Ted DeDee,
President and CEO,
Overture Center for the Arts, Madison
What are some possibilities for visiting groups at the Overture Center for the Arts?
There’s something going on just about every day. We are Madison’s only Broadway stage, with five Broadway tours making stops here during the course of the year. We also book dozens of special engagements with national and international musicians, dance companies, theater companies and so on. We also have nine local professional performance companies in residence, including three dance companies, two orchestras, an opera company, two theater companies and a chamber music ensemble, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch the flavor of the local arts community. We also have three galleries that exhibit the work of local visual artists, and two more that show the work of state and regional artists.
Are there other performing arts possibilities for groups to discover in Madison?
Almost too many to mention. Madison is blessed with a deeper and more vibrant arts community than almost any other city its size. Local music and local theater, both community theater and semi-professional, are particularly robust in venues throughout the city and the region.
Are there any offbeat attractions or experiences in Madison worth a group outing?
Our capitol is one of the last in the nation that still serves as an office building as well as legislative chamber and Supreme Court, and it is a stunning architectural achievement. And tours are free, every hour on the hour. I’d also recommend anyone spend some time on the Memorial Union Terrace overlooking Lake Mendota, and take a stroll up and down State Street just to listen to the musicians on every block.
What do you think is the biggest surprise for groups exploring Madison’s culture?
People may think of Wisconsin as flyover country, but I think some would be surprised at the real rich cultural life here. Being home to a major university certainly helps that. The scientists there keep making discoveries and starting up biotech companies and bringing in people to build a really strong creative class. That feeds the arts scene, which then creates an economic driver of its own. The bottom line is that any visitor will immediately see Madison as a growing and thriving community.