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!
By Abby Synnes
In 1989, while most of his young peers were in the throes of the “terrible twos,” musician Cory Henry was learning to play the piano and the Hammond B3 organ. At just six years old, he played his first show at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater in New York City to a mesmerized crowd. Now, at age 35, Cory has channeled his multidimensional musical talent into a wildly successful career as a singer-songwriter, pianist, organist, and record producer.
By Amanda Stezenski
Oct. 14-16
The annual UW Family Weekend is quickly approaching and packed full of fun events! Stop by Memorial Union and Union South to check out some of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat, enjoy the views from the Terrace, and close out the family celebration on Oct. 16 with a jazz concert by vibraphonist Joel Ross and his band Good Vibes.
Joel Ross Good Vibes: Sunday, Oct. 16 | 7:30 p.m. in the Play Circle at Memorial Union
By Abby Synnes
It’s never too early or too late for UW–Madison students to find their place on campus. Whether they’ve just begun their first year as a UW–Madison student or it’s their final semester, why not make the Wisconsin Union Theater their new home away from home?
Listening to jazz can be like drinking a cup of warm apple cider on a cold Wisconsin day; it feels like it flows through you, warming you from the inside out. It brings you in with its intricate rhythms and unexpected turns that are usually grounded in melody. You can listen to the same exact recording of a jazz piece 10 times and still find something new within its layers and the way it balances collaboration while allowing each instrument and artist to shine. You can experience this dazzling beauty during the 2022-23 Wisconsin Union Theater Jazz Series.
When you give our team your ticket as you enter a Wisconsin Union Theater performance, purchase a ticket online, or visit us at the Memorial Union Box Office, you’re experiencing the work of Wisconsin Union Theater box office manager Sean Danner.
Sean brings communications and performing arts expertise to his essential role at Campus Arts Ticketing (CAT). He has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Millikin University and first managed a box office at Texas A&M University.
The lights that shine on artists in Shannon Hall and the Play Circle Theater at Memorial Union and the technology that makes every seat in our performance spaces sound like you’re sitting in the front row. Thanks to the complex systems and talented Wisconsin Union Theater team, it all looks effortless.
Did you know that the Wisconsin Union Theater has venues available to rent? Not only does the theater team present a season of performing arts events throughout the year, but we also support hundreds of campus and community events that happen in our performance spaces. So whether you are hosting a speaker, putting on a talent show, or showcasing the performing arts, the Wisconsin Union Theater offers a variety of first-rate professional rental spaces to accommodate your event.
By Abby Synnes
From an audience member’s perspective, a theater performance seems to begin when the lights go down and the artist takes the stage, and it appears to end when the performer exits the stage to the sound of uproarious applause. However, while the stage is clearly important, it’s only one of many theater spaces needed for a successful performance. Performers often spend more time backstage than onstage, from getting ready before a show to decompressing afterward.
By Amanda Stezenski
As the artists appear on stage for the show you’ve been anticipating all week and each picks up their instruments with ease, have you ever wondered how they prepared in the moments before stepping into the spotlight? You may be curious about what warm-ups they practice, whether they have a good luck charm, or even their favorite meals.
