"Overture will be here 100 years. In five years we'll look back and see the impact. It may be different from what we've envisioned. It's all about opportunity - a tremendous opportunity with a responsibility to transform that opportunity into reality - which will be defined by everybody."
- Michael Goldberg (2nd President of the Overture Center - 2004)
The Overture Center collection at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research includes photographs, playbills, news articles, and ballyhoo from the center's long history in Madison, Wisconsin. The exhibits on this website help introduce Overture Center as a state-of-the-art performance space that has become an integral part of the Madison community. By focusing on the center's history and development, this collection demonstrates Overture's mission to “Support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy, and quality of life through the arts.”
This collection’s significance rests both in the primary materials from the Capitol Theater and Madison Civic Center as well as the newer documents from Overture's construction and recent performances. Photographs, newspaper clippings, documents, and promotional materials are prominently displayed throughout the Overture collection. This archive highlights the center's impact and dedication to the local communities within Madison, as well as its goal of creating extraordinary experiences for visitors through stunning performances, art, and activities.
This website is a project of the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. The website and exhibits were created by project assistant Samantha Janes in 2024.