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WELCOME TO THE 202 3/ 24 SE A SON! Wisconsin Union Theater is where renowned talent meets the up and coming artists you don’t want to miss. Come and see what happens when fresh talent crosses paths with the best of the best. See WHAT’S NEXT NOW at Wisconsin Union Theater. Get your tickets today!
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DEAR FRIENDS, I am pleased to introduce the Wisconsin Union Theater’s new season, new look, and new ways to save on tickets to music concerts, dance performances, and special events. The Wisconsin Union Theater presents the finest performing arts from around the world. Our stages are home to young, bold, changemakers; living legends and pioneers; and shining stars whether a protostar or a supernova! This brochure will guide your way through the 2023-2024 season with a schedule of events, ticket information, ways to show your support, and dates to save for special events. Come early to beat the parking rush and enjoy a beverage in our Sunset Lounge (drinks allowed in most events). We can’t wait for you to join us and find out “What’s Next Now!” See you at the Theater! Sincerely, Elizabeth Snodgrass Director, Wisconsin Union Theater
Each year, the student leaders in the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Performing Arts Committee (WUD PAC) play an instrumental role in programming the upcoming season. As the incoming WUD PAC Director, it is my honor to share the season we have spent the past year working hard to curate.
As students, it is an immense privilege to be able to help curate this season, and we are thrilled for you to see it come to fruition. We hope you will get to experience it as audience members, learners, and vital supporters in making WUT a destination for artistry around the world. Sincerely, Azura Tyabji & the WUD PAC Committee 4
Sheku Kanneh-Mason
In this year’s season, we sought to showcase artistry that reflects the diversity inherent in the performing arts. From emerging to established talent, we believe each artist featured in our season brings something special. They are innovating their genres and exemplifying their craft, from piano solos to outstanding ensembles.
202 3/ 24 SCHEDULE 2023
2024
SEPTEMBER THURS. SEPT. 28
Simone Dinnerstein, piano classical
FRIDAY SEPT. 29
Brandee Younger jazz
OCTOBER WED. OCT. 11
Makaya McCraven: In These Times jazz
NOVEMBER WED. NOV. 1
Hasta La Muerte: A Day of the Dead show by Las Cafeteras Afro-Mexican music
FRIDAY NOV. 3
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello classical
DECEMBER FRIDAY DEC. 8
Isidore String Quartet classical
JANUARY FRIDAY JAN. 26
Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Tour jazz
FEBRUARY THURS. FEB. 8
Schumann Quartet classical
SUNDAY FEB. 18
Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE Afro contemporary dance
TUES. FEB. 20
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine classical
THURS. FEB. 29
Lady Wray jazz
MARCH THURS. MAR. 7
Brenda Rae, soprano with Bénédicte Jourdois, piano classical
THURS. MAR. 14
Julius Rodriguez jazz
SAT. MAR. 16
Zakir Hussain Trio Indian tabla, sarangi, bansuri
M AY THURS. MAY 2
Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) jazz
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FALL 202 3
SIMONE DINNERSTEIN PIANO THURSDAY, SEPT. 28 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
classical series An artist of “strikingly original ideas” (The Washington Post), pianist Simone Dinnerstein will draw from her 2022 album Undersong in a recital that explores the idea of musical refrains and repetitions juxtaposing the diverse approaches of Couperin, Schumann, Satie, and Glass to this timeless musical convention.
Couperin
Les barricades mystérieuses
Schumann
Arabeske, Op. 18
Glass
Mad Rush
Couperin
“Le tic-toc-choc ou les maillotins” from Pièces de clavecin
Satie
Gnossienne No. 3
Schumann
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
PA R T O F T H E D AV I D & K ATO P ER L M A N C H A M B ER M U S I C S ER I E S
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BRANDEE YOUNGER FRIDAY, SEPT. 29 | 7:30 PM Play Circle at Memorial Union
jazz series Come hear how the sonically innovative harpist, Brandee Younger, is revolutionizing harp for the digital era. Over the past fifteen years, she has worked relentlessly to stretch boundaries and limitations for harpists, working with cultural icons including Common, Lauryn Hill, John Legend, and Moses Sumney.
FALL 202 3
MAKAYA McCRAVEN
H A S TA L A M U E R T E : A D AY O F T H E D E A D SHOW BY
IN THESE TIMES
LAS CAFETERAS
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
jazz series Composer, producer, and percussionist Makaya McCraven transcends labels by synthesizing styles and cultures to make music that The New York Times calls “one of the best arguments for jazz’s vitality.” With his 2022 album In These Times, a project seven years in the making, McCraven “untangles the intricacies of rhythm and tumult” (GRAMMY Magazine).
