Theatre Historical Society of America recognizes distinguished theatre historian at annual conference in Los Angeles

PITTSBURGH, PA - 07/17/2017 /EASY NEWSWIRE/ — Mr. Andrew (Craig) Morrison, AIA, received the President’s Award, which recognizes an individual’s lifetime achievement and service to the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS), at the organization’s annual conference reception on June 30, 2017. 

A founding member of THS and a friend of author and THS founder, Ben Hall, Morrison’s involvement with THS began before the organization existed.  In 1970, he was instrumental in ensuring that Ben Hall's personal theatre collections were secured for THS.  Most recently Morrison has been a board member for nearly a decade and may very well be one of the last founding members to lead the organization as president.  

Prior to working in and with historical theatres for more than 30 years, Morrison loved going to theatres while growing up in Detroit, Michigan, but found himself at a crossroads when entering college, as he could not decide between majoring in history or English.  After meeting several architecture students and reviewing the program at the University of Michigan, he decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in architecture.  Professionally, he was able to combine all three interests as he became an architect who specializing in historic preservation and special building type consultation and an accomplished scholar and author.

Morrison became involved in historic buildings, and theatres specifically, because everything about the architecture industry at the time was about “steel and glass boxes,” and little was discussed about preserving the existing treasures of this country’s towns and cities.  He opened his first office in Philadelphia and later moved to New York City to continue his work.

He has taught and lectured at several colleges and universities, including Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University, and the University of Michigan.  He has written many studies and reports on historical theatres, and served as a historian and delineator for the US government’s Historic American Buildings Survey.  His book, Theatres, a Library of Congress Visual Sourcebook, offers “a richly illustrated history of a revered cultural artifact and a technological challenge, following its progression from the eighteenth-century opera house to the modern movie multiplex,” as cited from Amazon’s website.

Now retired, Morrison and his wife, Deborah Kinzer, reside in Chicago.

About The Theatre Historical Society of America:
Founded in 1969 as a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the rich history of America’s historic theatres, the Theatre Historical Society of America(THS) exists today as a common ground for all who value the role of these historic structures in our architectural, cultural and social and history. Through preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive and our educational programming, including our flagship publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres. Visit THS online at historictheatres.org.

For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Donna McCoy, Membership & Communications Manager at 1-877-242-9637 ext. 305 or office@historictheatres.org.

Media Contacts:

Company Name: Theatre Historical Society of America
Full Name: Donna McCoy
Phone: 1-877-242-9637 x305
Email Address: office@historictheatres.org
Website: www.historictheatres.org