Lamb Building
201 State St.
The Overture Center
Silent Films to Center Stage
Opened in 1928 as the magnificent Capitol Theater, this venue was a go-to spot for silent films, complete with uniformed ushers and a Grand Barton theater organ that remains today. When sound arrived, it found new life as a concert hall, hosting legends like Perry Como and The Beach Boys. A major donation from Oscar Mayer in 1974 transformed it into the Madison Civic Center's Oscar Mayer Theater, adding new spaces like the Isthmus Playhouse. During this era, it became the cherished performance home for local groups including the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Ballet.
A New Year
By the late 1990s, the aging theater needed an upgrade, as it was acoustically unsuited for symphonies and Broadway shows. A historic $205 million donation from philanthropists Jerry Frautschi and Pleasant Rowland launched its transformation into Overture Center for the Arts. Overture Hall opened in 2004, welcoming national tours of shows like “The Lion King” and “Hamilton”. In 2006, the original Capitol Theater was beautifully renovated, and today Overture is the proud home of nine resident arts organizations. Today, the center continues its legacy as a cultural cornerstone for the community.
