Overture Forever

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Overture Forever

Overture. Forever.

We did it—together! Thanks to generous community support of the Overture Forever Campaign, we have reached our $30 million goal—ensuring Overture Center continues to be Madison’s home for the arts.

Emily Gruenewald, Co-CEO and Chief Development Officer, stated, “This campaign is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community believes in the arts. Because of this generosity, Overture will remain a place where everyone feels welcome and inspired.”

Reaching $30 million is a remarkable milestone, but it’s not the finish line. We will continue building the endowment to ensure this community treasure remains welcoming and artistically excellent long into the future.

About the Overture Forever Campaign

Overture Center for the Arts is a cornerstone of Madison's creative community, enriching lives with its inspiring performances and programs. To ensure its legacy for future generations, the Overture Forever Campaign was launched to build a permanent endowment dedicated to maintaining and preserving Overture’s 20-year-old building, addressing essential needs from the foundation to the roof. The effort began quietly nearly a decade ago with a lead gift from longtime arts supporter Dianne Christensen, founding partner of Christensen Associates. Early investments from more than 80 individuals, businesses, foundations and grant agencies set the stage for the campaign.

Momentum accelerated in July 2024 when the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation made a transformative $10 million gift, launching the public phase of the campaign with $21.8 million already raised. In just over 18 months, nearly 2,000 households joined in, contributing millions more and carrying the campaign to its completion, proof of Madison’s belief in the arts. The median gift was $100, exemplifying the power of gifts of all sizes.

Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign, helping to protect a vital cultural treasure and securing a vibrant future for the arts in Madison. Because of you, our community’s children and grandchildren will experience the magic and inspiration the arts bring to our lives.

Make A Gift MAKE A PLEDGE Make A Legacy GIFT

“When I made my gift for the development of Overture Center, my vision was to create a world-class arts destination that would become the cultural hub of Madison. As we celebrate Overture’s 20-year anniversary, its success has exceeded even my most ambitious hopes and expectations. With my $10 million pledge to support the Overture Forever campaign, and the support of other donors, we can ensure that Overture remains an exceptional building that brings exceptional arts experiences to the Madison area.”

Jerry Frautschi

“Overture is a pillar of our community—an extraordinary gift from Jerry Frautschi that we all have a responsibility to sustain. His vision created Overture, but every great facility requires ongoing care. By investing in Overture, we ensure it remains a vibrant cultural home for generations to come. That’s why we proudly support the Overture Forever Campaign and encourage others to join us in preserving this community treasure—now and forever.”

Bea and Lau Christensen

Campaign Leadership

Honorary Co-Chair

Dianne Christensen

Campaign Co-Chairs

Sheila Conroy • Betty Harris Custer

Campaign Cabinet

Sue Bakke • Sue Bauman • Greg Dombrowski • Katie Dowling-Marcus • Deirdre Garton • Roberta Gassman • Steve Goldberg • Terry Haller • Jim Imhoff • Scott Mayer • Nicholas Mischler • Corinda Rainey Moore • Joe Sensenbrenner • Jim St. Vincent • Molly Walsh • Jennifer Winding

Thank you to our capital campaign donors

You have helped Overture raise $25M in cash, pledges and estate gifts towards our $30M goal to develop a capital fund and endowment to keep Overture vibrant.

VIEW ALL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONORS

Bravo!

“We see the Overture Center as a jewel in our community. Bell Laboratories is proud to do our part to ensure that it continues to shine and remain vibrant as a Madison beacon for the arts.”

Steve Levy, President & CEO, Bell Laboratories

“As we continue to grow and strengthen our workforce, it is essential to have community establishments that attract individuals who want to live and work in Dane County. The vibrant Performing Arts scene distinguishes Madison, and the Overture Center for the Arts plays an important role in providing engaging year-round programming for adults, children, and families.”

Eric Plautz, Director of Project Management, JH Findorff & Son

Project Highlights

Boilers

See how donor support helped us replace an aging hot water boiler system with three new high-efficiency Lochinvar condensing boilers and pumps. This major upgrade boosts energy efficiency to over 95%, cuts our carbon footprint and ensures reliable, comfortable conditions for every performance.
Spring Match with Bea and Lau Christensen

Hear from Madisonians Bea and Lau Christensen on their love of music, the arts community and why they matched all donations to the Overture Forever Campaign, up to $250,000, between March 31 and June 30, 2025.
Chillers

Learn about the exciting upgrade to Overture Center’s cooling system. We’re rebuilding our chillers to be more sustainable, energy-efficient and water-saving. The new system allows us to manage cooling more precisely, helping us conserve resources while keeping our building comfortable and functional.
Overture Hall Lighting Design

We’re excited to introduce two amazing new pieces of equipment that will enhance our productions. First, we’ll showcase Electronic Theatre Control’s (ETC) Apex lighting control console, an advanced system featuring 4K-resolution, multi-touch displays and customizable options tailored to the needs of any show. We’ll also highlight our new Chroma-Q Color Force II instruments, which use a mix of red, green, blue, indigo and lime LEDs to create millions of colors—from soft pastels to vibrant hues.
Chillers & Boilers

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Overture Center's cutting-edge heating and cooling systems. Learn how our advanced technology keeps the building comfortable year-round while prioritizing energy efficiency and sustainability.
Overture Roofs

Did you know Overture Center has 24 roofs, and each roof lasts about 20 years? This requires a continuous cycle of repairs and replacements. Each roof needs ongoing attention and care to protect Overture’s 400,000-square-feet interior against leaks and damage. Watch this video to learn what we’ve done and what we intend to do to keep our roofs in tip top shape.
Water Softener System

In collaboration with 1901 Plumbing Inc., our facilities team recently completed the installation of four cutting-edge water softeners and four large brine tanks—a major achievement! In this short video Tony Wantoch, Director of Facilities, shares how this accomplishment reflects our commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management.