The Overture Center for the Arts announced its new season of programming in a media soiree on Thursday afternoon, unveiling dozens of dates at its two primary venues of Overture Hall and Capitol Theater. A few big names include David Sedaris, Bill Cosby, Art Garfunkel, Travis Tritt, and Bobby McFerrin, along with productions of Avenue Q, Sweeney Todd, and a special Madison Repertory Theatre production of My Fair Lady.
The mix of shows and performers next season is similar to those in the previous four years, combining Broadway, dance, live music, comedy, and children's programming. Some are regular visitors to Madison, while others make their way to town more rarely, all combining to reflect the Center's efforts to balance popular and familiar programming with more esoteric fare and rarely touring artists.
A chronological list of the dates, titles and venues for next season's programming at the Overture Center follows.
August 2008
12-31 Church Basement Ladies (Capitol Theater)
September 2008
20 Travis Tritt & Marty Stuart (Overture Hall)
25 Stephen Schwartz & Friends (Captiol Theater)
October 2008
3 Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester (Overture Hall)
7 David Sedaris (Overture Hall)
9 Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder (Overture Hall)
14 Lar Lubvitch Dance (Overture Hall)
21 War of the Worlds and The Lost World (Capitol Theater)
21-26 -- Avenue Q (Overture Hall)
21 31 -- Dixie's Tupperware Party (Promenade Hall)
26 - The Gruffalo (Capitol Theater)
29 Capitol Steps (Overture Hall)
30 Song & Dance Ensemble of West Africa (Capitol Theater)
November 2008
1-2 -- Dixie's Tupperware Party (Promenade Hall)
2 Jason and the Argonauts (Capitol Theater)
6 Cabaret Dinner Theater with Sally Mayes (Capitol Theater)
7 Jitro Children's Choir (Capitol Theater)
8 Cab Calloway Orchestra (Capitol Theater)
11 - Letters Home (Capitol Theater)
13 Big Top Chautauqua: Wild Woods and Waters (Capitol Theater)
20 Luna Negra Dance Theater (Capitol Theater)
30 - Magic Tree House: The Musical (Overture Hall)
December 2008
5 - Faustwork Mask Theatre: The Mask Messenger (Capitol Theater)
10 A Holiday Celebration with Jim Brickman (Overture Hall)
12-14 -- The Wizard of Oz (Overture Hall)
January 2009
10 - The Phantom Tollbooth (Capitol Theater)
22 Bobby McFerrin (Overture Hall)
23-25 -- Sweeney Todd (Overture Hall)
26 Russian National Ballet: Don Quixote (Overture Hall)
28 Interprety Veneziani (Overture Hall)
29 East Village Opera Company (Capitol Theater)
February 2009
1 Dallas Children's Theater: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Capitol Theater)
7 Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia: Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny (Capitol Theater)
11 The Neville Brothers with Dr. John & The Lower 911 Mardi Gras Mambo (Overture Hall)
12 Assad Brothers (Capitol Theater)
13-14 -- Jesus Christ Superstar (Overture Hall)
15 Peking Acrobats (Overture Hall)
19 Cabaret Dinner Theater with David Burnham (Capitol Theater)
21 Kodo (Overture Hall)
28 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (Overture Hall)
March 2009
5 New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: Pirates of Penzance (Capitol Theater)
6 Eileen Ivers (Capitol Theater)
13 Afro-Cuban All Stars (Overture Hall)
14-15 Cirque Eloize: Nebbia (Overture Hall)
20-22 The Drowsy Chaperone (Overture Hall)
21 Spirit Horse (Capitol Theater)
21 Spencers Theatre of Illusion (Capitol Theater)
22 Hudson Vagabond Puppets: Butterfly: The Story of a Life Cycle (Capitol Theater)
26 One Night of Queen (Overture Hall)
28 Too Marvelous for Words: The Songs of Johnny Mercer (Capitol Theater)
28 Porter Batiste Stoltz (Capitol Theater)
April 2009
2 Jil Aigrot: The Voice of Edith Piaf (Capitol Theater)
9 Art Garfunkel (Overture Hall)
11 Bill Cosby (Overture Hall)
17 Ahn Trio (Capitol Theater)
18 Mayhem Poets (Capitol Theater)
17-19 - Stomp (Overture Hall)
26 - Moon Between Two Houses (Capitol Theater)
May 2009
1 Souls of Our Feet: A Celebration of American Tap (Capitol Theater)
7 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Overture Hall)
7 Cabaret Dinner Theater with Justin Hayford (Capitol Theater)
8 Second City (Overture Hall) April 24 May, 17 -- My Fair Lady (Oveture Hall)
More information about the 2008-09 season at the Overture Center is available online, organized by genre or chronologically at Overture Presents.