Overture Center for the Arts Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Overture Center for the Arts
Construction
Main entrance to Overture Center. The facade was originally part of Yost's Department Store.
Address	201 State Street Madison, Wisconsin United States
Coordinates	43°4′28″N 89°23′19″W / 43.07444°N 89.38861°W / 43.07444; -89.38861
Operator	Overture Center Foundation
Type	performing arts center
Capacity	Overture Hall: 2,255 Capitol Theater: 1,089 The Playhouse: 347 Promenade Hall: 252 Rotunda Stage: 350
Opened	1928 (Capitol Theatre)
Reopened	1980 (Madison Civic Center) 2004 (Overture Center for the Arts)
Architect	Cesar Pelli

Overture Center for the Arts is a performing arts center and art gallery in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. The center opened on September 19, 2004, replacing the former Civic Center. In addition to several theaters, the center also houses the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

History
Venues
Notable performers

History

The center was commissioned by Jerome Frautschi and Pleasant Rowland, designed by Cesar Pelli. Perhaps his most famous works are the Petronas Twin Towers, which were for a time the world's tallest buildings. He also designed the World Financial Center complex (since renamed Brookfield Place, in downtown Manhattan. Frautschi/Rowland paid $205 million to construct the building, making it the largest private gift to the arts of its kind. It replaced the Madison Civic Center, located on the same block on State Street. Its first President/CEO was Robert B. D'Angelo, followed by Michael Goldberg, Tom Carto, Ted DeDee and Sandra Gajic.

Venues

The building has seven venues, in addition to art galleries:

Overture Hall

The 2251-seat Overture Hall is the facility's largest theater. Consisting of four levels of seats, it has a striking architectural style and was designed for acoustics (no center aisle). The balconies have "continental-style" seating arrangements, where aisles other than those on the sides of seat rows are omitted in order to provide greater seat size and acoustics. It houses a large, permanent organ by the German organ builder Klais. The Madison Symphony Orchestra, Madison Opera, and Madison Ballet call this theater home. In addition to local Madison performing groups, touring performances have played in Overture Hall; comedian Jerry Seinfeld and musician Yo-Yo Ma are examples of nationally famous performers who have appeared here.

Capitol Theater

During Overture construction, the Oscar Mayer Theater (originally named Capitol Theater, which opened 1928 as a movie palace) was restored, downsized, and re-christened the Capitol Theater. The theater's inaugural performance, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, upon reopening took place in November, 2005. Done in muted teal and fuchsia, it seats 1098 in the main floor and balcony. Original to the theater is an organ built by Oshkosh's Barton Organ Company. Resident companies include the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and CTM Madison Family Theatre, although some traveling shows (usually concerts) regularly perform there.

Playhouse

This smaller, intimate performance space replaced the former Isthmus Playhouse. It was renovated with the Madison Repertory Theatre in mind as its resident company, and was occupied by Madison Rep until its closure in March 2009.

Promenade Hall

This is a smaller room featuring bleachers in the walls that can convert it to a performance space seating up to 300. Kanopy Dance is its resident company.

Rotunda Stage

This room, located in the lower level, is used primarily for the center's Kids in the Rotunda performances. The only venue accessible to the public during regular hours, it features a color scheme of fuchsia walls and floors, as well as permanent audience riser seats. It is also a venue for banquets, meetings and other performances.

Wisconsin Studio and Rotunda Studio

These two venues are used mainly for rehearsals and meetings. They are also fully equipped black box theater spaces seating 100-200 depending on seating configuration.

Visual Art Galleries

The center contains four visual art galleries. The Overture Galleries present exhibits by local and state artists and organizations.

The center houses the James Watrous Gallery, which is operated by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. This gallery displays larger exhibits and installations from regional artists.

Both galleries are open to the public.

Notable performers

Following is a partial list of notable performers that have staged concerts at the Overture Center:

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Overture Center for the Arts facts for kids

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