MADISON, Wis. -- The president of Overture Center for the Arts is sending a letter out to patrons to reassure them about the state of the Overture Center.

Tom Carto said the facility is "alive and well" and that despite the sluggish economy, Overture has established itself as a significant anchor of the downtown.

Carto said that, in 2008 alone, the Overture was responsible for pumping $37 million into the local economy and brining 541,000 to downtown.

Carto said in the letter that overture is $140,000 ahead of projections after the first quarter and that its cash flow is very strong.

The Overture's financial problem currently lies in the $27 million in debt owed by Overture's landlord, the Overture Development Corporation.

In the letter, Carto said there's no way to cut enough expenses or sell enough tickets to retire $27 million, and that the Madison Cultural Arts District, Overture staff, the city of Madison, community leadership and the banks are working on finding another solution to the challenge.