Overture Center’s Co-CEO Tim Sauers on upcoming live events in Madison, Wisconsin (Hour 2)

Transcript

Overture Center’s Co-CEO Tim Sauers on upcoming live events in Madison, Wisconsin (Hour 2)

Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach · Mon Mar 9, 2026

Kathryn Lake

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Pete Schwaba

Welcome

Greg Bach

back to Nightlight with Pete Schwabba and Greg Bach.

My name is Greg Bach, here in Radio Park in Racina, across the state in lovely, somewhere America, Wisconsin, is Mr. Pete Schwabba.

You're

Pete Schwaba

a mayor in

Greg Bach

that, right?

You don't mind if

Pete Schwaba

people don't mind, right?

I just want to make sure.

Christmas City, USA.

Greg Bach

Ah, gotcha.

I didn't realize you'd give yourself a nickname.

He is coming to us all the way from Marinette, Wisconsin.

Dom Lee is on the boards in Madison.

We are here with you tonight for one more hour on Nightlight.

Thank you so much to Kathy O'Neill for stopping by and having a great discussion with us again, author of Weapons of Math Destruction.

Her information will be in the show notes.

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Still ahead, we are gonna be talking to Tim Sowers, who is the co-CEO and Chief Artistic Experiences Officer of the Overture Center, talking about

all the great stuff they have coming on in the next few weeks in there and their schedule as well as, you know, maybe his hot takes on TV shows.

Cause as Pete said, he's a TV watcher and then we got a handy tip at the end of the evening.

So don't go anywhere.

Lots of programming still ahead, but I think Pete, the only thing we need to do right now to keep the show moving at a, at a, at a brisk pace, restate,

Pete Schwaba

restate that question of the night.

Oh, I thought you never asked Greg.

What is the best live show you've ever seen?

Yeah, and it's a bit vague and this is kind of sort of honor in an honor of Tim Sowers being here tonight So it could be something you saw at the Overture Center or something you saw in Milwaukee or on Broadway a music show a concert Comedian and concert whatever live show States there you got it bring it.

We'll accept it.

There are no right or wrong answers There are only your answers and it's always more fun when you guys participate.

So let us know your favorite live show

Absolutely.

Good stuff.

Why don't you go Greg first?

You're a big music guy.

I am actually not a huge concert guy.

I've been to a lot of live shows, but yeah, why don't you start us off?

I have a feeling yours is going to be music related.

I have not.

So

Greg Bach

yes, I've been to a lot of concerts.

I don't go to a lot of them anymore.

I'm very choosy, especially with concert ticket prices.

So if I'm going to see a band, I really want to be able to say, all right, I'll invest the Ballortium hundred dollars.

I don't know how much it is to go to a concert, but yeah.

So, um, I would say the best show I ever went to was the flaming lips in, I think it was 2000.

Oh my God.

I don't remember what year it was.

It was in the late.

Oh, it was, it was, it was definitely like between 2008, 2012.

I know that for sure.

But so the flaming lips are an amazing band from Oklahoma.

I've seen them eight times in concert.

It

Kathryn Lake

is a

Greg Bach

sensory explosion.

I don't care if you like them or not, if you love music you should see this group because it just has so much energy and life and what made this so great is that at the beginning of the show they find people to stand on stage and dance the entire concert and me and my friends got these passes and so we got brought backstage and we dressed up like characters from Yo Gabba Gabba and danced on the side of the stage for like two hours.

It was

phenomenal to watch it happen.

I mean, I could not believe I was standing there, but it was great.

And I got to be there with some of my bestest friends in the world.

So that was the greatest concert experience I ever saw in my life.

I'd say probably one of the top concerts I ever saw just as a viewer was Radiohead at Alpine Valley.

It was so good that I actually thought they were faking.

I thought they were doing like backtracks and lip-syncing because it was so perfect, but it was so, so good.

But yeah, the Flaming Lips best concert.

That I ever saw back at Riverside was so cool.

So so cool

Pete Schwaba

Riverside in Milwaukee.

Mm-hmm.

Nice.

Yep.

Absolutely loved it I have this is kind of lame I know but I have like a three-way tie, but they're sort of different genres I'm gonna say for like a Broadway musical type even though it wasn't on Broadway It was in Chicago at either the Lyric Opera House of the Auditorium I saw lame is in probably 1995 and was blown away

Absolutely phenomenal, loved it, fell in love with the show, saw it a couple more times after that.

When it comes to concerts, in 1987, I was at DePaul University and I got dragged, literally almost, to a U2 concert at the Rosemount Horizon.

I know, I was a fan, I just didn't feel like going out and my buddy Tim McGuire said I got an extra ticket, 20 bucks.

So I went and- Was that the Rattlin' Hum Tour?

No, that was Joshua Tree.

Yeah, 87.

Yeah, Joshua Tree.

So I get there and there's this band on stage opening for them, which made it even better.

The Bo Deans had never heard them.

And they said, you know, during one of their songs were from Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Place went crazy.

