While downtown definitely has its fair share of places to imbibe, it finds itself considerably more lacking in terms of culture. Some students may claim that seeing a freshly minted 21-year-old down a Wando's fishbowl single-handedly is all the culture we'll ever need, but that doesn't exactly cater to the majority of Madison residents—actual adults with jobs.
The only real venue for cultured middle-aged professionals in downtown Madison is the Overture Center, a venue that has been floating in dangerous waters for some time now. With the Overture currently owing $28 million in debt, it needs help from somebody, and it is looking to the city of Madison for assistance.
The proposal currently on the books, supported by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Overture Center administration, calls for the city to buy Madison's shiniest performing arts center for a single dollar and arrange for a non-profit organization to manage the Center. In turn, the banks holding the Overture's credit would forgive its outstanding debt.
While that deal sounds like a no-brainer, it of course comes with some strings attached. The city would have to assume responsibility for several renovation costs, and with a non-profit running the Center, many fear the Overture's city employees would lose their benefits.
In times of such economic concern, these are legitimate qualms with the plan. However, considering how important the Overture Center is to the downtown area and Madison's future in general, this plan is the most sensible option to ensure the Overture's survival.
While most of downtown is tailored to students and young professionals, the Overture Center is one of the few venues on the isthmus and by far the largest that brings in people from the east side, west side and suburbs like Middleton and Sun Prairie. Downtown does not have any other comparable facility that could host shows ranging from Wilco to ""The Lion King"" to Anthony Bourdain. These are shows that bring in people with expendable income, who in turn use that expendable income at other downtown businesses benefiting the entire area. Without the Overture, downtown Madison offers virtually nothing for the over-30 set.
In addition, the Overture brings cultural prestige to Madison that the city desperately needs. Its renowned Cesar Pelli design makes it one of the most aesthetically pleasing and notable buildings in southern Wisconsin—or at least notable enough to be used in an establishing shot on ""True Blood."" The Overture also brings acts to town that simply wouldn't perform here otherwise. Bob Dylan isn't going to be singing ""Subterranean Homesick Blues"" at the Orpheum for a reason.
As for the financial hang-ups, there are ways to mitigate the harm. A recently floated compromise proposal that would ensure union employees at Overture keep their city benefits sounds perfectly reasonable. As for repair costs, the city would do well to ignore some of the directives of Pelli's interior plan, such as spending $2 million for new carpeting. One would think there is a cheaper option available.
Beyond fiscal responsibility, the Overture Center also needs to maintain a strong business model— and that includes recognizing the students living nearby in addition to the suburbanites driving in. The center needs more shows like its recent production of ""Wicked,"" which appeal to both audiences.
The Overture Center plan has its negative aspects, but when the plan comes for a vote before the Common Council, we implore the city's alders to take into account the Center's importance to the city. Because unless the Whiskey River Saloon wants to play host to a touring production of ""Avenue Q,"" downtown Madison is going to be sorely lacking without the Overture Center.
