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The newly opened Overture Center for the Arts, has a long history. Known as the Capitol Theatre from 1928-1974, then the Oscar Mayer Theatre from 1974-1980, the Madison Civic Center from 1980 to the phase-one opening of the Overture Hall in September 2004.
In 1998, with his establishment of the Overture Foundation, local businessman W. Jerome Frautschi made a generous donation of $50 million for the development of a cultural arts district in downtown Madison. In the end Mr. Frautschi spent $205 million to build the state of the art Overture Center. This donation is the largest private gift to the arts of its kind.
The Overture Center is comprised of seven venues and several smaller rooms: Overture Hall, Playhouse, three smaller multipurpose spaces, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, meeting rooms, four art galleries, and the Capitol Theatre makes its return to Madison as part of the Overture complex.
The Overture Center for the Arts sits majestically on an entire city block facing Madison’s signature State Street, with university students and other locals strolling by constantly. As one enters the Overture Center, the soaring glass lobby is sure to be noticed.
The largest theatre of the Overture Center is acoustically-perfect Overture Hall seating 2,251. With seating on four levels, and incredible architectural features, Overture Hall is sure to impress. A nine-day festival of events marked the opening of Overture Hall and the completion of phase-one of the Overture Center of the Arts. The Madison Symphony Orchestra, Madison Opera and the Madison Ballet call Overture Hall home. Touring Broadway shows, like Aida, Mamma Mia, Cats and Hairspray are likely to be seen on the stage of Overture Hall. Many musicians like Bonnie Raitt and performers like Bob Newhart have made a stop in Madison thanks to the addition of Overture Hall. In 2005, Garrison Keillor brought his popular radio show A Prairie Home Companion to Overture Hall.
Overture Hall beauty is omnipresent. The plush mauve seats meet the burgundy stained floor. It has been said that the team that built the Overture Center for the Arts, and more specifically, Overture Hall may have reached perfection.
Smaller than Overture Hall, the Capitol Theatre, re-opened in 2005, seats an intimate 1,000, and houses performances by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the CTM Madison Family Theater.
Guided tours are available of the Overture Center. Parking is easily accessed upon a visit to the Overture Center.
Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
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