They were great.

Then you too comes out and it was it was just mind blowing.

It

Kathryn Lake

was just

Pete Schwaba

an amazing show.

And then most recently, two summers ago, I finally got to take my kids, my wife too, but my kids

to uh, Bruce Springsteen at Wrigley Field, a baseball field.

I ended up going to a lot as a kid.

So I got to relive that and being at Wrigley and seeing my all-time favorite performer and it was absolutely three hours of magic.

So that's awesome.

Um,

there

Pete Schwaba

you go.

Yeah.

Don, you got one?

I do.

I do.

And it was actually recently, I, you know, I just moved to Madison and I wanted to go see a concert.

Um, so I'm, I'm a big fan of KG Elephant and I, yeah, I went to the Sylvia in Madison and it was

Oh, it was beautiful.

It was every all the pyrotechnics were going crazy And it was just a really fun time.

I went with I went with a few few of my buddies and it was it was great I loved it.

I loved it.

I am going to difference too.

Oh Yeah,

Greg Bach

I'm going to a concert at the Sylvie next month on the 24th.

I'm gonna go see Steven Wilson, Jr.

Who is a

Folk, Americana, country, singer, songwriter, amazing voice, great guitar playing.

I'm very much looking forward to it.

I heard though that there's no seating at the Sylvie.

It's standing.

And so that

is going to

Greg Bach

be

great.

Yep.

A lot of people passed out in the concert that I went to a lot of people, but it was well worth it.

No pressure.

Pete Schwaba

Sydney politics on the stream, it says death grips.

I don't know them.

Do you know them?

Greg Bach

Great group.

That's a, that's like a experimental hip hop group.

Very, very cool, very energetic, very emotional.

Like there's good, it's very, very good music.

I really liked them a lot.

I imagine that was probably just a bonkers, amazing concert.

So I would, I would like to see them.

Pete Schwaba

I'm not, Sydney's got some cool takes on stuff.

And that's a, that doesn't surprise me.

He likes a kind of a cool band like that.

Fantastic.

Greg Bach

Can I mention the funniest concert I ever went to?

Oh,

Pete Schwaba

totally.

Greg Bach

So years ago, I had a friend of mine who is a vet and there's a program where people will buy experiences and donate them to this program for vets.

And one of it was to go see Lord, who is a singer from New Zealand.

And my friend asked me if I wanted to go and I said, yes, because my, my, like my favorite rap group run the jewels was opening.

I'm like, I want to see run the jewels.

I only know Lord from that one song.

And so

We go there, we see Run the Jewels.

It is absolutely fantastic.

Loved them very much.

And then the lights go out for Lord.

And what I hear is 14,015 year old girls screaming.

I didn't realize who Lord's audience was.

And I turned to my friend said, I said, I said, I feel like we're at a slumber party we weren't invited to right now.

We should.

Go.

And we stayed for like 20 minutes and then we were like, yeah, that's fine.

We can go.

The tickets were free and we didn't want to see Lord anyways.

Plus we felt really out of place.

So it was a cool concert.

Like her, her concert was very artistic and beautiful and whatnot, but I was there to see around the jewels and it was fantastic.

Pete Schwaba

This is cool.

Uh, we've got it from the eight oh one.

Robert, uh, in the cross says Diana Ross and the Supremes 1968 Southern Illinois University.

Some of these, like some of our older listeners are like,

bringing out these shows that I would have killed to be at.

That's, that's a great one.

Greg Bach

Well, even, I mean, you two, you two at the, you said the night center or where was that?

Pete Schwaba

That

Greg Bach

was at the Rosemont

Pete Schwaba

horizon.

Yeah.

87.

Yeah.

And they opened to the streets, have no name.

They filled up and they came out and I was like, Oh my God, this is unbelievable.

Greg Bach

Did your friend turn you and say, you're happy now?

You went out?

Pete Schwaba

I, I'm sure he must have at some point.

There was like four of us and it was, it was ended up being a really fun night.

I'm really glad I did.

Monica in Mount Horrib in the 608 says at the overture Jersey boys was absolutely phenomenal I know some dissed kiss as overrated but for rock music They put one of the best shows on I've ever seen hands down.

I believe that they're very theatrical, right Jersey boys is a great show It's if you like Frankie Valley, I do I got a speeding ticket coming out of that movie because I was like I think I was going about 80 and a 50

Um, but that's a great one.

Uh, John in Columbia County in the six oh eight says Jay Giles band, Peter Wolf, John Giles, magic dick, health, gustman, and Stephen Bland.

I don't know if I know a couple of those names are real for sure.

I know Peter

Greg Bach

Wolf and John Giles.

I'm not,

Pete Schwaba

I'm not going to

Greg Bach

speak to the rest of them, but, uh, okay.

Pete Schwaba

I mean, that

Greg Bach

was, there's a, that's just a good band.

They're just a good rock and roll band.

So I can imagine they put on a, a solid show.

In Madison listening in the 608 says, Hi, Pete and Greg.

