Adding a nightclub to the downtown area would improve its appeal as a cultural arts district, according to Overture Foundation President Bob D'Angelo.
D'Angelo has proposed that one of the property owners on the four streets surrounding the Overture Center, on the 200 block of State Street, establish a night club, where artists who come to the Overture Center could jam after their performances.
\The essence of what I'm proposing isn't a bar; it's a music club,"" he said. ""On nights when we have live music or comedians, it might be that they're looking for a place to let loose afterwards.""
Venues requesting liquor licenses downtown have come under increasingly stringent restrictions from the city's Alcohol License Review Committee and the City Council. However, the ALRC would probably welcome a club similar to the one D'Angelo envisions, according to ALRC member Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14.
""As one who has been leading the effort to establish a safe, diverse entertainment mecca for [the] city, this could in fact complement it,"" he said. ""The sensitivity would be towards assessing that is not in an area that is already overly concentrated [with licenses].""
D'Angelo said he has approached several area property owners with the idea, to no avail. He has talked to Eric Shwartz, owner of the White Horse Inn, 202 N. Henry St., and also to Orpheum Theatre, 216 State St., owner Henry Doane about developing such a club in his small Stage Door Theater space.
Ideally, neither he personally nor the Overture Foundation will have to own or manage the club, D'Angelo said. However, he may bring the idea to the Madison Cultural Arts District Board, if the property owner asks for assistance.
Board member Bill Keys said he would wait to see a more specific proposal before deciding whether the board should become involved.
Nothing could come of his idea until at least 2004, because all the surrounding leases do not expire until then, D'Angelo said, but he hopes that by floating the proposal now, he might catch the interest of a property owner.
Despite the project's lack of concrete direction, one downtown official said he already supports the idea wholeheartedly.
""I think it's an awesome idea,"" said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. ""We could never have too many live music venues/nightclubs downtown.\
