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 Amanda Stezenski
The Vijay Iyer Trio
Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. | Wisconsin Union Theater’s Play Circle
Daryl Johns, the bassist and heartbeat of The Vijay Iyer Trio, will play on a borrowed lion head bass during the ensemble’s Dec. 3 performance in the Play Circle at Memorial Union. So what is a lion head bass? It is a string bass with a scroll masterfully carved into the shape of a lion. Although it does not affect the sound, it exemplifies the ornate craft of instrument-making and the artists who own them.
By Amanda Stezenski
This October, the Wisconsin Union Theater’s partnership with Art + Literature Laboratory continues for another season with the return of the DIG Jazz series featuring local artists and composers. To treat yourself to a Friday evening (or three) of jazz in the the Wisconsin Union Theater's intimate Play Circle Theater for our 2021 DIG Jazz Series, click here. You can read about the full line-up below.
By Amanda Stezenski
ABSENCE: Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet
Friday, Nov. 5 7:30 p.m. | Shannon Hall
By Amanda Stezenski
With liberation as their main ingredient, Phony Ppl is the epitome of creative expression. There are no limits when it comes to the spontaneously live performances of these Brooklyn-born artists, fusing an exquisite spectrum of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, soul, and rock into their unique sound.
(Photo by Lia Chang)
On a cold day in New York City in February 2020, Wisconsin Union team members and University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni had the opportunity to meet actor, singer, and writer André De Shields ’70 during a talk-back after attending “Hadestown” in New York City.
Your perfect theater date night awaits you at Memorial Union. From drinks to dinner to art exhibitions to theater performances, it’s all right in your campus living room.
By Amanda Stezenski
As the semester begins, students may find themselves pondering questions like: “Where do I fit in?” “Where can I find a group of people like me?” “How can I make an impact?” There are so many opportunities on campus to get involved that it can feel overwhelming. The Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee (PAC) is here to guide students into the perfect space for them.
By Amanda Stezenski
Jazz musician Art Blakey said, “Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.”
[image src="/assets/Uploads/arun.jpg" id="14387" width="333" height="223" class="left ss-htmleditorfield-file image" alt="arun"]
By Amanda Stezenski
According to the League of American Orchestras, only about 14 percent of orchestral sound comes from people of color, and that decreases dramatically for Black and Latinx performers. Sphinx Virtuosi has vowed to change that number.
By Abby Synnes
The Wisconsin Union Theater’s Concert Series will make its long-awaited return to in-person performances this fall with concerts by six renowned musical acts. The 2021-22 season will mark the 102nd year of the Concert Series, setting it apart as one of the longest-standing music series of its kind in the United States. Most performances will take place in Shannon Hall, located within Memorial Union, while two will take place in the Hamel Music Center through a partnership with the Mead Witter School of Music.