The best live show I saw was beautiful.

The Carol King musical at the Overture Center in June, 2017.

I love her music.

Yeah.

Oh my goodness.

Yes.

That'd be amazing.

Pete Schwaba

That'd be similar.

Love hearing, hearing this stuff.

Why don't you do the Tony, the trucker one too great.

That's great.

I love this

Greg Bach

one.

Tony, the trucker in the 608 says, Gents 1973, Pink Floyd, dark side of the moon tour, Dane County Coliseum, Madison,

All caps.

Wow.

Pete Schwaba

That is fantastic.

I would see like, I think I've told the story before on the show, but it's been a while.

When I was growing up, Pink Floyd, I was a lot of older kids in my neighborhood and I was just trying to fit in.

They all worshiped Pink Floyd

Kathryn Lake

and

Pete Schwaba

we were hanging out one day at Portage Park Elementary School just on the steps, you know, and there's some graffiti on the school and somebody spelled Floyd wrong.

I think they had like two L's or whatever.

But it was egregious in the eyes of certain teenage boys and one of them said, whoever wrote that doesn't deserve to own a pen.

Now forget that it was paint and there was no pen involved, but I just thought that was a really funny line and how serious he took his love for Pink Floyd.

That was great.

Greg Bach

Eric in Madison listening to WMDX has best live show, nine inch nails.

I've seen nine inch

Kathryn Lake

nails.

Greg Bach

That's a, that's an intense show.

Actually.

went to see their concert, but for the opening band.

And when the opening band was done, I'm like, I can go.

And my friends were like, no, we're going to stay.

I'm like, okay.

And then I'm glad we did.

It was so good.

It was such a good show.

Pete Schwaba

I can only imagine.

That's probably a fantastic show.

Nick from Marshall says, I really enjoyed the magic group called The Illusionists at Overture and Natty Nation at the Willy Street Fair and Atwood Fest.

Wow.

Those are a couple of great ones.

Very Madison.

It's a very Madison text right there.

Greg is what that

Greg Bach

is.

Yeah.

Very Madison.

Uh, really quick.

Sydney says, also can my girlfriend, Rachel get a shout out?

She heard her ankle today and risk is recovering watching the show right now in the couch.

Of course.

Hey, Rachel, take care of yourself.

Make sure Sydney gets to your water and food, what you need, whatever you need, use, relax.

After you're done with us, watch whatever movie you want to watch.

It's your night.

Pete Schwaba

I will say, and I have not had a lot of experience with couples that didn't sound right.

Um, Sydney and Rachel are an adorable pairing and, uh, I'm so glad they listened.

So yes, thank you, Sydney.

Thank you so

Greg Bach

much.

Yeah, totally.

Absolutely.

Pete Schwaba

Uh, yeah, go ahead, Greg.

Greg Bach

Well, I was going to say, we have one more live stream common here, uh, Joe bear, Joe bear Denver heart climax blues band was the first concert, Boston, yellow cake.

Cake's

a great band.

Greg Bach

Cake is a great group to see live.

They reproduce exactly like their albums and it's fantastic.

Death

Greg Bach

Cab, Genesis, Hercules, Hercules and Love Affair.

There's a band no one talks about but me and Joe and then Block Party.

Oh my gosh.

You've seen a lot of good Hercules and Love Affair is an amazing band too.

If you love like hard, like hard dance music, like really, Hercules and Love Affair.

Come on now.

Pete Schwaba

He had me at Boston and ELL.

I would love to go back in time and see those two bands when they were at their peak.

I think that would that would be fantastic.

Thank you, Joe.

And I'm the climax blues band.

Greg Bach

Would it surprise you if I said I have a beef against Jeff?

What's his face from yellow?

Pete Schwaba

I think we talk about this.

I'm having deja vu here.

Greg Bach

I don't think I don't think we did.

I just have

Pete Schwaba

a

Greg Bach

small I'm just a small, small beef against Jeff Lynn from yellow.

Okay.

We can talk about another time.

That's an ultimate tease.

And you know, it's something I work through in therapy.

It's

Pete Schwaba

my thing.

Maybe a tip for the days at some

Greg Bach

point.

Well, it's national get over it day, so why not?

Perfect.

All right.

When we come back, we are going to be talking to Tim Sowers from the Overture Center.

So don't go anywhere.

You are listening to Nightlight with Pete Schwabbe and Greg Bach on the Civic Media Network here.

Be here now.

Don't go anywhere.

See you soon.

Bye.

Kathryn Lake

You're listening to Civic Media.

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Greg Bach

nightlight with Pete Schwabba and Greg Bach.

My name is Greg Bach.

I'm here in Radial Park in Racine and across the state in lovely Christmastown, Marinette.

I always call it Marinette.

Maronette, Wisconsin is Mr Pete Schwabba.

Dom Lee is in Madison, of course, on the ones and twos and you can always be part of the conversation.

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Still time to get your answer in for the question of the night.

What's the greatest live show you've ever seen?

