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ATTRACTIONS
| Henry
Vilas Zoo |
One
of the few free accredited zoos remaining in the nation, this
popular county attraction was built on land deeded to the city
in 1904 by prominent Madison attorney and businessman William
S. Vilas and his wife, Anna, in memory of their son, Henry.
A multifaceted renovation project started several years ago
and continuing today has made the facility much more comfortable
for animals and visitors alike. |
| Madison
Children's Museum |
Wisconsin's
first hands-on Museum for children! |
Dane
County Farmer's Market on the Square
Capitol Square, Madison
(920) 563-5037 |
Take
a tour, look up recipes, and find out how you can help support
local agriculture. \bakery goods, fresh vegetables, herbs, honey,
homemade jams and fruit, offset by a wonderful array of flowers,
both freshly cut and ready to plant. From late April to November,
it happens each Saturday morning from 6 AM to 2 PM. |
Monona
Terrace Community and Convention Center
1 John Nolen Dr.
Madison
(608) 261-4000
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The
facility hosts a tremendous variety of events, including international
conventions, academic conferences, consumer shows, banquets,
weddings, and concerts. |
| Olbrich
Botanical Gardens |
Government,
employement, Recreation, Transportation, Neighborhoods |
State
Capitol
Capitol Square
Madison
(608) 266-0382 |
Free
tours depart from the information desk on the ground floor
three times each in the morning (9, 10 and 11 AM) and afternoon
(1, 2 and 3 PM) Monday through Saturday and at 1, 2 and 3
PM Sundays. Groups of 10 or more are advised to make a reservation
through the listed number.
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| Overture
Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison
(608) 258-4177
box office:
(608) 258-4141 |
The
First Incarnation
In 1928, the Capitol Theatre opened its doors on State Street.
Designed by the renowned Chicago firm of Rapp & Rapp, the
Capitol was a marvelous example of the type of opulent movie
houses that were built back in the silent film age. Seating
2,500, the theater's decor had a Moorish/Spanish theme. Uniformed
ushers escorted moviegoers to their seats to watch features
starring luminaries such as Harold Lloyd and Maurice Chevalier,
as well as vaudeville acts like Mae West and Al Jolson. The
state of the art building boasted the latest in modern conveniences
and, perhaps most wonderful, a Grand Barton theater organ constructed
by the Barton Musical Instrument Company of Oshkosh.
Over the years, as vaudeville disappeared and television
and multiplexes proliferated, the theater entered a long decline.
In 1974, Mayor Paul Soglin set the wheels in motion to open
a new performing arts center in Madison.
Act Two
The Capitol Theater was part of extensive construction and renovation
on the 200 block of State Street. Equipped with the latest in
theater technology and renamed the Oscar Mayer Theatre, it was
the main venue in a complex that also included the smaller Isthmus
Playhouse, meeting rooms, and a Crossroads lobby connecting
the performing arts venues with the Madison Art Center under
the same roof. Opening in 1980, the Madison Civic Center was
Madison's home for great arts and entertainment for 23 seasons.
Dane County residents were treated to a range of experiences
from luminaries like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kiri Te Kanawa, and
Itzhak Perlman, to performances by local arts groups including
the Madison Repertory Theatre and the Madison Symphony Orchestra,
to free festivals and kids shows in the Crossroads, to the silent
film series in which the Grand Barton organ continued to play.
Now Playing
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 more. At the completion of Phase 1 of construction,
the announcement was made that Mr. Frautschi had spent 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.
The
complete facility contains the fabulous Overture Hall, the
intimate Playhouse, three black box spaces, the Madison Museum
of Contemporary Art, the Wisconsin Academy's James Watrous
Gallery, three community galleries, a soaring glass lobby,
and the Capitol Theater, returned to its original name.
