[media-credit name=’Ben Smith’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]After years of intense planning and disruptive construction, the Overture Center for the Arts stands ready to show the city of Madison what it has to offer.

Spreading over an expansive six years, Phase I of this world-class performing arts hub is complete. The nine-day Grand Opening Festival begins at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, when Madisonians will finally be granted entrance to the much-anticipated center.

Businessman and $100-million-donor Jerry Frautschi, internationally acclaimed Overture architect Cesar Pelli and Madison’s Mayor Dave Cieslewicz will open the front doors to the public.

Following the door-opening, Native American performers from Call for Peace Drum and Dance Company will present an Invocation Ceremony, according to Tina Frailey, Overture publicist.

“I think it will be a great day and I’m looking forward to it,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said in a phone interview. “We’re really building a facility that will last us for a hundred years.”

Frailey said she agreed.

“I think we’re going to have a big turnout. We’re expecting nice weather and there are so many things going on,” Frailey said.

Ald. Austin King, District 8, agreed the center will be something to check out.

“The acoustics are going to be amazing. A lot of time was taken to make sure they were state of the art,” King said. “I look forward to seeing a show there.”

The building physically presents a bigger space than before and at the same time it’s raising the bar for the performances to take place, according to Cieslewicz.

“The fundamental idea is that the people and their performances match the areas they work in,” Cieslewicz said. “We as a community will literally grow into it.”

The size and quality of the building are unparalleled by any arts center in Madison history and will continue to expand arts for the next 20, 30 and 40 years, Cieslewicz added.

“You wouldn’t expect a building of this quality, size in a community our size,” Cieslewicz said.

Large or not, the community will feed the growth of such a center beginning Saturday morning. Events will feature family entertainment, such as stilt walkers, a mime and other family events on Rotunda Stage.

At 11 a.m., Cheney & Mill’s Big Ol’ Puppets will perform in the Overture Lobby.

“There are just great activities throughout the day geared for families and all ages,” Frailey said.

Saturday at 11 p.m., local reggae band Natty Nation will play at a free event in Promenade Hall. Events going on Saturday night will run until approximately 1:30 in the morning, Frailey added.

But festivities are continuous throughout the weekend and the rest of the grand opening festival.

“It’s nonstop. There are all kinds of things to enjoy,” Frailey added. “You don’t have to be here right away in the morning because things will be going on all day and into the evening.”

Smaller venues open this weekend include Wisconsin Studio, Art Galleries one, two and three, Rotunda Studio, Promenade Hall and Rotunda Stage.

All art has been arranged for the opening festival and the galleries will open to the public beginning Saturday.

“Anyone can come and see the galleries. They are all free,” Frailey said.

The three art galleries stand to showcase art by local artists, while the Wisconsin Studio will feature the James Watrous Gallery. This gallery will feature over 100 Wisconsin artists working in a variety of medias and styles, according to the Wisconsin Academy website.

Some fun facts Overture boasts are the largest panels of glass in the world lining the Overture Lobby. The arts hub also showcases the largest moveable instrument in the world, a 350,000-pound organ inside of the 2,251-seat Overture Hall. Overture Hall will feature larger, ticketed events like the UW Varsity Band and Broadway musicals such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Phantom of the Opera” and more.

Frailey adds that Saturday is just the beginning of the hall’s activity.

“Tomorrow’s opening is only the first half. It’s only just begun,” Frailey said.

Frailey encourages people to come and take advantage of the events, both free and ticketed, because the facilities are top-quality.

“[Overture] really is state of the art,” Frailey said. “We don’t say that lightly, because it truly is. Madison has ownership for this generous civic gift.”