We've been reading your responses throughout the show.

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Very excited to welcome our second guest for the evening.

He is the co-CEO and Chief Artistic Experiences Officer at the Overture Center.

Please welcome to the show Mr. Tim Sowers.

Good evening, Tim.

How are you?

I'm

good.

Thanks for having me back.

Wonderful, wonderful.

I love coming on your show.

Always.

Always.

I'm ready for my concerts when we get there.

Pete Schwaba

Listen, why don't we just start off with

that?

Start there?

Pete Schwaba

Yeah, I know we're putting you on the spot.

You've seen more shows than any of us probably have seen in a lifetime.

But is there one that stood out, whether you were scouting something for the overture or just there as a fan, what really knocked your socks off?

Lady Gaga.

Pete Schwaba

Oh, where?

Greg Bach

At the Overture Center?

No.

OK.

Oh my god.

I was like, how?

No.

jazz show in Vegas.

Yeah.

With her 26 piece orchestra and created her own sound with that and she just loves that music so much.

I went back and saw it a second time and you know what makes her so great is she's an amazing performer but like her banter like I felt like I saw two different shows even that was all the same music.

Right.

I just love her.

She's by far the best.

Yeah,

Greg Bach

she's one of those individuals where, you know, you can give her a bunch of different titles.

For me, she's always a musician first, specifically a piano player.

Like in my head, I've earned the same, you know, to me, she's like Elton John and Billy Joe, just a singer-songwriter at a piano.

She can make a song that is highly produced sound just as good on a piano by herself.

And that to me is the mark of a true artist.

And that's what I think of when I think of her as an artist musician first.

Yeah.

She's she's just the best.

Pete Schwaba

Yeah.

That's a great answer.

And it means it's a little means a little something extra coming from a guy who's seen so many shows.

So

she'd be like 80 before she'd get to over at your center.

Pete Schwaba

Well,

you probably come down.

Yeah.

Pete Schwaba

I was going to say,

either get her on the way up or the way.

Always be popular.

She will always

Greg Bach

be

Pete Schwaba

popular.

Absolutely.

If she ever does play the overture, even if it's 20 years from now, what a great show that would be to just intimate setting.

Well, you know, and she might you never know, like, you know, she's probably she's one of these artists who she loves the big blowout concert.

She loves a small intimate.

She may say, OK, I want to do performing art centers, right?

You know, you just don't know with her.

Pete Schwaba

Absolutely.

Tim, we're going to talk about March.

But before we do that.

Let's talk about this big announcement you guys have coming up on April 13th.

You're doing a live stream.

Tell us about that.

Yeah, it's our live stream for the 26-27 season.

There's over 30 some shows we're going to announce.

We're going to have eight Broadway shows coming in.

Two of them are Wisconsin premieres next season.

It just seems, you know, you

you're in the middle of a season announcing another season and I'm booking the 27th like what year are we in 27 28 I'm doing work in and you know I've lived in the future but yeah I mean you know we're having one of our um a really good uh Broadway season this year we have a lot of subscribers people love their Broadway shows as you heard in the concert part where people love beautiful and your Les Mis I saw that same Les Mis production in Chicago in the 90s

Yeah, breathtaking.

Um, so yeah, so some, you know, all kinds of shows, family, comedy, music, Broadway.

Greg Bach

That's fantastic.

I'm looking at the website right now.

I mean, it just, I mean, I don't live in Madison, so I don't have a lot of experience personally with the Overture Center, but I would love to see a show here.

Oh my God, it's gorgeous.

It's so beautiful.

Let me know when you come to town.

I mean, one of the things that I love about Overture Center is, you know, we have all those faces.

In addition to our programming, we have resident companies, we have rentals, we work with, you know, bringing big comedians to the stages and, you know, it's just great.

The whole mix of it is just great.

Greg Bach

I mean, I'm looking at this thing right now.

Can you tell me, there's a lot to talk about with the Overture Center, but something that for me is hitting really cool is duck soup cinema.

Yeah, I mean that's our silent film series yeah that we do with our Grand Barton organ one of the only few in the country and You know the music is all live.

We put some acts as a pre-show and do a kind of vaudeville going back to the you know history of the Theater which is in 28 will be a hundred years old.

Greg Bach

Oh my goodness

Yeah, 1928, 2028.

Yeah, that's right.

100 years old, and we're going to do some special.

We're talking already about what to do special with that.

And, you know, that's, you know, amazing, right?

Pete Schwaba

Yeah, absolutely.

Tim, I would say out of the 30 or so texts we've gotten tonight for this question tonight, which you just answered and said, Lady Gaga, there were several, at least three or four, maybe five that said they saw their favorite show, their best show ever at the Overture Center.

in the mid teens.

And so I thought that was kind of, you just guys are a great staple of the community there.

Yeah, you know, it's great to be able to, you know, bring this national work, right?

To Madison, Wisconsin, right?

It's like, you know, we draw from nine, 10 counties mostly and, you know, they have same shows going to Chicago, same shows going to Minneapolis, this, you know, you know, so it's great people can stay home.

