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CONTENTS
MADISON // Volume 25 // Issue 1B
pg.
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IN THIS ISSUE: FOOTNOTES pg 6-10, 14-15
pg.
8
pg.
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STAFF PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Steve Marcus
VICE PRESIDENT
Matt Thiele
DINNER & A SHOW Dining Guide + Show Listings
pg 16-20
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Bob Salb
ART DIRECTOR
Sarah Sallmann PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
Greg Widener
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jillian Olsson Theresa Wilmot ACCOUNTING
Karin Marcus Kelly Locke EDITOR + VENUE RELATIONS
Amanda Schumacher CHICAGO EDITOR
Myrna Petlicki
ADVERTISING SALES // CHICAGO
Terri Beringer Will M. McAuliffe
CHICAGO//MADISON//MILWAUKEE
ADVERTISING SALES // MADISON
Published by Marcus Promotions, Inc. The content of any article in this publication is based solely on the opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Marcus Promotions, Inc., Footlights, or its staff. The center program content is at the sole discretion of the performing arts group. Any errors, omissions, or inconsistencies are their responsibility. Inquiries or comments should be directed accordingly.
ADVERTISING SALES // MILWAUKEE
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SALES SUPPORT + CUSTOMER SERVICE
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Marmar Miar, DDS
From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America September 14, 2014 through January 4, 2015 Opening Reception artist lecture · live music hors d’oeuvres · cash bar Saturday, Sept 13 · 6–9 pm $10 / Free for members
227 State Street mmoca.org From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America is organized by the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, and made possible by generous support from Carol and Judson Bemis, Jr., Marilyn and Larry Fields, Linda and Lawrence Perlman, and Geri and Dar Reedy. The Madison presentation of the exhibition has been generously funded, to date, by David and Paula Kraemer Fund; Sara Guyer and Scott Straus; Gina and Michael Carter; Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.; a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts; and MMoCA Volunteers. Above: Alec Soth, Charles, Vasa, Minnesota, 2002. Chromogenic print, 50 x 40 inches. Courtesy the artist.
Issue #1B
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Shop Driftless Studio Originals 214 State Street • Madison for art, greeting cards and more!
Anthology coasters postcards pint glasses prints t-shirts & more!
218 State Street • 608-204-2644 across from the Overture Center
www.anthology.typepad.com
WISCONSIN
UNION THEATER
Celebrates
75
Y E A R S
6
Madison Footlights visitdowntownmadison.com
Photos courtesy of Wisconsin Union Theater
In the year 1939 Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, America’s favorite stage couple and summertime residents of Wisconsin’s small town Genesee Depot, graced the Union Theater stage in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Tickets were a mere 50 cents for students, and the short run of the four-performance presentation ultimately sold out. The Great Depression was barely a distant memory, and World War II was inching closer to home, but Union Theater’s inaugural production was a small celebration of success. Fast-forward to seventy-five years later, and while the theater has experienced some major renovations this past season, the mission of the theater to continue to bring artists of high caliber to the stage has remained. Numerous artists themselves have become star struck by the stage’s shadows of the greats of times past, and several artists have returned again and again to Union Theater over the years to enjoy the theater’s pristine acoustics. On top of seeking quality artists, Wisconsin Union Theater has also strived to lead the way for equality and civil rights in the arts. The theater has had its fair share of racially diverse artists during times in history when they weren’t traditionally accepted. One proud example of this is the late Fan Taylor and how she stood up for her artists, no matter who they were, and demanded respect for them from audiences and the Madison community alike. Since the theater is closely tied to UW-Madison, blazing a trail for other arts groups has not only benefitted the theater but the university as well. While a far cry from 50 cents, tickets are still affordable for students by today’s standards, with most student tickets being ten dollars or less. The theater’s audience boasts an understandable majority of college students for many of their shows, but Wisconsin Union Theater’s audience also possesses a diverse range in age and in culture. Wisconsin Union Theater’s 75th season is larger than usual for it’s commemorative season, and will feature theater favorites such as Yo-Yo Ma returning for the seventh time! The season will kick off with the culturally rich and annual offering of the Madison World Music Festival, which is free to the public and will expose many of the audience to famous talent from around the world for the first time. Other artists include Grammy award-winning Snarky Puppy, Zap Mama and Antibalas, Irish musical group Altan, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, The Acting Company’s presentation of Macbeth, and countless others. On a note of sentimentality, the season will open with the Kiss Me Kate, the musical rendition of Taming of the Shrew. For more information about Wisconsin Union Theater’s fantastic season, feel free to visit uniontheater.wisc.edu or footlights.com for details! Issue #1B
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WISCONSIN UNION THEATER REVEALS RENOVATIONS! The wait is finally over! The Wisconsin Union Theater’s West Wing renovations are wrapping up, and our Footlights team had the privilege to see the renovations first hand and take a glimpse behind the curtain and back stage at all the wonderful updates!
