Frequently Asked Questions

Our building is open Mondays through Saturdays, 11am - 6pm and Sundays 12pm - 6pm.

Our ticket office is open Mondays through Fridays, 11am - 5pm and Saturdays 11am - 2pm. 

Building and ticket office hours are extended on performance days.

View Ticket Office Hours

Yes, restrooms will be open to the public during these hours.

Overture Hall Main Lobby generally opens 90 minutes before show time, and Capitol Theater opens 60 minutes before show time. Please watch your pre-show email for details. 

You can learn more about private events and rentals on this page.

Our Events team is available to answer your questions at events@overture.org.

 

Overture Center is committed to providing extraordinary experiences through the arts in a safe, respectful environment for everyone. 

View Overture's Guest Expectations

While some events might be more formal than others, for the most part you can wear whatever makes you most comfortable!

We welcome casual, personal photos during your visit to Overture Center—unless otherwise noted by signage or program restrictions. View our complete photo policy for details on formal photography and photo shoots in our iconic lobby.

Photo Policy

Both the Overture Center ramp between West Dayton and Mifflin Streets and the State Street Capitol ramp on the corner of State and East Dayton have elevator access and marked stalls for persons with disabilities. Metered parking spaces are also available on the street. Vehicles with disabled plates or hangtags are exempt from time limitations and may park at no charge at parking meters designated for 30 minutes or more.

*Special event parking at garages begins two hours before show time to just after show time. 

Overture Center Garage
318 W Mifflin Street
Website · Directions

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State Street Capitol Garage
214 North Carroll Street
Website · Directions

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Dane County Parking Ramp
113 South Henry Street
Website · Directions

For those attending a public performance, there are no areas for bus parking. The City of Madison Parking Division recommends that busses unload/load on Henry, Fairchild or Mifflin Streets (busses must be attended to at all times during unloading/loading), then proceed to longer-term parking.  

For OnStage student field trips, you may use designated bus parking for the duration of the performance only. More details can be found here.

Where is longer-term parking? 

Longer-term bus parking is available, at no charge, in the Duane F. Bowman Park rear parking lot, 1775 Fish Hatchery Road. Please see the Bowman Bus Parking map (opens in a new window) for location and coordinate a prearranged return time or stay in touch with your group to coordinate their pickup. The park is closed from 10pm to 4am, and overnight parking is not allowed. This is the only City of Madison designated bus parking lot. All other locations, such as parking lots in Olin Park and Turville Point and Vilas Park Drive, are prohibited and subject to a citation. 

CITY OF MADISON BUS PARKING INFORMATION

Can the bus driver attend the performance?  

The longer-term parking area is not within walking distance of Overture Center. Please do not include your bus driver in the group that will attend the performance. Or if the bus driver plans to attend the show, the driver must take a taxi or rideshare from the parking lot to Overture. 

Before showtime and during intermission our house-made desserts, savory snacks and refreshments are available for purchase at our bars and concession stands. For shows presented by Overture Center, you’re welcome to bring food and drinks purchased at Overture into the theater. For resident company performances, food and beverage policy is at the discretion of the presenting organization. Please be mindful of those around you—enjoy your snacks quietly during the performance.

Overture Center stands at the heart of Madison’s famed isthmus, within easy walking distance of a wide variety of the many shopping and dining options that make our city center unique.

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Yes, Overture has a coat check available for Capitol Theater, Overture Hall and Playhouse performance events. The Capitol Theater coat check is located in the Gallery I hallway on the first floor, just off the rotunda. The Overture Hall coat check is located in the Overture Hall Lobby on the first floor in the restroom alcove. The Playhouse coat check is located across from the theater entrance.

No, helium balloons are not allowed in Overture Center.

Yes. Strollers may be stored at our coat check in the Rotunda lobby. For select events, a stroller corral will be available in Overture Hall Lobby on the first floor, across from the merchandise area. Due to safety concerns, such as an evacuation, strollers are not welcome inside the theaters.

There are three easy ways to order tickets: Online, in person or by phone. Please note we cannot take orders via email for security reasons.

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The ticket office window is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 5pm, and from 11am to 2pm on Saturday. The ticket office is open additional hours on event days and closes 15 minutes after the final curtain time. On Sunday, hours vary with event schedule. Please refer to our monthly schedule.

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Phone operators are available Monday through Friday from 11am to 5pm, Saturdays from 11am to 2pm, and additional hours on evenings and weekends leading up to performances. To order tickets, call 608.258.4141 .

All tickets are subject to Wisconsin sales tax and a facility fee which supports the upkeep and repair of Overture Center for the Arts. Additional fees may apply subject to contractual obligations with the artist or presenting partner.

Please visit our Ticket Disclaimer Page for more information.

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Unfortunately, we are not able to hold tickets without payment.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate wait lists.

In most cases, we are able to offer discounts for groups of 10 or more. Please email us at groups@overture.org or call our group sales office at 608.258.4159 to learn about great seats and personalized service for your group.

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There are multiple ways to order subscription tickets. Visit us online for the fastest, easiest way to order, or complete your order in person at our ticket office. We can also take subscriptions over the phone. Please call us at 608.258.4141 during normal business hours.

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Gift certificates can be used to purchase tickets online, in person, over the phone, or via a mail or fax order.

Yes, as long as it is for an Overture Center season subscription. At this time, we cannot accept gift certificates for seasonal subscriptions of resident company performances such as the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Opera. You may use gift certificates to purchase individual shows presented by them.

For phone or online orders, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. For ticket window orders, we accept cash and personal checks in addition to credit cards.

We are able to redeem gift certificates over the phone, but not vouchers. You can mail vouchers to us or bring them directly to the ticket office to redeem them.

