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Accessibility

Access at Overture Center

Creating extraordinary experiences through the arts

At Overture Center, we are committed to creating extraordinary experiences for our guests, employees and volunteers. Our mission is defined by supporting and elevating our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts.

Looking for accessible-friendly performances?

ASL TICKETS OPEN CAPTIONing TICKETS LiVE AUDIO Description TICKETS

Explore Overture's accessibility offerings

We offer the following access tools, options and support to elevate our guests’ experiences. We continually strive to improve, and we welcome your questions, suggestions and conversation.

Services FOR SHOWS BUILDING Amenities ACCessibility Assistance

Show Offerings

American Sign Language Interpretation

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation by certified performance interpreters is offered for select performances or by request for other performances at least 4-6 weeks in advance.

Placement of American Sign Language Interpretation

Overture Center is committed to providing the best possible experience for all guests. The placement of our ASL seats allows guests to get a clear view of both the interpreters and the stage at large. Because of this, specific seats must be purchased to ensure the best possible experience.

Performance Interpreters

Overture Center partners with Accessible Concerts and Theater Interpreting to contract interpreters who are trained and specialized in performance interpreting.

View upcoming ASL Interpreted Performances

Get ready for your visit with this helpful ASL-guided overview of Overture Center.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive Listening Devices, available for all performances, amplify and clarify sound by cutting out ambient noise. Assistive Listening Devices come with an individual receiver—about the size of a small flip phone, which will be labeled for the specific venue where the guest will be seeing a performance—and a headset. All assisted listening device equipment can be picked up at no cost from the Accessibility Hub, and returned to the Accessibility Hub after the show.

There are two types of headsets available:

Headphones provide amplified sound to each ear. Headphones should not be used over hearing aids, but rather in place of them. The combination of the two audio feeds often causes feedback.

Induction neck loop goes around the neck and amplifies sound through a guest’s hearing aid or cochlear implant if already equipped with a telecoil or “T” switch. Guests should discuss with their audiologist whether their hearing aid or cochlear implant has a “T” switch and how to use it with an Assistive Listening Headset.

Guests also have the option of bringing their own (audio jack compatible) headset or earbuds to use with our receivers.

NOTE: Please keep all Overture-issued receivers away from cell phones. They will not work properly if they are too close to your phone during the performance.

Braille and Large Print Programs

Free large-print and braille programs are available for most shows and should be requested at least 4-6 weeks in advance through the Accessibility Assistance Line.

GET ACCessibility Assistance

Live Audio Description

Audio Description is the art of talking pictorially to enable audience members who are blind or have low vision to hear descriptions of actions, costumes, scenery and other aspects of the production not usually conveyed by voices from the stage.

FM receivers and headsets are available in each theater and can be obtained at an Accessibility Hub. These receivers are used in conjunction with a person who sits in a booth and describes action that is taking place in real time on stage. Guests also have the option of bringing their own (audio jack compatible) headset or earbuds to use with our receivers.

In addition to Audio Description during the performances, guests are invited to listen to the feed starting 15 minutes before the show begins for introductory notes. During this time, the describer will provide background information and big-picture concepts, such as costume and set styles, general movement description and more that can’t be conveyed during the performance due to time constraints.

Audio Description is offered on the first Thursday and Sunday matinee of Broadway show weeks, and by request for other performances at least 4-6 weeks in advance.

View Upcoming Shows with Live Audio Description

Open Captioning

Open captioning is when the words and other sound effects from the stage are displayed in written English on a screen near the stage. Seats for open captioning are positioned in a way where the captions and stage are both in view at the same time, so the guest can engage with both.

Open captioning is offered for select performances or by request for other performances at least 4-6 weeks in advance. At this time, Overture Center does not offer closed captioning services.

Placement of the open captions

Overture Center is committed to providing the best possible experience for all guests. The placement of our open captions allows guests to get a clear view of both the captions and the stage at large. Because of this, specific seats must be purchased to ensure the best possible experience.

To request open captioning for a show that does not already have it scheduled, please contact the Accessibility Assistance Line at least 4-6 weeks in advance.

View Upcoming Open Captioned performances

Relaxed Performances

What is a relaxed performance?

Relaxed performances are intended to create a safe space where individuals can feel free to be themselves in a judgement-free zone. At these shows, we work with our staff to provide a flexible atmosphere for all guests.

Overture Center is an inclusive and judgement-free environment. We believe the arts are for all! We welcome guests to come as they are and be their full self. Relaxed Performances are open to all, and especially welcoming for people with autism, sensory and communication disorders or learning disabilities. The artistic integrity of the piece remains unchanged; however, modifications to the social and sensory environment may be made. This structure can also be beneficial for people who are neurodivergent, families with young children and anyone who finds traditional performance protocols do not work for their needs.

What if we need a break from the performance?

You are welcome to enter and exit the space as needed. The lobby space will be set up with two zones for quiet breaks and active sensory experiences. Video monitors will also be available if anyone is more comfortable watching remotely from the lobby.

Tactile Tours

Shows may offer a pre-performance Tactile Tour for blind and low-vision guests to participate in, in which guests have the opportunity to touch set pieces, costumes, props, wigs and more before the performance while engaging with individuals from the show.

To inquire about Tactile Tours and to join our contact list, email info@overture.org.