FREDRIC MARCH PLAY CIRCLE The play space now boasts telescopic seats (seats that can move to accommodate floor spaces of varying sizes), but maintains the intimate feel. The Play Circle also features renovated dressing rooms that are larger and quieter, and high definition television monitors in the hallways to benefit performers while they wait to go on stage. Wisconsin Union Theater will host some of their season events in this space.
SHANNON HALL The main stage, now called Shannon Hall, has new and more comfortable seats, improved soundproofing to decrease noise from the street, and an overall more technologically modernized space. However, despite the modifications, Shannon Hall maintains the crisp acoustics it has become known for worldwide and still preserves the rich history nestled within its walls.
WINKLER LOUNGE Wisconsin Union Theater has taken pride in embracing the past while combining the present and future in its renovations, and the Winkler Lounge is one of the best examples of that. Like a set direct from the hit television show Mad Men, the space showcases a rich blend of modern and retro furnishings, and will be utilized as a coatroom and lounge for special receptions.
SUNSET LOUNGE One of the most exciting additions to the existing building has been the creation of the Sunset Lounge. The four season ready lounge is situated right beside the original entrance and lobby to Shannon Hall, and will be a visually appealing location for patrons to gather before, during intermission, and post show. The space also offers panoramic views of the lake, and will double as a relaxing spot for students to congregate. For more updates, please visit Union Theater’s renovations website!
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Madison Footlights
Local Treasures
SUNSET LOUNGE photo by Jillian Olsson
“Bravo!”
– Voted Madison’s Best Specialty Shop
WINKLER LOUNGE
During renovation [above] photo courtesy of Union Theater After [below] photo by Jillian Olsson
Kitchenware Gourmet foods Cards & gifts Soaps Candles Jewelry Toys
Open 7 days a week
Orange Tree Imports 1721 Monroe St • 255-8211
STITCHERY, ART SUPPLIES, FRAMING & CLASSES FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE
SHANNON HALL ENTRANCE photo by Jillian Olsson
5928 Odana Road, Madison 608.274.1442 or lynnsofmadison.com
THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE IS WAITING FOR YOUR NAME.
ME HERE YOUR NA 2014
Ph ot ob yJ illi
an
s Ol
n so
engrave your name
IN THEATER HISTORY
by dedicating a seat in the newly renovated Wisconsin Union Theater, as a visible and lasting way to show your support for the Memorial Union Reinvestment. Please contact Heather Good for more information. 608.262.6825 | hlgood@wisc.edu Content courtesy of unionreinvestment.wisc.edu/NameASeat
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Madison Footlights
GIFT LEVELS $2,500 Orchestra Center $1,000 Orchestra Right & Left Mezzanine or Lower Balcony Center $500 Lower Balcony Right & Left or Upper Balcony
Intermission is over!
all new
www.footlights.com Issue #1B
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Excellence. The kind that pays returns for years to come. We proudly support the Overture Center for the Arts.
The Burish Group* Over $3.1 billion of assets under management Andrew D. Burish, CIMA® Managing Director 8020 Excelsior Drive, Suite 400 Madison, WI 53717 608-831-4282 andrew.burish@ubs.com Visit our video library to learn more about The Burish Group at ubs.com/team/burishgroup * Named #1 Financial Advisor in Wisconsin by Barron’s (2009-2014). Recognized on Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors in the U.S. list (2007-2014). Selected on the Financial Times 400 list of top Financial Advisors by the Financial Times (2013-2014).
CIMA® is a registered certification mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. in the United States of America and worldwide. Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” is based on asset under management, revenue, and quality of practices. ©UBS 2014. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. 7.06_Ad_4.625x7.625_HZ0703_BurA_2
Issue #1B
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The history of the Overture Center is a long and detailed tale that delves into the history of Madison as a community and how the arts have emerged with prominence over the years. Below is an excerpt from Overture Center, and how this dream finally became a reality in the late 90s.
