In 1998, local businessman W. Jerome Frautschi made the breathtaking gift of $50 million for the development of a cultural arts district in downtown Madison. He established the Overture Foundation to solve the space needs of the city's major arts organizations. Eleven months later, he made the decision that he would donate another $50 million. At the completion of Phase 1 of construction, the announcement was made that Mr. Frautschi has contributed an astonishing $205 million to build this state of the art facility.

Internationally famous architect Cesar Pelli was engaged to design the project. It was a challenge to design and construct the facilities within the constraints of a city block in the center of town, but the team was equal to the task.
When completed in 2006, the facility will contain the fabulous Overture Hall, the intimate Playhouse, three black box multipurpose spaces, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, meeting rooms, four art galleries, a soaring glass lobby, and the Capitol Theater, returned to its original name.