The green room. Every venue in show business has one. It's a place for performers to relax before, during and after a show and the energy varies, depending on which artist walks through the door: Excited, nervous, calm. We welcome you to join us and take a look at what goes on behind the scenes look at the theater. Welcome to the green room!
In 2026, Miles Davis and John Coltrane would have each turned 100, a centennial that underscores their lasting impact on jazz.
On Feb. 28, pianist Emmet Cohen will bring their music to Shannon Hall with “Miles and Coltrane at 100,” revisiting the sound of these two artists, who helped shape the genre.
Over the past three decades, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company has brought the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) work that asks audiences to look closely at the world around them and at the people who move through it.
Most great nights at a theater start with a ticket. The Campus Arts Ticketing Box Office serves as the central access point for hundreds of performances each year, including all Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) events. From student productions to world-class touring artists, the box office, which is headquartered on the first floor of Memorial Union, is where audience members take their first step into many campus arts experiences, supported by a team that keeps ticketing and front-of-house operations running smoothly at desks where they help audiences and behind the scenes.
On Feb. 7, 2026, acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran will take the stage at Shannon Hall to present a moving tribute to the Harlem Hellfighters and James Reese Europe. This powerful live multimedia performance pays tribute to the legacy of Lt. James Reese Europe, a trailblazing Black composer, bandleader and World War I hero, through reimagined soundscapes and archival footage.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) 2025-2026 Classical Series.
The Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) team at the Wisconsin Union has many devoted people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the programming, performances and excitement we love center stage. Ted Harks’s role as the website and systems administrator impacts nearly everyone who steps foot into WUT’s performance spaces or visits the website. If you’ve purchased tickets to a WUT event online, chances are, you’ve interacted with Ted’s work without even knowing it.
You can officially check an item off your bucket list, because the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), one of the UK’s most beloved ensembles, is coming to Madison!
Whether you are a seasoned symphony attendee or a classical music newcomer, this is an event that is sure to hit all the right notes. Not convinced yet? Here are four reasons you are not going to want to miss this unforgettable event, packed with artistic brilliance and remarkable talent.
1. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event
Manual Cinema is an Emmy Award-winning performance collective, design studio, and film production company that creates innovative live theater, film, and immersive visual experiences.
Founded in 2010 by puppeteers and graphic artists Julia Miller, Drew Dir, and Sarah Fornace, along with composer/musicians Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman, the group combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and live music to tell visually striking, emotionally resonant stories.
Born in Hamamatsu, Japan, Hiromi was first exposed to jazz music at the age of 6 after her piano teacher introduced her to the work of pianists Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson. Soon after, Hiromi enrolled in the Yamaha School of Music and started her journey in songwriting. By 17 years old, she was invited to perform with American jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea at a concert in Tokyo.
Hiromi continued her jazz career by attending Berklee College of Music, and she soon became a mentee under inspirational pianist Ahmad Jamal.
From Tel Aviv to her upcoming Wisconsin Union Theater-hosted performance in Madison on Oct. 15, Noga Erez has forged an extraordinary path through the music scene across the world. She began her music journey with piano and guitar, pursued composition in Jerusalem, and explored jazz before pivoting to electronic pop.
Reinvention in Her Genre-Defying Path