Jerry Frautschi
Pleasant Rowland
Pleasant Rowland was selling Pleasant Company, the maker of American Girl dolls, the wildly successful company she had founded years before. Her husband, fifth-generation Madisonian Jerry Frautschi, had invested some of his own money in her idea, and stood to make a significant return on that investment. Eager to put the money to good use, the couple actively sought out organizations and causes that needed their help.
“They got ahead of the curve,” DeMain recalls. “They invited all the professional arts organizations in town to get together and dream.” Their dreams began to come true in 1998 when Jerry made a stunning announcement: He would donate $50 million to build his beloved hometown a world-class performing arts center worthy of the world-class artists performing there. It would not bear his name; rather, it would be called exactly what it was — his overture to his community. Pleasant joined many local arts leaders in visiting concert halls, multi-purpose venues and theaters across the country, and it soon became clear that $50 million wouldn’t be enough to build a facility to the standards she and Jerry hoped for. Jerry pledged another $50 million, and then another $100 million. His gift to the city ultimately topped $205 million, and remains the largest gift of its kind in American history. 14
Madison Footlights
Illustration by Cesar Pelli Architects
That gift built not one but five performance spaces, and completely renovated two more. Overture Hall was designed for perfect acoustics, with enough seats to satisfy the biggest Broadway producers. Rotunda Stage sits out in the open, free for anyone with the inclination to climb up and perform. Promenade Hall, Wisconsin Studio and Rotunda Studio provide space for smaller performances, rehearsals and community events. At the same time, Pleasant established the Great Performance Fund at the Madison Community Foundation, a series of endowment funds that, when matched by the community, totaled over $46 million. These endowments are dedicated to local organizations and ensure the presence of great art at Overture, and within the community. The people who built Overture Hall were its first audience, as employees of Findorff Construction and all its subcontractors brought their families to the venue’s firstever performance. “That was a wonderful and emotional experience,” says DeMain. An invitation-only gala concert followed, with the city’s well-heeled mingling with teens from diverse economic backgrounds. Finally, Jerry himself stood just inside the State Street entrance, nervous and self-conscious, to greet the throngs seeking their first glimpse of his gift. “My most vivid memory is standing in the Rotunda before anyone in the public had been let into the facility,” says Rudy Lienau, Overture’s Vice President of Operations. “Mayors, board members and some donors (most importantly, Jerry and Pleasant) were there to greet the hundreds of people who had lined up outside to get their first look at this amazing place. It was a great feeling, seeing the jawdropping astonishment on the faces of most folks who walked in that day.” For more information about Overture Center’s elaborate history, please visit www.overturecenter.org/about/history Issue #1B
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All the world’s a menu Visit Footlights.com for a comprehensive guide of dining and nightlife options just steps from your theater.
16
Madison Footlights
Find showtimes, links to buy tickets and nearby restaurants on
FOOTLIGHTS.COM
MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS
August 16
Overture Center
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
DAKHA BRAKHA
August 28
Based on the popular book, comedian Peter Story hilariously shares his insight on the battle of the sexes.
Overture Center
Meaning “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language, explore the back and forth between roots and future, blending folk songs with modern world rhythms.
EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL
September 11
Overture Center
Sam Raimi’s cult classic films come together for one crazy theatrical and musical experience, including “splattering” and “drenching” portions of the audience!
YAKOV SMIRNOFF’S HAPPILY EVER LAUGHTER TOUR Overture Center
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
September 26 Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
Comedian Yakov Smirnoff shares a laughter-filled and insightful philosophy on life, love, family, and country.
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OLIVA
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www.OlivaCuisine.com Dinner & A Show
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DINNER
& A SHOW
10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Overture Center
From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on September 27th, Overture will transform downtown Madison into an amazing circus and offer free performances inside the center!
OVERTURE’S RISING STARS 10th ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND
September 27 Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
September 28
Overture Center
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
SIMPLY SINATRA
October 4
In honor of ten years this season, Overture focuses the spotlight on the some of the best local talent around!
Steve Lippia’s natural sound and style is a remarkable combination of his own musical interpretation and influences from some of the best singers of eras past.
Middleton-Cross Plains Area Performing Arts Center 608-886-3103
ONCE
October 7-12
Friends of the Middleton PAC
Overture Center
A Dublin street musician reconsiders giving up when a young woman takes an interest in his haunting love songs in this award-winning and enchanting musical.
THE HUNTS
October 17
Overture Center
Creating an organic yet transcendent indie-folk sound, the passion for compelling music these siblings share is evident by their thrilling harmonies and rhythms.
