2025/26 Season, Fringe Festival, Overture Presents, Variety, Visual Arts "Earthlings: Revisited" By Jeanne C. Wilkinson

Rotunda Studio

Free exhibition in Rotunda Studio! Step into artist Jeanne Wilkinson’s “Cloud Tunnel” and immerse yourself in a mesmerizing interplay of shifting images and color.

2025/26 Season, Educational/Talks, National Geographic Live, Overture Presents The Untold Story of Sharks with Marine Biologist Jess Cramp

Capitol Theater

Dive into our planet’s waters and observe the fascinating lives of sharks with marine biologist Jess Cramp. Fifty years after “Jaws,” discover the real story of these ancient predators, the trailblazing women of shark science and Cramp’s mission to protect them.

Classical Music, Free Events The Final Forte

Overture Hall

Four of Wisconsin's brightest young musicians compete in The Final Forte, a free concert held in Overture Hall on Wednesday, March 4th.

2025/26 Season, Cabaret, Music, Overture Presents Canceled - Kyle Taylor Parker: Juke Joint Jubilee

Capitol Theater Stage

Kyle Taylor Parker: Juke Joint Jubilee has been canceled. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and will follow up with all ticket holders to provide next steps.

Dance, Educational/Talks, Family Friendly, Folk Music, Free Events, Music, Theater, Variety, Visual Arts International Festival

Multiple Venues

Celebrate the rich cultural heritage within our community and enjoy nearly 30 FREE performances throughout Overture by artists who call Dane County home. Indulge in cuisines from around the world, browse stunning arts and crafts available for purchase and learn about the many local businesses with global connections.

Children's Theater of Madison, Family Friendly, Theater Tiara’s Hat Parade

MYArts Starlight Theater

A heartwarming one-woman show celebrating creativity, resilience and the importance of community. Based on Kelly Starling Lyons' award-winning best-selling children's book, this touching story shows how one small gesture can impact an entire community and that kindness is always in fashion.

2025/26 Season, Music, Overture Presents DRUM TAO: The Best

Capitol Theater

Experience the pulse-pounding power of Drum TAO, where traditional Japanese Wadaiko drums meet breathtaking performance and modern spectacle. Renowned for their dynamic choreography, striking visuals and thunderous rhythms, “Drum TAO” delivers a performance that is more than just a concert—it’s a full-body experience.

2025/26 Season, Broadway, Six-Show Package Back to the Future: The Musical

Overture Hall

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally alters history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself... back to the future.

Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda Kalaanjali Indian Dance Company

Rotunda Stage

Experience breathtaking stories of the East through the graceful postures, percussive feet, vibrant costumes and dynamic expressions of the Kalaanjali dancers.

Comedy, Stand Up Comedy Craig Ferguson: Pants on Fire

Capitol Theater

Get ready for a night of sharp wit, big laughs and unforgettable stories with Craig Ferguson, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian, actor, writer and director.

Classical Music, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Music Ax Plays Mozart

Overture Hall

Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks” is a mischievous tone poem that follows the antics of a legendary trickster. From daring escapades to clever pranks, the music captures Till’s irreverent spirit with virtuosic orchestral writing and humor.

Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda, Music Tom Pease

Rotunda Stage

One of the series’ most popular performers, Tom Pease engages children with imaginative songs, humor and full audience participation. Pease’s show leaves audiences with a renewed appreciation for their own sense of place and community.

2025/26 Season, Classical Music, Cover Bands, Music, Overture Presents One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullen and The Works

Capitol Theater

Get ready to rock! This high-energy, two-hour stage show brings the legendary music and iconic theatrics of Queen to life, featuring the incredible Gary Mullen & The Works.

Classical Music, Music, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Masterworks IV - Dueling Violins

Capitol Theater

Prepare to be mesmerized as two extraordinary violin masters, Gilles Apap and Eric Silberger, return to the stage for “Dueling Violins”—not as rivals, but as creative counterparts.

Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda Madison Ballet

Rotunda Stage

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the Madison Ballet like never before! Audience members will have an up-close experience of a ballet class warm up, barre practice, center floor work and choreography rehearsal.

