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!
It is truly a dream come true that we are approaching the moment that we will open the doors to our Theater at Memorial Union and welcome you to an in-person 2021-22 season.
After a season of empty seats due to COVID-19, this year will be extra special when we enjoy live performances as a community again.
[image src="/assets/Theater-Press/WU-Theater-Ax-piano19-7812.jpg" id="14121" width="399" height="266" class="left ss-htmleditorfield-file image" alt="MUR WI Union SW N5R0502 3 4 5 6 7 fused"]Our mission continues to present the very best performing arts without compromise and provide a safe and welcoming environment for all. The Wisconsin Union Theater is more than performing arts spaces – it is an inspiration to our campus and greater Madison community and a proud home for remarkable performances from all around the world.
The sounds of Wisconsin-based musicians have echoed across many homes as patrons joined us for the first events of our pilot virtual music series Wisconsin Sound, which exclusively features Wisconsin artists.
Our celebration and support of Wisconsin artists continues with performances by Mr. Chair on April 11 and the Pro Arte Quartet on May 2.
By Abby Synnes, Communications Associate
We continue our Wisconsin Union Theater team spotlight with Epiphany Holmstock, who has been essential to the workings of the Union Theater since she joined the crew as a stagehand in August 2017. Two and a half years later, she transitioned from working behind the scenes of performances to assisting in behind-the-scenes operations of the Theater from the administrative side. She now serves as Wisconsin Union Theater administrative assistant, a role she has held since March 2020.
Okaidja Afroso’s music may be some of the most beautiful songs in the world. Okaidja is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumental, whose talent we can experience first-hand during his Wisconsin Union Theater virtual performance on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. CDT.
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Heather Macheel, our second feature on our theater team story series, joined the Wisconsin Union team in 2005 as a student stagehand. She enjoyed it so much that she decided to stick around and stayed with the team as a temporary employee after graduating. Then, after a year, she undertook a second temporary position, one that offered more hours to pursue what she loved. Heather transitioned into the role she plays today—a full-time position, created for her merits—in 2015.
The Wisconsin Union Theater is excited to pilot “Wisconsin Sound,” a new video concert series featuring musicians from our very own state. The series will have five concerts, once a month between January and May and begins with celebrated, locally grown Willy Street Chamber Players (WSCP) on Jan. 24 at noon CDT.
In a new article series, our writing team will introduce you to Wisconsin Union Theater team members. We begin the series with a relatively new member of the Theater team: Kendra Ramthun. Since Aug. 3, 2020, Kendra has served as the general manager of the Theater. No two days are alike for this talented professional. Kendra manages the theater’s budgeting and financials; manages day-to-day Theater operations, including performance spaces rentals; and supervises the production team.
As a supporter of the arts, you understand the role the Wisconsin Union Theater plays in the community we serve. In the face of uncertainty and in the midst of a crisis, arts can ground a community, show us where we have been, and remind us where we are committed to going. This fall, when we lifted the curtain on our virtual season, we were building the plane as we flew--working to deliver world-class performances in a virtual space that was just not built for live theater.
