|
In this issue:
Andrew Bird
Thursday, September 20, 2007 ● 8:00pm
Tickets: $26/21
Purchase tickets here
Andrew Bird: Rescue for the Top 40
Weary
I'll admit, I didn't know much about Andrew Bird until he
was added to our season. I had heard of the guy and had friends who listened to
him, but I had yet to hear his music. After picking up his latest release I was
quick to jump on the bandwagon (or maybe in this case we should call it the
Bird-wagon). And what a wagon it is!
Again, I'm admit that it doesn't hurt that the guy isn't bad
to look at, but that's not what got me hooked. If I wanted to have a crush on
just another pretty face I would follow the modeling world. No, what it all comes down to is that special
music of his.
I am of a dying breed, but there are more like me out there.
We'd rather play or listen to live music in living rooms, basements,
coffeehouses--and the Wisconsin Union Theater. That's where the music is. It's
not in the record stores. They sell products more often than music. For those
of us who were slowly suffocating by Top 40 radio, Andrew Bird was a breath of
fresh air. Some were lucky enough to find him back in his earlier days, I found
him a few months ago, and now it's your chance to discover him for yourself.
Don't miss that chance.
Sarah Smogoleski
Back to top
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel
America
- Fascinatin' Rhythms!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 ● 7:30pm
Mills Hall
Program Partner: Madison Area Piano Teachers Associated
Purchase tickets
here
It's a Fascinatin' Musical Treat
Jeffrey Siegel Starts Another Season
Jeffrey Siegel and Keyboard Conversations return to Madison, this season with
a "Round the World in Four Programs" schedule. His first appearance, "America,
Fascinatin' Rhythms," will include music by (and talk about) Gottschalk,
Bernstein, Antheil, Joplin, Gershwin, Barber, and Copland. Enjoy beautiful
music and some good learning' all at once. Questions and Answers follow the
presentation.
Back to top
Anoushka Shankar
Friday, October 5, 2007 ● 8:00pm
Tickets: $34/28/18, UW-Madison students $10
Program Partner: UW India Student Association
Purchase tickets
here
Rise to the Occasion: Anoushka Shankar Brings her Rise
Project
In the seventies, Ravi Shankar rocked the music world when
he teamed up with the Beatles to introduce the sounds of the Indian sitar to
mainstream music. Now, thirty years later, Ravi's
daughter Anoushka brings to the Wisconsin Union Theater the rhythms that
entranced the world years ago. She will be kicking off the 2007-2008 World
Music Series on Friday, October 5 at 8 pm.
Anoushka, classically trained in Indian music, began working
with her father at an early age and has grown to be one of the world's most
talented sitar players. She made her recording debut at the age of 13 on a Ravi
Shankar album and later became the first woman to be awarded the British
Parliament's House of Commons Shield. She has since become known also as a
talented writer and conductor and she continues to spread her music with
performances around the world. In 2002, alongside her father and Eric Clapton,
she performed at "The Concert for George," a musical tribute to the life of
George Harrison.
In this concert, Anoushka and her band will be
playing acoustic versions of pieces from her Rise album, new and as yet
unrecorded compositions by her, and a showcase of some of her father Ravi
Shankar´s finest Raga creations.
Sarah Crist
Back to top
Above: Bobi Cespedes
Arts Night
Out
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Click
here for
locations and times
Free!
African Gods and Legacies Featured in
Theater for Arts
Night Out
Don't miss the free university arts showcase,
Arts Night Out,
when the Office of
Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) presents Talking
Gods and Lyrical Legacies: All-Star Showcase of the Diaspora at 8
pm in the Union Theater.
The vast and deep
oral traditions of Africa, honoring noble ancestors and gods, continue in the
present through the voices of a West African griot, an Afro-Cuban Diva, and
spoken word stars from across the U.S. An international lineup of
multi-generational artists share the stage to celebrate the linkages between
song, poetry, and storytelling. Featured artists
include Alhaji Papa Susso, Bobi
Cespedes, the Midwest Youth Slam All-Stars, & the First Wave Hip-Hop
Theater Ensemble.