Greg Bach

that's the reason why I go or don't go to some shows because like how far is it?

No, I'm not doing that.

When we come back, we'll be talking more with the co CEO and Chief Artistic Experiences Officer from the Overture Center, Tim Sowers here on Night Light with Pete Schwabba and Greg Bach.

Don't go anywhere.

Be part of the conversation.

855-752-484-2855.

75 Civic, you are listening to the Civic Media Network.

Stay tuned.

Stay

close.

Greg Bach

with Pete Schwabba and Greg Bach.

My name is Greg Bach, coming to you live from Radial Park in Racine, all the way across the street in the state is Pete Schwabba in Christmastown, USA.

Pete Schwaba

Christmas City,

Greg Bach

Christmas Party, USA, Wisconsin.

Pete Schwaba

And

Greg Bach

Dom Lee is, I'm just going to keep on like making up new names for

Pete Schwaba

it.

One of them will stick.

Greg Bach

Hanukkah festivities are every year in Marinette.

You can be part of the conversation eight five five seven five two four eight four two eight five five seven five civic leave a comment on the live stream.

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Heard from great people on Facebook and the text line, but we are going to continue our conversation right now with.

Tim Sowers, who is the co-CEO and Chief Artistic Experiences Officer at the Overture Center in Madison, talking about all the great shows that they have, the big announcement in April, as well as, you know, some of Tim's favorite shows, including one Lord, Lord Lady.

I know she's a lady.

I was going

to

Greg Bach

say Lord S. So Tim, really quick, you know, I'm someone who used to work at a venue and I feel like it's very easy to, you know,

shows that people are lining up to see.

And for you, it's another day at work because you got to work.

You got to do your thing, clock in,

Kathryn Lake

make sure

Greg Bach

everything's going.

I understand why you love this band, but I got to go change the toilet paper in the bathroom right now.

What is a show at the overture that has stopped you in your tracks where you're trying to do your day, but you're like, I got to watch this and you're blown away in that moment.

Oh my gosh, it's too vague for me to answer.

What was I've been blown away?

Well, I don't clean toilets, first of all.

What have I been blown away?

We had a comedian that I did not know who she was.

And I looked her up when we were booking her and stuff.

But Leanne Morgan, you know her?

She's funny.

Very funny.

So I went in for like I said, oh, I'm going to watch this for five, 10 minutes and then I'm going home and I watched the whole thing.

So, you know, that came to help.

That's that was one recently.

Greg Bach

Love that.

Pete Schwaba

Love that.

All right.

So you got the big announcement in April, Tim, April 13th, the live stream on Monday.

I recommend everybody check it out.

But let's just focus.

I mean, on the rest of this month, you guys have a jam packed schedule.

Let's start with Back to the Future, which starts tomorrow night.

Is

Pete Schwaba

this live up to everything I hope it will be?

Yes, yes.

No, I don't say that tentatively.

No, I say yes because if you love the movie, the Broadway musical is very true to

it.

like very true to it um that clock tower sequence is pretty amazing to watch the technology is cool the video and the lighting and the car flies you know let's hope it does every night you know um that's that's tough right like yeah you're moving a car in you have to take it apart you have to ship it to the next town then you have to put it back together and put it making sure that it works and

you know that's a cool thing uh it's uh what i love about this show more you know the traditional broadway ticket buyer is female right between 40s and 60s but back to the future has a really high male ticket buyer because a lot of fathers are bringing their sons

Greg Bach

that's very

cool and i'd love that

I love that, right?

Like, I love that sharing of it, right?

And the

Pete Schwaba

different generations, yeah.

Yeah, that's right.

So that's a show that's doing that.

It's selling very well.

There's still tickets for it.

So, you know, you love that movie.

You'll love that show.

Greg Bach

Oh, you got Craig Ferguson.

I feel like I'm just looking at your website

now.

Craig Ferguson's coming in town.

Oh my goodness gracious.

Yeah, he comes every couple of years.

He's still fun and...

You know, he does pretty well too with ticket buyers for that to show I'm gonna not miss.

Greg Bach

Oh man, I love he's such a such a such a good show I love Craig Ferguson if you are in the Madison area and you have the chance and his tickets are still available for that one

There are some tickets available.

Greg Bach

I would go see that show.

That is a fantastic show

Pete Schwaba

now Tim what you have an interesting show coming up on the 28th 29th It's under the category educational talks theater.

It's at the playhouse

Steady,

Kathryn Lake

she

Pete Schwaba

goes, and then Dan Sivy, Confessions of a Great Lakes Pirate.

I'm kind of fascinated by ghost ships or shipwrecks, especially

Great Lakes

Pete Schwaba

ones.

Does this have anything to do with that?

What is this show about?

Well, this is one of our local arts who is in our building for season theater, and that's, you know, a new work that they're looking at.

I don't know it because it's new.

I thought I can say really about it.

Greg Bach

But on the same two days, you've got Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark live concert.