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union LA-based Las Cafeteras presents “Hasta La Muerte,” an enthralling new production celebrating Life and Death, in the spirit of the Indigenous/Mexican practice known as Day of the Dead. The performance is multidimensional, filled with music, dance, theater, and folklore.
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FALL 202 3
SHEKU KANNEH-MASON
ISIDORE STRING QUARTET
CELLO
FRIDAY, DEC. 8 | 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, NOV. 3 | 7:30 PM
Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
classical series Since winning the BBC Young Musician competition in 2016 and then performing as part of the 2018 royal wedding, Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s star shines bright. In a recital featuring UK composers old and new—including Britten, Gwilym Simcock, and Edmund Finnis—paired up with cello favorites from Bach and Cassado, his compelling versatility will be on full display.
Bach
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008
Simcock
Prayer for the Senses
Britten
Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72
Brouwer
Sonata No. 2 for Solo Cello
Finnis
Five Preludes for Solo Cello
Cassadó
Suite for Solo Cello
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classical series Fresh from a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant win, the Isidore String Quartet “are a talented young ensemble to watch” (Chicago Classical Review). Approaching the time-honored classics as though they were new and approaching recent compositions as though they were already classics, the quartet hopes to spark both curiosity and appreciation with every note.
Mozart
String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465, “Dissonance”
Childs
String Quartet No. 2, “Awakening”
Brahms
String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2
PA R T O F T H E D AV I D & K ATO P ER L M A N C H A M B ER M U S I C S ER I E S
SPRING 2024
SCHUMANN QUARTET THURSDAY, FEB. 8 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
classical series
BLUE NOTE RECORDS
8 5 th
8 5 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y T O U R FRIDAY, JAN. 26 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
jazz series Celebrating the 85th anniversary of the label that ushered in styles from hot jazz and blues to cool jazz, bebop, and fusion, and built the bridge into today’s avantgarde, hear “The Blue Note Quintet” featuring Gerald Clayton, Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Kendrick Scott, and Matt Brewer.
Racking up Europe’s top accolades, the three brothers Mark, Erik, and Ken Schumann plus violist Veit Hertenstein continue to challenge themselves to take their music to the extremes, exploring and maximizing the spontaneous and unscripted element that only live performance offers.
Mozart
String Quartet No. 18 in A Major, K. 464
Janáček
String Quartet No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata”
Beethoven
String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127
PA R T O F T H E D AV I D & K ATO P ER L M A N C H A M B ER M U S I C S ER I E S
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SPRING 2024
N AT I O N A L S Y M P H O N Y ORCHESTRA OF
UKRAINE
TUESDAY, FEB. 20 | 7:30 PM Mead Witter Foundation Concert Hall at Hamel Music Center
classical series
RONALD K. BROWN /
EVIDENCE
SUNDAY, FEB. 18 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union EVIDENCE is a Brooklyn-based dance company founded by Ronald K. Brown in 1985. Fusing African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word, the company strives to provide a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs.
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One of Europe’s top-tier orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine has been engaging audiences for more than 100 years. Its storied history includes collaborations with such legends as Leopold Stokowski, Arthur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Mstislav Rostropovich, Monserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, and Placido Domingo.
Bortniansky Overture to Il Quinto Fabio
Schumann
Cello Concerto, Op. 129
Brahms
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
SPRING 2024
BRENDA RAE SOPRANO WITH
BÉNÉDICTE JOURDOIS PIANO
THURSDAY, MARCH 7 | 7:30 PM Collins Recital Hall at Hamel Music Center
classical series
LADY WRAY THURSDAY, FEB. 29 | 7:30 PM Play Circle at Memorial Union
jazz series Virginia-born singer Lady Wray’s sound harkens back to the best of late ‘90s R&B. Her new album, Piece of Me, released on Brooklyn’s Big Crown records, showcases her R&B style with a heavy dose of soul.
