Overture's History

Original architectural illustration by Frank M. Costantino, circa early 2000s

It’s time to celebrate a remarkable journey that began with the Capitol Theater back in 1928. From its vibrant days as the heart of silent films to the rebirth as the Madison Civic Center, our venue has evolved beautifully over the decades. The dream of transforming our space into Overture Center for the Arts became a reality in 2004, and since then, we’ve been proud to host an array of extraordinary performances and community programs. Join us as we reflect on our rich history and look forward to the future, filled with even more artistic excellence and unforgettable “Oh!” moments!

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Our Opening Act The Oscar Mayer Era A Visionary Transformation A Venue for All Tastes 2020 and Beyond

Our Opening Act

Overture Center originally started as the Capitol Theater back in 1928. It was the go-to spot for silent films, with uniformed ushers and an original theater organ that’s still here today!

Designed by Rapp & Rapp, the Capitol was a marvelous example of the opulent movie houses built for the silent age. Uniformed ushers escorted guests to seats to watch vaudeville acts and feature-length shows with international stars. The theater boasted the latest in modern conveniences, including a Grand Barton theater organ, custom built by the Barton Musical Instrument Company of Oshkosh. And though silent movies are no longer a principal form of entertainment, the original organ remains intact and serves as the centerpiece to Overture’s Duck Soup Cinema series.

The Capitol Theater was first and foremost a silent movie house. So when sound ushered in a new era of entertainment, the theater found itself amid a rebirth as one of the city’s most popular concert halls. Between 1940 and 1970, the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Perry Como and the Beach Boys all graced its stage.

The Oscar Mayer Era

Fast forward to 1974, when Madison’s Mayor Paul Soglin announced the Madison Civic Center. Thanks to a big donation from Oscar Mayer, the Capitol Theater was reborn as the Oscar Mayer Theater. That era brought us so much, including a new smaller theater, the Isthmus Playhouse, the Crossroads Lobby and an art gallery, the Madison Art Center.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Oscar Mayer Theater hosted Broadway shows and touring acts from all over the country. The theater grew in cultural significance as it became the performance home of local arts groups like the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Madison Opera and Madison Ballet.

The Oscar Mayer had been built for silent movies, and by the mid-1990s, it was showing its age. Acoustically, it was not the ideal space for Broadway or symphonic music. A group of local arts leaders, understanding that the community deserved a theater, put their heads together and set their sights on a new, modern and much larger performing arts center.

A Visionary Transformation

By the late 1990s, we needed an upgrade. Enter Jerry Frautschi, who generously pledged $50 million—eventually donating $205 million—with philanthropist Pleasant Rowland, making the largest single gift to the arts in American history—to transform us into Overture Center for the Arts.

Overture Hall opened on September 19, 2004, along with four other performance spaces. Opening celebrations included a spirited gala and a weekend full of lively performances. The national tour of "Phantom of the Opera" was the first major Broadway show to open on an Overture stage, greeted by an enthusiastic Madison audience. That started our tradition of hosting amazing shows like “Rent,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Mean Girls,” “Disney’s The Lion King” and, of course, “Hamilton.”

In 2006, we saw the renovation and reopening of the Oscar Mayer Theater, Isthmus Playhouse and Madison Art Center. They were transformed into the Capitol Theater, The Playhouse and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, respectively. This was a huge milestone! Today, in part because of these renovations, nine resident organizations of various sizes and needs call Overture home, including Forward Theater Company, Madison Ballet, Children’s Theater Madison, Kanopy Dance Company and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.

A Venue for All Tastes

Over the years, we've welcomed legends like the Beach Boys, John Prine, Jerry Seinfeld, Yo-Yo Ma, Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Steve Martin and Martin Short, and Weird Al Yankovic. Whether you’re into rock, country or comedy, we’ve always got something fun going on.

We threw a fantastic weekend-long festival on September 27, 2014, to celebrate our 10th anniversary. It was such a blast, with the whole community coming together for fun and festivities.

2020 and Beyond

March 13, 2020 was a tough day for us. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Broadway’s “Wicked” set remained frozen on our stage for months. It was a challenging time, but we made it through with the support of our incredible community.

After the heartbreaking loss of CEO Sandra Gajic in December 2019, our Board of Directors and Vice-Presidents decided during the pandemic to adopt a shared executive leadership model. They saw how well our team navigated through the closure, providing stability during such an uncertain time. This new approach has strengthened us and given Overture a solid foundation of expertise.

Cheers to the Next Chapter

Our Overture Forever Campaign will ensure that generations to come will enjoy all the art forms expressed in this architectural gem of a building.

We are grateful for 20+ years in downtown Madison, and we look forward to many more years of unforgettable experiences and artistic excellence.

EXPLORE OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Looking for more Overture Center history? Check out these archives at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.