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UW
Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy., Madison
(608) 263-7888 |
1,280-acre tract on the near West Side of Madison has prairies,
conifer forests and wetlands exist side-by-side. The grounds
are open year round from 7 AM to 10 PM daily. There is no admission
fee. The McKay Visitor Center includes a visitor information
desk, small bookstore, library and space for exhibits. It's
open weekdays from 9:30 AM to 4 PM and weekends from 12:30 to
4 PM (11 AM to 3 PM from June to August), excluding holidays.
Public tours and other programs take place on most weekends.
Call ahead for a list of activities. |
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
Concerts on the Square
Six consecutive Wednesday evening concerts at 7:00p.m. beginning
June 27, 2001. |
Wednesday,
June 27
7:00 pm
"Summer's in the Air"
Welcome
to the 18th season of Concerts on the Square! The WCO kicks
off the summer with an intriguing program of classical repertoire,
waltzes and water music. Evenings of great music, and picnics
with family and friends.
Program Highlights:
Rossini
The Thieving Magpie Overture
Strauss Voices of Spring Waltz
Respighi Three Botticelli Pictures (excerpts)
Handel Hornpipe from Water Music
Wednesday,
July 4
7:00 pm
"An American Celebration"
The
WCO will pull out the stars and stripes to celebrate Independence
Day. Special guest D. Scott Glasser. Mr. Glasser has been
Artistic Director of the Madison Repertory Theater since 1993.
He will narrate "Lincoln Portrait".
Program
Highlights:
Custer,
arr. The American Frontier
Dragon, arr. Memories of America Medley
Copland Lincoln Portrait
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture
Wednesday,
July 11
7:00 pm
"The Sounds of Ireland"
Irish
folksinger Kathy Cowan joins the WCO in a Celtic Celebration
of traditional music from the British Isles. Ms. Cowan vibrantly
and delightfully interprets the music of Ireland, producing
a sound in which audience members experience the mist, longing,
laughter and all-around pleasure of Gaelic song.
Program Highlights:
Mendelssohn
The Hebrides Overture
Maxwell-Davies Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise
Halbe, arr. Song of the Seals
Anderson Irish Washerwoman
Wednesday,
July 18
7:00 pm
"Fugue, Fantasia & Firebird"
Fantasy
and animation have often accompanied the experience of great
classical music. We remember some of both with this program,
and put the musicians of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in
the spotlight.
Program
Highlights:
Bach/Stokowski
Toccata and Fugue
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, mvt. I
Tchaikovsky "Waltz of the Flowers" from Nutcracker
Stravinsky Berceuse and Finale from Firebird
Wednesday,
July 25
7:00 pm
"I Got Rhythm"
The
WCO is pleased to welcome two-time Grammy Award winner Sylvia
McNair to the Concerts on the Square® stage. During Ms.
McNair's 18-year career as a professional singer, she has
released over 70 recordings and performed with numerous orchestras
around the world including the New York Philharmonic, the
Boston Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra.
Program
Highlights:
Mozart
Don Giovanni Overture
Gershwin I Got Rhythm
Bernstein Candide Overture
Rogers/Hammerstein "The King & I" medley
Wednesday,
August 1
7:00 pm
"Sound the Trumpet!"
Concerts
on the Square® ends the season with a nod to the WCO's
2001/2002 Masterworks series. Andrew McCandless, will play
trumpet, for this wonderful program. As principal trumpet
of the Toronto Symphony, Andrew McCandless has received enthusiastic
praise for his remarkable tone, agility and expressive range
as both soloist and orchestral musician.
Program
Highlights:
Walton
Crown Imperial March
Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E-flat
Arban Carnival of Venice
Strauss Blue Danube Waltz
Kids' Area
The Kids' Area was a marvelous success at Concerts on the
Square 2000. Parents and children had a chance to play and
learn for two hours prior to each concert. Madison Art Center's
Art Cart, the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Madison
Children's Museum, Connolly Dance Company, the Wisconsin Dance
Ensemble, and WCO percussionists work with WCO staff and volunteers
to create an area of fun, excitement and education. |
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