Building Amenities

Accessibility Hubs

Overture has an Accessibility Hub located in the Rotunda lobby (main level) and one next to The Playhouse and Rotunda Stage (lower level). Guests can borrow a variety of accessibility items, free of charge, before a performance to enhance their experience. Our team is trained to answer your questions and fulfill your accessibility requests. Overture Center is a KultureCity® sensory friendly certified venue.

- Accessibility materials and guides
- Audio Description Devices (when previously requested) and Assistive Listening Devices
- Courtesy wheelchairs
- Information on accessible parking
- Large-print and braille programs (when previously requested)
- Restroom maps, including family assist and gender- inclusive restrooms
- Sensory kits, weighted blankets, fidget tools, wobble seats and noise-canceling headphones
Overture Center for the Arts has recently partnered with KultureCity®, the world’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities and sensory needs. Overture Center is a KultureCity® sensory friendly certified venue. Overture provides sensory kits free of charge for all performances.

Our KultureCity® sensory kits include:
- Feeling thermometer
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Assorted fidget tools
Sensory kits, weighted blankets and strobe-canceling glasses are available in limited supply for checkout (at no cost) upon arrival for any of our performances. You can find these items at our two Accessibility Hubs located in the Rotunda lobby (main level) and next to The Playhouse and Rotunda Stage (lower level). These items can be used for all abilities and all ages.

Three Overture staff members with light complexion standing and smiling next to a large metal kiosk with yellow signage that reads "Overture Accessibility Hub."

Mobility Needs

Overture Center offers a variety of accessible seating types and mobility devices.

Types of Seating in Overture Center for the Arts:
- Booster Seats – pick up at theater doors
- Box Seats – Overture Hall and Capitol Theater
- Size Inclusive Seating – Available in all venues, only available in boxes for Overture Hall and Capitol Theater
- Transfer Seats – located in all major theater areas, Overture Hall, Capitol Theater, The Playhouse
- Wheelchair seating locations – in all venues
Transfer Seats are designed to provide access to guests with mobility needs, such as someone who uses a wheelchair, scooter, walker, crutches or cane.

One arm of the Transfer Seat will lift or be removable. These seats are usually marked with the Universal Mobility Symbol and are found along the aisles in Overture Hall, Capitol Theater and The Playhouse. An armless chair can also serve as an alternative in other venues.

A woman with light complexion and brown hair sits in a wheelchair and looks at a large painting in an art exhibit with a man in a red and grey sweatshirt. sweatshirt.

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on all four levels of Overture and typically fall into two categories: Family Assist/Gender Inclusive Restrooms and Gendered Restrooms. Printed, detailed maps of our restroom locations can be obtained from our Accessibility Hubs. We encourage you to use the space that best fits your needs.

These restrooms are non-gender specific and available to persons of any gender identity and expression.

Amenities include:
- Lockable door to provide privacy for individual users
- Ample room for an assistant/caregiver
- Accessible sink, stool and urinal (floor level)
- Changing stations
- Power-assist doors (Level 1 restrooms only)
These restrooms are in the following locations:
- Lower-level Rotunda
- First floor Overture Hall lobby (near coat check)
- Second floor Rotunda
- House right in Overture Hall entryways
- These restrooms are gender specific
- Power-assist doors can be found on first floor restrooms only
- They are equipped with accessible sinks and stalls
- These restrooms are in the following locations:
  - Galleries I, II, III
  - Lower-level Rotunda
  - First floor Overture Hall lobby

More accessibility resources

Guests are welcome to breast and chestfeed their child wherever they feel comfortable in our public spaces.

A more private room for feeding or pumping is located on the third floor, just to the left of the entrance to Gallery III. The room serves as a health and wellness area for all.
A private, quiet room, located on the third floor, just to the left of the entrance to Gallery III, serves as a health and wellness area for all. This space can be used for those with health or anxiety-related challenges as a comforting, safe environment to collect one’s thoughts before returning to a public performance space or venue.

Amenities include:
- Lockable door
- Sink with hot and cold water
- Small counter space
- Electrical outlets
- Comfortable seating
- Paper towel dispenser
- Low, relaxed lighting
- Garbage can
As part of our commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive experience for every guest, we welcome service animals throughout our venues. While the ADA requires public venues to allow service animals, we’re proud to uphold—and embrace—this standard.The ADA defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse. Wisconsin State Law expands upon this to include any animal individually trained to perform some of the functions and tasks that a person with a disability cannot perform.

Some examples of tasks include:
- Alerting persons who are hard of hearing to sounds
- Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with limited mobility
- Assisting persons with limited mobility with balance
- Guiding blind and low vision individuals
- Detecting low blood sugar for diabetics
- Sensing an impending seizure
When purchasing a ticket, a guest may request special seating, usually with extra leg room, for a service animal. If extra space is requested at an event, staff will try to accommodate if possible.

The care or supervision of a service animal is solely the responsibility of its owner. A service animal is “on-the-job” and must not be given any special attention (petting, sweet-talking, googly eyes, treats, water, etc.).

NOTE: Emotional support, therapy, comfort or companion animals are NOT considered service animals under the ADA and, therefore, not allowed into performances.

Have additional questions?

Visit our FAQ page for more information on your Overture visit, or reach out with any general accessibility questions to info@overture.org .

For ticketing-related accessibility questions, use the contact info below.

Overture Support

Accessibility Assistance

tickets@overture.org

608.258.4452