Back to top
Above: Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Heather's Picks for the Season
The season is about to open, and Heather Good, our Grants
and Outreach Coordinator, shares her Picks:
APT's The Merchant of Venice:
I love how APT makes Shakespeare come alive. Every year I make
a point to travel to APT's home
theater in Spring Green to see a show or two. When they came to the theater
last year, I wondered if I would love it just as much indoors...and the answer
was a resounding Yes. I'm just delighted
that this Wisconsin-grown acting company will appear in our theater again this
year!
Complexions Contemporary Ballet:
I
can't wait for this show, because I know it's going to be great. We don't
"play it safe" when it comes to dance programming...I come to the
theater expecting to see stimulating choreography and impeccable dancing...and
I haven't been disappointed yet!
This company of multiracial dancers, founded by two former members of the Alvin
Ailey Company, promises to present an outstanding evening
of contemporary ballet.
Hugh Masekela: I've heard so
many
good things about him, and I know that our world stage programs always rock the
house. I'll come prepared to dance in the aisles!
Frederica von Stade:
It thrills me
to hear a world class singer take the stage. How can one voice convey so much
and be so present in every corner of
the theater? It blows me away each time. I just loved Ben Heppner and Nathan
Gunn in previous seasons, and I'm delighted
that we're bringing a soprano this time around.
Back to top
Newsletter staff:
Editor: Esty Dinur
Layout Designer: Claire Weissenfluh
Back to top
|
|
Above: Chirgilchin
Madison World Music Festival
Thursday, September 13 through Saturday, September 15
See
schedule for exact locations
Free!
From Tuva to Cuba: the Madison World Music is
Coming!
Yes, the Madison World Music Festival--one of those things that make this city such a good place to live
in--is almost upon us! Totally free and open to the public, it offers something
for everyone.
If you like Latin music, don't miss Estrella Acosta (Cuba), the Roberto
Rodriguez and Maurice
El
Medioni Trio (Cuba/Algeria) and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic). If Asian music
is your passion, you'll be enthralled by the Huong Thanh and Nguyen Le Quintet
(Vietnam), Chirgilchin (Tuva), Haale (Iran), and the Rajasthani Dhoad Gypsies.
Speaking of Gypsies, you can also dance to the tunes of the
NY Gypsy All-Stars (Turkey, Macedonia, and Greece)
and Romano Drom (Hungary).
Africa is represented by two outstanding artists, Louis
Mhlanga (Zimbabwe) and the
sleeper star of last year's Acoustic Africa, Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast). You can hear the sounds of the Mediterranean when El
Medioni plays and sings--followed by
the Gerard Edery Ensemble.
This year half of our shows are headed by women: Ilgi
(Latvia), Huong Thanh, Haale, Estrella Acosta and Dobet Gnahore, with
Chirgilchin presenting Aldysmaa Koshhendey, who plays Tuvan mouth harp and
bells and specializes in long song, a singing style more common in Mongolia.
Read Susan Kepecs' take on the festival and print it
out for use during the shows. Take an interesting workshop with one of the artists. Make sure you're aware of the rain schedule. And feel free
to donate to keep the festival free and
fabulous for many years to come.
Most importantly, come and enjoy the amazing artists who will entertain, enchant
and educate while bringing the sounds and sights of places near and far.
Esty Dinur
Back to top
Tibet,
A Light in the Darkness, with Sean Cassidy & Patricia Keith
Monday and Tuesday, October 1-2, 2007 ● 7:30pm
Tickets: $11, UW-Madison students $6
Purchase tickets here
Tibet, a Land of Mystery and Beauty
Tibet,
that mysterious and fascinating land, is the subject of the first film in the
2007-2008 Travel Adventure Film Series. Filmed by Sean Cassidy and Patricia
Keith, "Tibet:
A Light in the Darkness," goes by landcruiser
and
horsecart to "the top of the world," where singing and laughter ring
through the mountains and valleys. Serene monasteries, a sacred Kora (a
Buddhist pilgrimage, often around a lake), and the songs of blind children are
some of the gems in the movie.
Don't forget about the tasty pre-film buffet, which
will feature Tibetan cuisine and costs only $15.
