Ushered inside by tuxedo-clad performers on stilts and welcomed personally by those responsible for the building's existence, members of the public entered the Overture Center, 201 State St., at the grand opening ceremony Saturday morning.
\Fabulous! I don't believe this!"" said one woman as she stepped into the rotunda. Other patrons expressed similar sentiments as they explored the arts building, designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli and paid for entirely with a $205 million gift from local philanthropist W. Jerome Frautschi.
""It's so rewarding to see the public stream in here and ooh and ahh over all the possibilities,"" Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. Regarding Frautschi, Verveer said, ""We're so lucky to have him.""
""This is a special day for our community,"" said George Austin, president of the Overture Center.
Call for Peace, a multicultural drum and dance company, gave the inaugural performance at the center.
A puppet troupe, a percussion ensemble and a mime who pretended to take Polaroid pictures of patrons were among the performers entertaining crowds through the weekend. Free shows will continue through Sept. 26 as part of Overture's opening celebration before the season of ticketed performances begins.
The City of Madison created a new government entity, the Madison Cultural Arts District, to run the Overture Center. Overture will cost the city between $1 million and $2 million per year to run, Verveer said, the same amount the former Madison Civic Center cost.
Verveer said touring Broadway shows and other performances that could not come to the Civic Center will be able to come to Overture. Despite the center offering more expensive shows, Verveer said Overture will also see many affordable programs.
""Compared to the Civic Center we can offer so many more programs here,"" he said.
Verveer said some people fear Overture will squeeze out ""mom-and-pop"" stores with development pressures and higher property taxes. He said the city cannot control the taxes, but would try to alleviate development pressures with zoning requirements limiting the size of stores.
Sandy Carney, a visitor to Overture, said she hoped to come to performances there.
""I hope I can afford something,"" she said.
Carney gave a positive review of Overture. ""It's huge, it's grand, it's great for the city,"" she said.