In many cases, you may exchange your ticket for a different date or performance. Overture requires the physical tickets to make the exchange. Please note that for many shows, including all Broadway shows, there is often a 24-72 hour deadline prior to curtain where exchanges out of that show are no longer allowed. Call the ticket office at 608.258.4141 for more information.

Yes, every venue in Overture Center is accessible for any number of requirements. Please contact us at 608.258.4452 or accessibility@overture.org for more information.

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For a performance in Overture Hall, we recommend the drop-off area on Fairchild Street directly in front of the Overture Hall Lobby. For performances in other venues, we recommend dropping guests off near the main entrance on State Street or the rear entrance on Henry Street.

For OnStage performances, please contact the OnStage Coordinator at 608.258.4165 or email onstage@overture.org.

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All ticket sales are final, and there are no refunds unless a performance cancels or reschedules.

If you have tickets for an upcoming performance that is forced to cancel, our ticket office will contact you BY EMAIL to outline your options: (1) donate the value of your tickets as a tax-deductible gift to Overture Center or the applicable resident company to support virtual and future programming, (2) request a credit for the amount of your tickets in the form of a gift certificate that has no expiration and can be used towards a future Overture show or (3) receive a refund. Ticket holders for our resident companies will be contacted by the resident companies directly about their options. (See below.)

Refunds will be processed as promptly as possible. Please allow up to 30 days from the date you submit the request for the refund to process.

Your tickets are valid for the new date and time, as emailed to all ticketholders. If you cannot make the new date, please refer to the email for your options.

We have a team of individuals who monitor severe weather situations, and they take several factors into consideration when maintaining, postponing or canceling shows. We generally do not cancel shows unless the City of Madison issues a severe weather warning or bus lines stop running. However, every situation is different, and if we cancel a show, we will keep you posted via direct email notifications to ticket holders, our website and social media.

Gift certificates will be sent out within 30 days of the expiration date listed in your notification email. If you have a question about the status of your gift certificate or account, contact the ticket office at tickets@overture.org.

Each resident organization is contacting ticketholders directly. Please refer to the email from them for your options.

Refunds are only available for tickets purchased directly through Overture Center. If you purchased tickets through a third party, such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, etc., you will need to contact the ticketing company regarding a refund. If you are unsure where you purchased your tickets, please check your email confirmation. Overture confirmations are sent from tickets@overture.org.

If you need your refund to go onto a different credit card than the one used for purchase, please call us at 608-258-4141 or email tickets@overture.org with a phone number at which we may call you to obtain this information. (We cannot receive emails that include credit card information.)

From your email notification about the show’s cancellation, please click the red DONATE YOUR TICKETS button and complete the required information. You can also find a web version of the cancellation email on the show event page. It only takes a minute—and your gift means a lot to us!

We use a walk-thorough security screening technology that you must move through on arrival. This technology eliminates lines and allows foot traffic to quickly flow into the spaces. You may be asked to submit to additional screening if any prohibited items are detected.

Only on/off duty law enforcement personnel are allowed to carry firearms in our building. Holding a concealed carry permit does NOT authorize you to carry a firearm in any place that prohibits the on-premise possession of a firearm or other weapon. Overture Center for the Arts does NOT allow possession of a firearm except by law enforcement. Members of law enforcement carrying a firearm are required to check in with security and provide us with their contact information and proof of employment.

You will not be allowed to bring a prohibited item into the building. You will be instructed to remove the item from the building (i.e., take it to your vehicle) and check back in with security after you have removed the item from the premises.

In most cases, yes.

The Express operates in the range used by Electronic Anti-Theft Systems typically used in retail settings, and the FDA has determined the likelihood of EAS systems interfering with implanted medical devices is extremely low.

Most common exposures to low frequency radio waves (also known as nonionizing radiation) are not considered hazardous to you or your unborn baby. For example, computer screens and cell phones use nonionizing radiation at exposure levels that are considered safe.

No, a knife or any other bladed/edged weapon of any size is a prohibited item.

Overture Security is screening all who come into the building for weapons via an artificial intelligence screening system. Overture Security Officers are also required to maintain first aid training certifications and trained to recognize and report suspicious behavior and items. Overture Security contracts with the local city of Madison police department to have a sworn police officer present at most events for your protection.

The following items are prohibited:

• Weapons of any kind
• Small knives and jackknives
• Chemical weapon, including mace and pepper spray
• Cameras with external flash or interchangeable lenses – no professional photography without authorization
• Audio and recording devices
• Tripods, bipods or monopods (photography stabilizers)
• Selfie sticks
• Drones
• Laser pointers
• Noise-making devices
• Signs, flags and banners unless specifically authorized
• Projectiles of any kind
• Skateboards, scooters and roller blades
• Pets – licensed service animals exempt
• Any additional items security determines could potentially distract from audience’s safety and enjoyment or present a safety risk.

No, at this time Overture is not requiring patrons to wear masks, however certain shows may require masks. In this case guests will be notified via email about mask requirements.

No, at this time Overture is not requiring proof of vaccinations, however certain shows may have different requirements. In this case guests will be notified via email about proof of vaccination.

We have moved to touchless experiences wherever possible to help reduce the amount of physical contact and to provide the best contactless service for our guests and our staff:

• Instituted advanced cleaning and sanitization procedures
• Installed new touchless walkthrough security scanners to create an efficient and seamless entry with no bag checks.
• Implemented touchless ticket scanning protocol.
• Installed touchless fixtures in all restrooms.
• Placed touchless hand sanitizer dispenser stations throughout the lobbies, galleries and restrooms.
• Placed touchless trash cans in all the public areas.
• Installed consumer-facing credit card terminals wherever possible.

We have updated our dual filtration HVAC system with improved particulate filtration, increased outside air volumes and increased air handling hours of operation.