That is so cool.

Yeah.

You know, it's great that we have a symphony and I'm able to do those live film scores are incredible.

We just finished earlier this year, all eight of the Harry Potter's.

Greg Bach

Oh my goodness.

Right and they so well up until the end everybody was very interested in doing that and nice Indiana Jones You know same thing right those big classic music movies with the good scores brings them in There's a lot on the road right you can do a lot of movies with symphonies right now It's a hot commodity.

Greg Bach

Yeah

That is very, very cool.

I mean, is, are there any dream artists that you would love to see come through the, uh, the overture of someone that like, you just haven't nabbed yet, but you would like to get them someday?

Well, you know, he's too big, but in for the comedy, but Nate Bargotty, I would love to have him in our building.

That would be very fun.

I love him so much, but he just did the, um, a lion out here that 5000 cedar earlier in the year and sold that out.

twice.

I have a

Greg Bach

lot of opinions on stand-up comedy and gigantic venues.

I feel like yours would be.

I

agree.

100 percent.

There's something about seeing them personally.

You know, and we've had many.

We have Charlie Barron's coming up.

We all know Charlie Barron's, right?

Yeah, of course.

We have four in our.

big haul for.

Shows of Charlie Barron.

Greg Bach

Yeah, I was going to say he's he when he comes through when he comes through Wisconsin specifically,

right?

Greg Bach

This is where he lives.

He's he's always so but I I I know that if you don't want to you don't have to but I would much rather do.

I'd want to rather do like four to six sold out shows of a you know, smaller venue

than

Greg Bach

one five that or or when

I

Greg Bach

see them coming through the basketball arenas.

I'm like that is just not that can't be fun.

Yeah, because you're end up, if you're not up close and paid thousands of dollars, you're sitting in the back and watching it on a screen, you might as well be at home and watch it on TV, right?

You know, it's like, there's something about, yeah.

And you know, some of the comedians, I mean, he could have, Charlie Barron's could have gone to a lion to the 5,000 seat and done it.

You know, we had Tom Segura a couple of years ago.

He also did two shows in our venue.

And it was, you know, I don't know how you,

I don't know how you feel the audience when they're so big and so far away because, you know, comedy is all about

Pete Schwaba

the

timing,

Pete Schwaba

right?

But the Pfizer forums, I mean, especially if they can't dunk, which most comedians can't, let's be honest.

Our guest is Tim Sowers.

He is the co CEO of the beautiful Overture Center in Madison and their chief artistic experiences officer.

He joins us time to time from talk to talk about.

Upcoming shows and color television and all kinds of good stuff them.

I love I don't know Do people still go to see River Dance you guys have River Dance 30 coming up?

Yeah, it's

Pete Schwaba

just like one of those things where I

thought it would have

Pete Schwaba

died out, but it hasn't

no hasn't died out.

It's still going Pretty strong not as strong as it used to right of course, but still pretty soft strong and you know in our state we have

all these Trinity Irish dance schools all over the place.

And, you know, it's still very popular.

Like we'll do a Trinity and our free kids in the Rotunda.

And that's like three performances at 450.

We have to move it into Overture Hall to do it and do like three performances at like 700.

So like it's still really big.

And, you know, so yeah, River

Greg Bach

Dance.

A few years ago, and I think it was Meryl Streep who said this, she said, I wish concerts were, there were more matinee concerts.

I would go see a band at one or two in the afternoon.

And I went to go see at, uh, see the, the pass for Riverside.

I can't remember which one it was.

Brett Goldstein from Ted

Lasso.

Oh yeah.

Greg Bach

And he had, he had a sold out show and he put an afternoon show on there.

And I was like, that's the one I'm going to.

Do you see artists coming through with different, is it, is it still traditionally the evening shows with maybe a Sunday or Saturday afternoon?

Or are you

Greg Bach

seeing groups that are actually saying we'd rather do an afternoon show because this gets people in and out and we're good.

No, only if it's on the weekend.

Greg Bach

Gotcha.

But I will say one of the things, you know, you know, Bluey, right?

The cartoon.

Oh yeah.

Greg Bach

Yes, I

know.

That's a huge, that's still a huge tour.

We had it.

The first time we had it, we had four shows over a weekend and did like 7,200 tickets.

Yeah.

The last time we had it was on a Wednesday, Thursday and did like 3,800 tickets.

Greg Bach

And

those Wednesday, Thursday times were at six o'clock.

Greg Bach

Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

It's gotta go to bed.

It'll come back again very soon.

And I was like, Oh.

six o'clock.

Can we do all our shows at six o'clock?

Greg Bach

If we're talking weekends, I do not understand the problem.

I think you get a lot more people coming out, you know, at the venue that I helped run.

Late shows were tough, man.

10 o'clock shows are tough to get people to come out to because especially post COVID, I would say all the time, we have to give them a reason to put their pants on.

They've got Netflix, and Hulu, and all these things.

And when a show is at 10 o'clock, people can say, oh,

I'm not sure.

