Now touted as Downtown’s Premier Benefit for the Arts, Frostiball 2015 is set for Saturday, January 31, presented for the first time by Overture Center for the Arts in partnership with Downtown Madison, Inc.

“This is a perfect opportunity to support the arts in Madison and enjoy a spectacular night downtown,” said Overture Center CEO Ted DeDee. “It’ll have all the class and sophistication it’s had for the last 28 years, with some exciting additions and a new purpose.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit more than a dozen Overture Center programs that engage the community in the arts through free performances, subsidized tickets and a wide variety of educational experiences.

In addition to more (and more varied) entertainment, the night will feature two events in one: the main gala, from 8 to 11 pm, followed by the After Party from 11 pm to 2 am. The Gala will feature cirque performers, two live music stages and a dance floor, while a DJ will provide entertainment for the After Party.

“It’s a thrill to take this next step with Frostiball,” said DMI president Susan Schmitz. “Overture has been a real boost for downtown, and they’ve worked to engage the entire community in the arts. I hope people will come out and support those efforts. Frostiball has been such a labor of love for so many years, and become a downtown institution. We’re grateful to partner with another downtown institution in Overture Center to celebrate everything we love about this community.”

“I can’t wait to go to my first Frostiball,” said Amy Collins, a Madison attorney at Stafford Rosenbaum. “I look forward to an amazing time and a great opportunity to network with other young professionals. I joined the Frostiball planning committee to help bring new people to the event, to include those like me who really enjoy the arts.”

The After Party is an important component in attracting those new faces, Overture officials said.

“We definitely want to attract people who aren’t ready to call it a night at 11,” said DeDee.

Hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and champagne are included; specialty cocktails and liquor will be available for purchase.

A live auction will offer packages including local food experiences, a stay at a Sonoma Valley winery, a Tony Awards preview weekend to New York and more.

Tickets are on sale now at overturecenter.org/frostiball for $125 for the whole evening, or $75 for the After Party only. A limited number of group tables are also available.

Frostiball 2015 is made possible in part by generous contributions from Adams Outdoor Advertising, Custer Financial Services/Lincoln Financial Services, First Weber Group, Middleton Travel, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Think Ink and Design and media partner Madison Magazine.

Sponsorships are available for local businesses, organizations or individuals. Those interested in sponsoring Frostiball should contact Elliott Veith at 608.258.4442 or eveith@overturecenter.org.

More details, including the names of the entertainers, will be released in the coming weeks.

About Overture Center for the Arts

Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies, and hundreds of local artists engage nearly half a million people in educational and artistic experiences each year.