Educational/Talks, Theater New Works: On Deck

Playhouse

Experience "Steady She Goes" and "Dan Seavey: Confessions of a Great Lakes Pirate" as part of the Four Seasons Theatre's production "New Works: On Deck."

Classical Music, Film, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Music Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert

Overture Hall

Madison Symphony Orchestra’s MSO at the Movies presents “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert,” featuring John Williams’ GRAMMY® Award-winning score performed live to the film led by conductor Kyle Knox at Overture Hall.

Family Friendly, Music Jerry Ensemble Cabaret

Promenade Hall

Get ready for a dazzling night of song and storytelling! The Jerry Ensemble takes the stage with a captivating cabaret featuring everything from beloved musical theater classics to the latest Broadway hits.

Classical Music, Cyber Weekend, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Music An Evening of Chamber Music and Organ

Overture Hall

As the Madison Symphony Orchestra celebrates 100 years this season, it seemed only fitting to bring fellow colleagues on stage with MSO Principal Organist Greg Zelek to showcase their talent and unique pairing. Get a chance to hear many of the orchestra musicians perform works as soloists with the organ.

Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet ChoreograpHER

Starlight Theater MYARTS

The highlight of our 2025/26 season is a bold celebration of the female choreographic voice. Although women have long been the faces of ballet, they remain vastly underrepresented in choreography —especially women of color.

Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda Trinity Irish Dance Academy

Overture Hall Main Lobby

Get ready for a high-energy showcase that will leave you breathless! In this performance, you’ll witness the incredible talent of Trinity students, some as young as 3.5 years old, as they bring traditional Irish steps and vibrant choreography to life on stage.

2025/26 Season, Music, Overture Presents, Theater An Evening with Audra McDonald

Overture Hall

Overture Center is honored to welcome the incomparable Audra McDonald to Madison for an unforgettable evening of music and artistry. The Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner stands alone as one of the most celebrated performers of our time.

Comedy, Variety Justin Willman: One for the Ages

Capitol Theater

Fresh off the release of “Magic Lover,” Netflix’s first-ever magic comedy special, Justin Willman is hitting the road with an all-new tour: “One for the Ages.”

Forward Theater, Theater Lady Disdain

Playhouse

Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” gets a makeover in this fierce and sexy comedy about the hottest books on the market and standing up for those you love—including yourself.

Classical Music, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Music LA Guitar Quartet

Overture Hall

Peruvian composer Jimmy López’s “Fiesta! Four Pop Dances for Orchestra” is a vibrant and exhilarating celebration of life, culture and happiness. Filled with pulsating rhythms, bold colors and infectious energy, it draws from the rich traditions of Latin American music and ends with a blazing techno finale.

Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda, Music Limanya Drum and Dance

Rotunda Stage

Performing traditional music from Guinea and Mali, West Africa, Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble incorporates song, dance, drum and theater into high-energy entertainment for all audiences.

Billy Goats Gruff

Capitol Theater

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings three beloved stories to life with a fresh, playful twist! Featuring laughter, surprises and a Q&A session, it’s a must-see for ages 3–7!

2025/26 Season, Broadway Riverdance 30: The New Generation

Overture Hall

Celebrating 30 years of the global sensation that has captivated audiences worldwide! "Riverdance" fuses Irish and international dance and music, featuring mesmerizing choreography, stunning costumes and cutting-edge visuals brought to life by an all-new generation of performers.

Dance, Family Friendly, Kanopy Dance Divine Mythologies

Promenade Hall

Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble and Kanopy Dance collaborate on a rare remarkable performance of Anna Sokolow’s epic “Odes," a luminous, searing vision of humanity, unsparing in its demands for intense physical concentration and dramatic depth.

Classical Music, Music, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Masterworks V - Saint-Saëns & Salome

Capitol Theater

Closing the 2025/26 Masterworks season is an evening of works known for their virtuosic demands and lush expressive beauty.

