The Green Room

One of the greatest parts of the Wisconsin Union is the way students make it their home. It is the place to meet people, eat some cheese curds, watch the sunset and do homework. The Union is versatile, which is part of the reason it is so special for students, alumni and Madisonians alike.

Rehearsal of "Watching Over the Mother"

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain knows how to have a good time. Since their creation in 1985, the group has been strumming, singing and laughing their way to international success. During their performances, no genre of music is off limits as they remix well-known songs on their "bonsai guitars" and show audiences that music does not have to take itself so seriously. 

George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
perform "Heroes" by David Bowie

As a newcomer to the Madison area, the Wisconsin Union was a delightful surprise to me. The opportunities to engage, indulge, create, and enjoy everything about this place was beyond impressive: it was amazing. I couldn't believe that I could wander art galleries and rent snowshoes in the same place that I could take in a great show or create my own piece of art. A year later, I found myself working in this fabulous place and I'm still amazed.

This season at the Wisconsin Union Theater, we are celebrating the rich history of classical music performers in our 100th Anniversary Concert Series. Many performers have visited our theater multiple times and have had careers that span decades. However, in February we welcome an ensemble that is just getting started.

I’m building a dance to curb emissions. If that seems unlikely, well then at least to curb passivity, or worse yet, conspiratorial thinking about our climate crisis. In a few weeks at the Wisconsin Union Theater, The Seldoms will premiere Floe, a new multimedia performance piece about climate change. The ensemble, our collaborators, and I have spent two years conceptualizing, researching, and building this project. Two years, to what end?

While driving to the Concourse Hotel on a brisk November morning, questions were running through my head. What did I want to ask pianist Emanuel Ax? What details did I want to share about my own experiences?

Adalia Hernandez Abrego, Amanda Venske, Emanuel Ax, Elizabeth Snodgrass, Nov. 2, 2019

January 31st, 2020, I will ascend to the stage as the character Lemml in the musical Indecent, kvelling to the audience, “we have a story we want to tell you about a play, a play that changed my life.”

INDECENT rehearsal.

That story is the true tale of the progressive Yiddish Theatre troupe that brought God of Vengeance to Broadway almost a century ago, on February 19th, 1923.

The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio is well-known for their incredible performances on the biggest stages. Their debut performance as a trio was at the White House for President Carter’s inauguration in 1977. Pretty good gig for a debut right? They have performed all over the world including famous venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Artist signatures, 1979

It is Sunday, September 8th and nervous young boys and girls begin entering the home school of Dance Wisconsin, Monona Academy of Dance, to have their height measured, receive an audition number, take a tour of the studio and finally to warm up in Studio B before the hour long audition class. Parents and dancers say hello to friends they may have not seen since last December when the 2018 version of Dance Wisconsin’s Nutcracker closed and lots of new faces ready to learn about Dance Wisconsin and be welcomed into the family.

The Women of the World (WOW) series celebrates different cultures and how women break barriers to share their music and express themselves. The series features the music of artists from seven countries, and each artist represents their country with pride. During a time of division, the WOW series brings us together to admire and appreciate cultures from around the world. We all understand music, regardless of race, gender or nationality.