Well, for Broadway, we have a Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, a Sunday afternoon, and Sunday evening.

And the Saturday and Sunday matinees are very popular.

Greg Bach

Yeah, absolutely.

Because people drive from all over to come see a show.

Well, Tim,

Pete Schwaba

if you can't make it happen, nobody can.

So we're looking to you.

Hey, before we let you get out of here, are you binge watching anything on color television that you could share with

us?

Well, I just finished because I had to see what all the hype was about because I think it's the show that had the most press I've seen in years.

Greg Bach

Is

it?

Yeah, eat it drive over.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Right.

My wife is obsessed.

Crazy.

Pete Schwaba

Yeah.

You know, and it was good.

I mean, it was it's what people want to watch right now.

Right.

Like it's I don't know.

I just I just was like, wow, they really are getting away with a lot here.

I hope HBO can keep its.

Greg Bach

Yeah.

the buyout.

I hope they can keep their brand because I have to say they're the they they spend.

They they invest their money wisely in artists to develop work for them.

Yes.

And I just I hope that continues.

I watched last night.

I just watched because I'm you know, Oscars are coming.

Last night, I just watched Hamnet.

Pete Schwaba

Yeah, I still haven't.

That's still I got to one

of them.

Pete Schwaba

Yeah, I hear it's great.

Really good.

Did you see begonia?

No Really that's it.

I don't know a lot of the Oscar movies this year kind of dreary They're so serious

Greg Bach

Well, we'll have to talk more about, we'll have to talk with you again soon about the big announcement coming up

for Overture

Greg Bach

Center.

Yeah, please come on back.

We'll do that.

We have been talking to Tim Sowers, who is the co-CEO and Chief Artistic Experience Officer of the Overture Center.

We will put their information in our show notes.

Go see a show, check it out, especially the afternoon ones.

Thank you so much, Tim.

Have a great night.

Thanks, Tim.

Yeah, thanks.

When we come back, more text from you, as well as a handy tip from Pete and Greg.

Don't go anywhere.

You're listening to Civic Media.

Stay tuned.

Kathryn Lake

You're listening to Civic Media.

Find the latest news, information, and archives of all your favorite shows on the Civic Media website, civicmedia.us.

Greg Bach

Nightlight with Pete Schwabba and Greg Bach.

My name is Greg Bach, coming to you live from Radio Park here in Racine across the state.

I've got Pete in lovely Holiday Corner USA.

Kathryn Lake

That'll

Greg Bach

work.

That'll work.

There you go.

Make my uncle mad.

Holiday Corner.

Happy holidays.

We are coming to you live on the Civic Media Network.

We are with you for a few more minutes, but don't go anywhere.

There's still lots of programming after us, and then we'll be back tomorrow.

Same time 5 p.m.

To 7 p.m.

We will let's see what we got on what we have on the old We're gonna be talking to Cortland all about meditation why meditation is important.

He's a research scientist at EW medicine works with meditation That's gonna be a great discussion.

Kathryn Lake

We have

Greg Bach

we'll have our question of the day which you can be a part of and Why don't you follow us on the social media search nightlight with Pete Schwab and Greg buck?

We are on Facebook.

We are on Instagram and We you can find us on the YouTube channel for civic media

And then I don't think we are on the Twitter.

Pete Schwaba

I think we were.

They might be reevaluating that, but we'll let you know if we're back on there for sure.

Yeah.

It's

Greg Bach

fine.

Instagram and Facebook, Instagram.

And here's one thing I'll ask everyone to do.

So simple, simple request.

Tell one person about the show.

That's it.

Text someone.

Talk to a co-worker, family man, whatever.

Just tell one person.

That's all I ask.

Just tell one person about the show.

That's that'd be nice.

Pete Schwaba

I'm gonna add a little something that when you tell them about the show say something good If you don't want to say something good don't tell anybody about the show

Greg Bach

And we'd love and we appreciate everyone for getting in contact with us tonight other question was what is the greatest live show you ever seen and it didn't have to be

music.

It could be anything.

And we heard from a lot of individuals on my personal Facebook page.

My friend Tim, let's see here.

Oh my gosh, lots of answers here.

My friend Tim said he saw David Bowie and the sound and vision tour in 1990.

That's amazing.

Jenny Brand says Foo Fighters during a thunderstorm at the Marcus Amphitheater.

My friend Amy said the clash opening for the who in 1982 at the Pontiac Silver

Pete Schwaba

Dome.

Oh man.

That's a great one.

Greg Bach

Oh my goodness.

And then the Nick said, the entire Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band album start to finish performed entirely live.

It was someone senior project in college, $5 and the best show I've ever seen.

Pete Schwaba

That's $5.

Greg Bach

I mean, come on now.

Come on now.

And then my friend, my dear friend, Mike Hover says, weird out, which was the very first concert I ever saw.

Weird out opening for the monkeys 1986.

Pete Schwaba

Did he sing eat it?

Yeah, that would be eat it years, right?