Back to top
Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall, bass and mandolin
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 ● 8:00pm
Tickets: $34/28/18, UW-Madison students $10
Program Partner: Independent String Teachers of Madison
Take Me Out to the Union Theater...
Just in time for Major League Baseball's World Series, the
Wisconsin Union Theater will offer its own take on a double header. On October
10th, acclaimed bassist Edgar Meyer will appear on our stage as part
of the Concert Series with mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall.
While each has extensive solo repertoires, they began their
partnership back in 1999, recording the album "Short Trip Home" with Sam Bush
and Joshua Bell. The album featured a flair for bluegrass, and was nominated
for a Grammy in the "Best Classical Crossover" category. Because of their
success with that album, they were asked to perform at the 42nd
Annual Grammy Awards.
The partnership has more recently evolved to encompass
Marshall's love for Brazilian Choro music (which was featured in the first Madison
World Music Festival). In his latest album, "Brazil Duets," Marshall plays with
Meyer, Belá Fleck and others to showcase the results of his in-depth study of
the choro style.
Meyer and Marshall's performance on the Union Theater stage
will bring a unique energy, using solos, duets, and adaptations of their own
compositions, transcriptions of classical pieces, bluegrass tunes, traditional
Brazilian songs, and adventurous cross-genre works. So if you're in need of a 7th
inning stretch, head on down to the Union Theater!
Courtney Byelich
Back to top
Meet our staff: Robin Schmoldt
Robin has had a variety
of roles during her 10 years here, including Assistant Director in Mini
Courses, Program Advisor to many WUD groups, and the founder of Club 770 in
Union South! Currently, Robin is the Program Advisor to the WUD Art
and Music
Committees. And she's one of the most organized people that you'll ever meet.
What has been your most memorable experience working here?
Tons of them while a student... Mighty Mighty Bosstones in
library mall. Becoming friends with Kurt Vonnegut after he spoke here for DLS.
Describe some of the things that the Art galleries & the
Union Theater have collaborated on.
We had an art exhibition of vintage silkscreen posters from
the Union Theater in the summer of 2004; some are now part of the permanent collection
and on display backstage in the Theater offices. You should take a look!
What projects are you working on currently with the committees?
The Art Committee will be working on the fall exhibition,
which opens Sept 28th. We'll also be gearing up for the student art
sale, November 14 - 16, which has become immensely popular. We are still
finishing up cleaning the art storage area from the flood 15 months ago, and
with that, setting up a new work space and building new shelving (very
exciting!). The Film Committee is finishing booking fall movies--MU movies will
be free this fall (new!), there will be lots of sneak previews, and a really
cool movie on Halloween night in the Union Theater.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Seeing student creativity every year. I enjoy helping them
develop their leadership skills and program planning abilities, and, of course,
watching really great programs happen.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not at the Union?
I'm a closet rubber stamper; I make cards, go to lots of
concerts, DJ every now and then, and I'm a foodie.
What show would you send people to this season?
If people are smart, they'd get their tickets to Andrew Bird
soon... I like seeing things like this on the Season because it is a different,
exciting direction for us, and appeals to a wide range of audiences. Also, I'd
send people to APT's Merchant of
Venice. I think Tango Fire is going to be
fabulous too.
Back to top
Lauren Keeps in Touch
What up, Wisconsin?
Ya'll may not remember me, but I'm the WUT intern pre-Sarah.
Well, pre both Sarahs. I thought that since I'm missing ya'll so much, I'd give
ya'll an update about my life.
As you can tell from my vernacular, I've gone south. I'm
living it up in Knoxville, Tennessee, working for a media company as an
interactive producer. What the heck is that, you ask? Me, too! No, seriously, I
do project management for websites, which is way more fun than it sounds. For
example, currently I'm working on sites focusing on art and fashion. Throw in
music, and you've got Lauren's winning trifecta of awesomeness.
I graduated from U-Dub on July 12th (summer
classes, before you ask), moved to Tennessee on July 15th, started work on July 23rd and spent August
1-12th in Europe. And I recovered
from exhaustion on August 13th. Just kidding. I haven't recovered.
That's the word.
Lauren Zink
Back to top
|
