theatre redevelopment is a LEED qualifying Tier 1 environmental construction project, certified by Mayor Daley’s Green Permit Program.
We are excited to have the opportunity to return this 1912 Vaudeville and silent film nickelodeon to its roots, and to participate in the economic redevelopment of the wonderful Rogers Park neighborhood. The Morse Theatre and The Century Public House are privately funded projects of Rogers Park Entertainment Ventures, Inc. Please follow our progress at www.themorse.com
In late 2005 the old Morse Theatre was purchased by an investment group in Chicago, with plans to redevelop the existing 1912 theater building. Construction has begun as of June, 2007, and should be completed in the spring of 2008. When completed, the Morse Theatre will include a 299 seat live performance venue, and a 100 seat full service restaurant. The redevelopment will feature a restoration of the original 1912 terra cotta façade, as well as a recreation of the Art Modern style cinema marquee which advertised coming attractions from 1935 until 1954 when the Morse was operated as a one screen neighborhood cinema under the Co-Ed name. Sadly, little remains of the theater’s original interior. The new performance space will feature cabaret style seating on multiple levels rather than traditional cinema seating.
The Morse Theatre performance venue will feature a state of the art digital audio system as well as full audio and video sound stage production capability. While our primary focus will be seated live concerts, with a focus on jazz, traditional old time, country, bluegrass and contemporary singer songwriters, we also plan to offer classic, documentary and independent films digitally, on a 22 foot wide screen.
The Morse Theatre redevelopment is a LEED qualifying Tier 1 environmental construction project, certified by Mayor Daley’s Green Permit Program.
We are excited to have the opportunity to return this 1912 Vaudeville and silent film nickelodeon to its roots, and to participate in the economic redevelopment of the wonderful Rogers Park neighborhood. The Morse Theatre and The Century Public House are privately funded projects of Rogers Park Entertainment Ventures, Inc. Please follow our progress at www.themorse.com