With a “mesmerizing stage presence and crystal-clear voice” (New York Classical Review), soprano and UW–Madison alumna Brenda Rae has thrilled opera audiences across Europe and the US. Teaming up with pianist Bénédicte Jourdois, Rae will showcase her astonishing coloratura and deep artistic sensitivity. Works by : Prokofiev, Szymanowski, and Poulenc
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SPRING 2024
JULIUS RODRIGUEZ THURSDAY, MARCH 14 | 7:30 PM Play Circle at Memorial Union
jazz series 23-year-old pianist Julius Rodriguez dares to imagine a future of new standards and sonic excitement, which has earned him a reputation of an “interesting, fresh sound” (NPR Music).
ZAKIR HUSSAIN TRIO SATURDAY, MARCH 16 | 8 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union Experience the enthralling music of tabla virtuoso and Indian classical superstar Zakir Hussain. After coming to worldwide attention as a child prodigy, Hussain matured into a musician known for building bridges across genres and geography, developing new fusions of North and South Indian music. Zakir Hussain, Tabla Sabir Khan, Sarangi Debopriya Chatterjee, Bansuri 12
CHIEF ADJUAH ( F O R M E R LY CHRISTIAN SCOT T) THURSDAY, MAY 2 | 7:30 PM Shannon Hall at Memorial Union
jazz series Chief Adjuah (formerly known as Christian Scott) is a 2022 Doris Duke Artist in the jazz category and six-time Grammy Award-nominated musician, composer, and producer. Adjuah is the progenitor of “stretch music,” a jazzrooted, genre-blind musical form that attempts to “stretch” jazz’s rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic conventions.
MORE E VENTS TO ENJOY 2023 Black Arts Matter Festival NOVEMBER 8–12 , 2023 Black Arts Matter (BAM) Festival is an interdisciplinary arts festival dedicated to building community around Black artistry. More information about the 2023 Black Arts Matter Festival will be released on our website this fall. with support by the National Endowment for the Arts & Madison Arts Commission
2024 Madison Jazz Festival COMING JUNE 2024 The Madison Jazz Festival is a multi-day, city-wide celebration of jazz that includes live concerts, workshops, talks, and more throughout the city of Madison, culminating at the Memorial Union Terrace. Celebrate Jazz, Juneteenth, Pride, and more. Information about the 2024 Madison Jazz Festival will be released on our website in spring 2024.
Questions about tickets? Our box office is happy to help! VISIT
Memorial Union 800 Langdon St. Madison, WI 53706
CALL
608-265-ARTS (2787)
boxoffice@union.wisc.edu o te R e c o r
ds
For questions about programming or events:
B lu
ss |
l Ro
For box office hours and to purchase tickets: artsticketing.wisc.edu
Joe
WEB
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theater@union.wisc.edu
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MANY WAYS TO SAVE Student tickets
Become a subscriber
UW-Madison students can see most of our exciting season performances for less than $12!
NEW! BUILD YOUR OWN
Additionally, we also offer discounted ticket prices to non-UW students and youth (17 & under). To purchase student tickets, choose the price that correlates to your student status while checking out—no promo code required. You will be asked to present your valid Wiscard or student I.D. when picking up your tickets.
Single tickets Available now for all performances!
I s id ore ng Stri Qu t ar te
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Save 20%: When you bundle six or more Wisconsin Union Theater performances into a Build Your Own subscription, you’ll save 20% off the single ticket price. Save 15%: Pick three to five Wisconsin Union Theater performances to build your own subscription and save 15% on tickets! Mix and match across any genres that interest you.
CL ASSICAL OR JAZZ Save 20% on 6 performances
Here’s how it works:
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CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PACK AGE OR PERFORMANCE (if purchasing single ticket) • Classical • Jazz • Build-Your-Own: a) 3-5 Shows, Save 15% b) 6 or More Shows, Save 20%
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CHOOSE YOUR SEATING ZONE: • Zone A: prime seating in center orchestra and lower balcony
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Support the performing arts You can be a vital part of Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT) mission to present, promote, and cultivate a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts. André De Shields Fund Support diversity in the arts Fan Taylor Fund Support programming major artists of the highest quality
• Zone B: excellent seating in left and right orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony
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• Zone C: great seating in side and back balcony
Wisconsin Union Theater Program Endowment Fund Support affordable, accessible student tickets
COMPLETE YOUR PURCHASE:
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• In-Person: Memorial Union Box Office 800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706 • By Phone 608-265-ARTS (2787) • Online uniontheater.wisc.edu or scan below
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*Above rate applies to most performances for UW–Madison students. We also offer discounted ticket prices to non-UW students and youth (17 & under)
The 2023/24 season is here!
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