Overture. Forever.
Help secure Overture Center's future with a gift to the Overture Forever Campaign.
Make an immediate impact with a direct gift to the Overture Forever campaign.
Pledge your support and contribute over time to help reach our $30 million goal.
Ensure your planned gift counts toward the campaign by completing a Letter of Intent.
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, we’re launching the Overture Forever campaign, A Lifetime of Encores for Everyone. This $30 million effort will maintain and preserve the building, addressing essential needs from the foundation to the roof. By supporting this campaign, you help protect a vital cultural treasure, securing a vibrant future for the arts in Madison. Join us in preserving Overture Center, so our community’s children and grandchildren will experience the magic and inspiration the arts bring to our lives.
Campaign Progress
As of October 14, we've raised $29,029,362 towards our $30 million goal!
“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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Questions?
Get in touch with our team.
"Overture Center was a big factor for my husband and I when deciding where to make our next move. The level of sophistication in their programming, the fantastic tours that they host, their brilliant resident companies, and their commitment to offering programming for all really reflect Madison's values. That's exactly the kind of community we were looking for."
Hilary Parker, CEO, Habitat for Humanity
“One of the critical factors that helped influence a move back to Madison was the Overture Center and its role in creating civic and cultural pride in the community and surrounding areas. The vast programming it offers through its resident companies and the touring productions that come through frequently provide a wide variety of enrichment opportunities and moments of just plain fun. Whether it’s theater, dance, music, or the arts, there’s always something going on throughout the year."
Dave Chaimson, President, Full Compass Systems