JIM WITTER’S PIANO MEN Edgerton PAC
Celebrate the piano men of the 1970s and take a trip back in time as award-winning Jim Witter and his band perform hits by Billy Joel and Elton John.
DAILY WEEK NIGHT SPECIALS! Madison’s premiere Wine and Martini Lounge. Inventive cocktails and extraordinary tapas and desserts.
happy hour M - F 4:30 -7 25% off food and drinks! 116 King St.• 608-441-6787
www.opuslounge.com 18
Madison Footlights
Overture Hall 608-258-4141
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
October 18
Edgerton PAC 608-561-6093
PIZZA • PASTA • HOMEMADE GELATO • MARTINI BAR
A U T H E N T I C I TA L I A N
Pizzeria, Ristorante & Wine Lounge
1828 Parmenter Street Middleton • (608) 833-0033
www.villadolcecafe.com
Find showtimes, links to buy tickets and nearby restaurants on
FOOTLIGHTS.COM
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Overture Center’s Duck Soup Cinema
See the classic and original film adaptation starring American cinema legend Lon Chaney. Jeff Weiler will accompany the film on the Grand Barton Organ.
360 ALL STARS
October 18
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
October 23
Overture Center
Circus gets reinvented with break-dancing, basketball free-styling, and BMX-riding acrobatic athletes. Truly an exhilarating experience!
COLIN MOCHRIE & BRAD SHERWOOD Overture Center
The popular stars of Whose Line Is It Anyway? are back with an extraordinary evening of improv-comedy that begs audience participation just like the show!
IMAGO FROGZ
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
October 25
Overture Hall 608-258-4141
October 26
Overture Center
Mime meets dance meets acrobatics in this inventive and whimsical piece that has landed on Broadway twice!
BALLET BOYZ
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
October 28
Overture Center
Highly original and innovative, this spectacular fusion of dance, music, and film are the latest forces in modern dance.
THE FOUR FRESHMEN
Friends of the Middleton PAC
Overture Hall 608-258-4141
November 1
Since 1948 this group and its various members has been adding a modern twist of elegance to a time honored sound.
Middleton-Cross Plains Performing Arts Center 608-886-3103
600 WILLIAMSON ST SUITE M (608) 255-6910
WWW.BandungRestaurant.COM
Dinner & A Show
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DINNER
& A SHOW
SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ FEAT. THE COASTERS
November 2 Overture Hall 608-258-4141
Overture Center
Delight in over 40 years of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest hits with this dazzling song-and-dance celebration!
FROM UP HERE
November 6-23
Forward Theater Company
In this darkly funny and touching story, high school senior Kenny just wants to be invisible while his family tries to move past the aftermath of “The Incident”.
RED PRIEST
The Playhouse Overture Center 608-234-5001
November 8
Edgerton PAC
Redefining the art of period performance, this group promises creative arrangements filled with heart-onsleeve emotion and compelling stagecraft.
BILL COSBY
Edgerton PAC 608-561-6093
November 13
Overture Center
With more wit and wisdom than ever and a career that spans over half a century, enjoy an evening with the comic legend himself.
AN IRISH CHRISTMAS
Overture Hall 608-258-4141
November 14
Overture Center
Featuring Riverdance star Kevin Horton, celebrate the magic of the season with glorious music, traditional dance, lively storytelling, and plenty of Irish soul!
RACHEL BARTON PINE, VIOLIN; MATTHEW LIPMAN, VIOLA Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
October 10
Capitol Theater 608-258-4141
Three works for violin by Vieuxtemps, Saint-Saëns, and Britten are presented. Mozart & Haydn bookend this program.
“People love going along with the idea of a beautiful pig. It’s like a conspiracy.” -Jim Henson
Going out of town?
Check out the
Milwaukee & Chicago Dining Guide
A Pig in a Fur Coat 940 Williamson St., Madison 608-316-3300
20
Madison Footlights
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MAKE DREAMS THE OVERTURE TO YOUR FUTURE. Dreams matter. Pursuing them makes us happier, healthier and more fulfilled. DreamBank is dedicated to helping you along the journey. Our free, hands-on, interactive exhibits and events are designed to help you explore, pursue and achieve your dreams.
Join us on Madison’s Capitol Square or amfam.com/dreambank.
amfam.com/dreambank | One North Pinckney Street | Madison, WI 53703 (608) 286-3150 American Family Mutual Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2013 008395 – 12/13