I don't know if he

Greg Bach

had, he was doing, they was touring on like a surgeon.

So I don't know if he had eat it yet, but it was so fun.

Cause he did the surgery on stage.

He did the whole, he had the whole thing going.

It was fan frickin' fantastic.

So, uh, do you have any more that you

Pete Schwaba

have coming through?

All right.

Just let me just say, get yourself an egg and beat it.

Genius love it brilliant Dave on the stream says hell's kitchen the musical I wasn't sure but it blew me away.

I'm not even familiar with that show Thank you.

It's a great one.

I know the

Greg Bach

back of

Pete Schwaba

the future was a

Greg Bach

musical until like

Pete Schwaba

oh dude last

Greg Bach

year

Pete Schwaba

I am gonna try to peek my head and over there.

I'm gonna try to sneak in and since I know Sours isn't on the property.

I'm going

I almost said a phrase I probably can't say.

Sheila Rosenberg on social media says it was February 2006, the Abbot Brothers at the United Casino.

It was

Kathryn Lake

a

Pete Schwaba

small show in the lounge area of the casino itself.

I was able to attend with two or three of the shows they played that weekend.

Outstanding stuff.

She says it's a great memory that I think of often.

Robert Bro, the Purple People at the Roller Dome in Marinette, 1975 maybe?

That's Christmas city, USA to you guys scoring at home.

Greg Bach

That

Pete Schwaba

sounds like

Greg Bach

a highly 1970s concert.

The purple people at the roller dome.

Oh my

Pete Schwaba

God.

Bob's parent, Bob's an opera singer now, but his parents own at the roller dome back then.

So he's got some insight info.

He's getting a taste of the door.

Daniel Francis, Thines, his comedy in order.

Yeah.

Okay.

Pete Schwabba, Brian Regan, Brian Regan's coming after me.

Did you hear that, Greg?

Howie Mandel, Jim Gaffigan, Louis Anderson, Paulie Shore, another almost Marinette resident, Rita Rudner.

Almost every comedian at the skyline.

Music, Bob Seeger, Tom Petty, Roy Arbison, ACDC, Night Ranger, Cool Magang.

Tim Wargula, Three Dog Night in the early 70s.

Ian on social media says, mid 80s, the Chattanooga double bill with Blue Oyster Cult and Rush.

Love it.

He says, well, that's a long text.

I don't even think we have time for that.

Those are great, you guys.

Thank you so much for participating.

It was fun.

Greg Bach

And one that just came through, a friend of mine, Mary, I've known her since I was four years old, Prince live at the Super Bowl halftime show, greatest thing I've ever experienced.

Oh my God, I didn't know she was, my goodness.

Pete Schwaba

Here's one more quick one too.

John from Columbia says, UFO, life out in London, rock on, sucks to be old.

Great texts everybody.

Greg Bach

All right, thank you so much everyone for letting us know your thoughts for the evening's question.

Really quick, before we get out of here, let's do a quick tip of the night.

All right.

I will do

Greg Bach

the clip.

Okay.

Uh, you got the music down.

There we go.

Do it.

Yeah.

Love it.

Brought to you by the Jim Henson company

owned by

Greg Bach

Disney.

Uh, really quick here.

The tip of the night comes away all the way from London, uh, as they, uh, we're doing their yearly, what is it called?

Wife

Pete Schwaba

Careing

Greg Bach

Contest in Surrey, England.

A couple by the names of Timu Torv.

Pete Schwaba

To Vinnia Timo and Yatta,

Greg Bach

we're just gonna

Pete Schwaba

call him Timo

Greg Bach

and Yatta from Finland We're crowned the winners by carrying their their wife one minute and 45 seconds the prize a barrel of local ale

Kathryn Lake

Here's

Greg Bach

my quick tip for the night.

I'll buy you beer You don't have to do this and also again every time people from Europe or England want to look down their noses at America I mean like you've got this contest you you roll down hills for cheese and your snacks are just as Garbage as ours, so

Pete Schwaba

you're no

Greg Bach

better than us.

All right

You can keep your tea Pete what your thoughts

Pete Schwaba

very well said I don't know all I'll say is it's funny because it says you don't Silly costumes are encouraged racers can be male or female carrying anyone over 18 weighing in at least 50 kilograms 110 pounds You don't have to carry your own wife, but you have to it has to be a wife So I don't know what is going on over there sounds a little On the on the down low sounds a little freaky.

It's very anyway.

That's something.

I don't see myself ever doing

Greg Bach

All right, well, there's a handy tip for the night, and we're going to get out of here.

Thank you so much to Dominic, to Tucker, to Engineering Traffic.

Thank you to everyone who called, texted, left a comment on the live stream.

Thank you to Tim, to Kathy, our guest this evening.

Come back tomorrow, 5 to 7 PM.

We are going to be here having a wonderful show for you.

Pete, say good night to the people.

Pete Schwaba

Good night, Wisconsin.

Greg Bach

Good night, folks.

Have a great

night.

Kathryn Lake

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