Classic Rock, Family Friendly, Music, Popular Music The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

Overture Hall

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight presents a spellbinding 90-minute spectacle that infuses iconic rock and metal anthems with a hauntingly beautiful energy. Witness the unexpected union of classical music and metal.

Educational/Talks, Family Friendly, Free Events Community Clothing Swap

Overture Hall Main Lobby

Celebrate Earth Month with a clothing swap focused on reducing fashion waste and embracing conscious consumption. Give your gently used clothing a second life—and find something new to love in the process.

Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda, Music Duke Otherwise

Rotunda Stage

Don’t miss the wildly entertaining Duke Otherwise! This playful wordsmith, spirited performer and captivating tap dancer brings music and laughter to audiences of all ages.

Free Events Overture Center for the Arts Blood Drive

Overture Hall Main Lobby

Overture Center for the Arts is hosting our annual American Red Cross Blood Drive. The one-day event takes place in Overture Hall Lobby on Tuesday, April 22 from 9am-2pm.

2025/26 Season, Cabaret, Music, Overture Presents Patti Murin: Once Upon a Stage

Capitol Theater Stage

Broadway star Patti Murin invites you on a journey through the music that has shaped her illustrious career. Murin brings her signature warmth, themes of love, resilience and the power of dreams—weaving in heartfelt reflections on motherhood and its impact on her life and artistry.

Classical Music, Madison Opera, Music, Theater Così fan tutte

Overture Hall

Two sisters, two suitors and a drunken wager about the nature of fidelity—what could possibly go wrong? Mozart’s deliciously risqué romantic comedy is full of sublime arias, sparkling ensembles and the complications that ensue when young love and flirtation encounter reality. 

2025/26 Season, Music, Overture Presents, Up Close Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner

Capitol Theater Stage

Hailed as a “gifted virtuoso” (San Francisco Chronicle) with “masterful technique and a veritable deluge of sonorities” (La Presse Montreal), pianist Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner captivates audiences worldwide with his mesmerizing artistry and profound musical storytelling.

Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda, Music Lullaby Project

Rotunda Stage

Join local musicians and teaching artists for a very special day of sharing songs created for the little ones in your life.

2025/26 Season, Music, Overture Presents, Popular Music Take 6

Capitol Theater

Experience the genius of Take 6, the most awarded a cappella group in history! Don’t miss the extraordinary vocal orchestra that continues to amaze audiences with their enduring legacy of harmony, faith and friendship.

Leonela Alejandro

Promenade Hall

Experience the finesse and expressive power of award-winning classical guitarist Leonela Alejandro. Hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Alejandro has emerged as one of the most compelling young voices in classical guitar, captivating audiences with performances that are both technically brilliant and deeply expressive. 

Educational/Talks, Free Events, Visual Arts Spring 2026 Exhibitions Reception

Overture Galleries

Join us for a reception and artist talks celebrating the Spring 2026 Overture Galleries. Centered on storytelling, our Spring Exhibitions feature artists who translate personal narrative into book-based and ceramic sculptures, symbolic mixed-media works and more.

Music The MadHatters A Cappella Spring Show

Capitol Theater

With their unmistakable attire in their Wisconsin red jackets, the MadHatters A Capella Spring Show brings everyone together to clap their hands and stomp to the beat.

Classical Music, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Music Voices Eternal

Overture Hall

Our reimagined subscription season finale created by John DeMain is an uplifting program bringing to life moments from the MSO’s history, intimate connections to the world of opera, and highlights from his transformational tenure as Music Director. He opens the concert with Wagner’s glorious Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, played by the Madison Civic Symphony in 1926.

Children's Theater of Madison, Family Friendly, Theater Disney’s Newsies The Musical

MYArts Starlight Theater

When powerful New York newspaper publishers raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack Kelly rallies his ragtag group of “newsies” to fight back. Inspired by true events, this high-energy musical tells the story of young people discovering their voice.

Comedy, Stand Up Comedy, Variety Charlie Berens: The Lost and Found Tour

Overture Hall

Get ready for a night of big laughs, Midwest charm and good old-fashioned fun with comedian, author and podcast host Charlie Berens!

Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet Innovation II

Promenade Hall

In this invigorating artistic initiative, the dancers of Madison Ballet step into the role of choreographer, creating new works on one another.

Educational/Talks, Visual Arts Slow Art: A Mindful Journey Through the Galleries

Overture Galleries

Experience an immersive morning with Overture Galleries and the James Watrous Gallery. Slow Art invites you to pause and connect with art in a deeper, more mindful way.

Educational/Talks, Visual Arts Slow Art: Making Responsive Artist Books

Overture Galleries

Experience an immersive morning with Overture Galleries and the James Watrous Gallery. Slow Art invites you to pause and connect with art in a deeper, more mindful way.

Broadway Enchanted Parlor

Promenade Hall Lobby

It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you to relax and indulge in this charming pre-show celebration! Enjoy sparkling conversation and fairy-tale charm that brings whimsical storybook magic to life. Savor dainty finger sandwiches, decadent petit fours and elegant cakes, served with a refreshing punch fit for royalty.

2025/26 Season, Broadway, Six-Show Package Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Overture Hall

Disney’s beloved musical returns for its 30th-anniversary production, reimagined by the original creative team. With mesmerizing costumes, unforgettable songs and a touch of magic, this breathtaking tale of love and transformation will delight audiences of all ages!

Dance, Family Friendly, Kanopy Dance The Next Generation of Dance

Promenade Hall

Watch the next generation of dancers and choreographers in Kanopy’s pre-professional training program, Kanopy 2 and the Kanopy Academy, ignite the stage with new ideas, new expressions and even original choreography and costuming developed and built by the dancers themselves.

Educational/Talks Joy Harjo: Inhabiting Home on Earth

The Playhouse

As part of the Finding Home series, the Wisconsin Academy presents a signature public events featuring acclaimed poet, musician and former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Known for her powerful storytelling and deep exploration of Indigenous identity, Harjo’s work invites reflection on what it means to belong to a place, a people, a history and a future. 

2025/26 Season, Educational/Talks, Family Friendly, Overture Presents Wild Kratts LIVE 2.0

Overture Hall

Dive into another classic Wild Kratts adventure with the Kratt brothers as they combine live action and animation, with Martin and Chris Kratt live on stage and the rest of the Wild Kratts team on screen, at the Tortuga HQ.

Duck Soup Cinema, Film, Variety The Signal Tower

Capitol Theater

Join us for Duck Soup Cinema's "The Signal Tower." A devoted railroad signalman’s life is thrown into turmoil when a colleague’s interest in his wife sparks a tense and dangerous clash, set against breathtaking mountain scenery.

Classical Music, Free Events, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Music A Community Gift and Dream — for the Love of Music

During this free, two-day festival celebration, MSO musicians and diverse community groups will perform on a rotating schedule throughout Overture Center for the Arts. The Sunday concert features some of the “greatest hits” of classical music and will be the final concert Maestro John DeMain conducts as Music Director.

2025/26 Season, Broadway, Six-Show Package Water for Elephants

Overture Hall

Based on the bestselling novel, “Water for Elephants” is a stunning, spectacle-filled musical about a young man who finds love and a new life with a traveling circus. Featuring a soaring score, breathtaking choreography and a sweeping story.

2025/26 Season, Broadway, Six-Show Package The Great Gatsby

Overture Hall

Step into the captivating world of a Tony Award®- winning musical that brings F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel to life. This story of extravagance and longing unfolds on stage with exhilarating choreography and a jazz- and pop-infused score, capturing the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.

Theater Trevor: The Musical

Playhouse

Based on the film that inspired the Trevor Project, Trevor: The Musical is a deeply moving and funny story of self-discovery and the power of acceptance is about living your best life with a ton of passion… and a touch of pizzazz. 

2025/26 Season, Music Bonnie Raitt: Live 2026

Overture Hall

Bonnie Raitt returns to Overture Center with her acclaimed tour “Bonnie Rait: Live 2026,” bringing one of the most celebrated voices in American music back to Madison.