Paul Morrison papers and designs

1925-1973

Paul Morrison's theatrical career was varied and prolific. Born in Altoona, Pa. in 1906, Morrison graduated from Lafayette College (Easton, Pa.), where he also taught drama. During World War II, he joined the armed forces and designed and supervised shows overseas for the USO. Morrison's first theatrical work in New York was performing with the Theatre Guild in 1929-1930. He acted, designed and stage managed for the Group Theatre, appearing in the first production of Clifford Odets' Paradise Lost. During 1935-36, Morrison served as technical director and design supervisor for the Chicago Division of the Federal Theatre (WPA) Project.

Morrison often served a show in multiple capacities, covering more than one design element, and sometimes stage managing or supervising the production. As a costume designer, Morrison's first Broadway show was Thunder Rock at the Mansfield Theatre in 1939. Serving as technical director for the American Repertory Theatre, Morrison worked with Eva LeGallienne and Cheryl Crawford, designing sets for What Every Woman Knows and John Gabriel Borkman, which played in repertory 1946-1947.

Many Broadway productions followed, for which he designed sets, lighting and/or costumes, including the following shows represented in this collection: All My Sons(1947), Billy Budd(1951), Candide(1956), Separate Tables(1956), The Visit(1958), Much Ado About Nothing(1959), Thurber Carnival(1960), The Caretaker(1961), A Man for All Seasons(1961), and The Price(1968). Morrison worked with such directors as Peter Brook, Harold Clurman, John Gielgud, Ulu Grosbard, Tyrone Guthrie, and Lee Strasberg.

From 1936-1942 Morrison headed up the Theatre Department at Bard College. In 1963, he became a director of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he remained for 17 years.

Paul Morrison died in New York City on December 29, 1980.