In this issue:

Above: Dhoad Gypsies

Madison World Music Festival to Showcase the Many Faces of Rom (Gypsy) Music

The Madison World Music Festival will feature three Rom (Gypsy) bands in this year's lineup. From Rajasthan, India come the Dhoad Gypsies; Romano Drom will represent Hungary; and the New York Gypsy All-Stars will present a blend of southeastern-Europe styles.

Over a millennium ago, the Rom people began their expansive migration out of northern India, and settled throughout Europe and the Near East. Due to their dark skin, Europeans mistakenly believed the Rom originated from Egypt. Over time, the "Egyptian" reference was shortened to "Gypsy," but they prefer to be known as Rom.

Wherever the Rom moved, they were a minority with beliefs and traditions foreign to the other ethnic groups around them. The relationships between the Rom and the dominant cultures were often strained. The Rom were frequently marginalized and the victims of prejudice. They survived on the lowest paid jobs in professions including handicrafts and music. Through the centuries, Rom musicians have contributed incalculably to the quality of traditional music of all the major European ethnic groups.

New York City provides the melting pot for immigrants from around the world, including the Festival's headlining act on Thursday evening, The New York Gypsy All-Stars. Led by clarinet prodigy Ismael Lumanovski from Bitola, Macedonia, the band will present jazz-inflected Turkish, Balkan and Mediterranean Romani tunes sure to set the Terrace in a mass dance groove. The band also features Tamer Pinarbasi from Karaman, Turkey on Kanun; Seido Salifoski from Prilep, Macedonia on Darbuka (hand drum); and Panagiotis Andreou, a native of Athens, Greece, on bass.

On Friday evening, Romano Drom will present music from the rural Romany villages in northeast Hungary near the Romanian and Ukrainian borders. Music here developed in isolation of the cities. Every village resident was considered a musician because everyone could sing. The singing style will feature two special characteristics, one for singing the percussion (pergetö) and one for singing the bass (száj bögö or oral bass). On Saturday morning Romano Drom will conduct a free singing workshop on these vocal styles.

The Dhoad Gypsies, from Rajasthan in northern India, come from the source of the Rom emigration. Performing at the Festival on Saturday evening, the nine member ensemble presents a large spectacle of sounds and sights. Multi-instrument musicians playing tablas, frame drums, jaw harps, harmonium, reeds, and flutes are joined by singers, dancers, and a fakir who will dance on nails and breathe fire!

The Festival will also feature two special lectures on Romany culture and music, presented by former UW Professor Margaret Beissinger. Details will be available later.

Dan Talmo

Dan Talmo is a co-host of the international music program "On The Horizon," Sunday afternoons at 3pm on WORT 89.9 FM in Madison. He has been a student and teacher of east-European folk dance for 25 years and is a member of the Madison World Music Festival's Artistic Selection Committee.

Back to top

Travel Around the World

with Jeffrey Siegel

It's that time of year again! Vacations are wrapping up, students are heading back to school, and the new season at the Wisconsin Union Theater is about to be underway. The start of our season also marks a new season of Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel. This season Siegel will take us on a rhythmic journey around the world. Stops will include America with its Fascinatin' Rhythms, France with Festive French Fare, Russia: Rebels on the Red Carpet, and the music of Austria-Hungary. While we are still in suspense as to what pieces will be included in each show, the titles give us a little taste of what we might expect. Jeffrey Siegel has been wowing audiences at the Wisconsin Union Theater with his unique conversation-style performance. Audiences learn about the background of pieces before Siegel performs them. Shows are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in Mills Hall.

Sarah Crist

Back to top

Above: Hillary Hahn 

Jeff Macheel Recommends

This month we find out what our (laconic) technical director Jeff Macheel is looking forward to next season.

Fred Ho and the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble: I've seen him before. He's nice. He's a mean saxophone player.

Inside Ireland with Clint Denn: Who wouldn't want to see a Travel Adventure Film about Ireland?

Hilary Hahn: I'm interested in seeing her because it is nice to see a younger person on the Concert Series.

Back to top

Above: Ruth McDevitt with Al McGranary

From the archives

Way back in 1955, during the heat of August, the Broadway comedic hit, "The Solid Gold Cadillac," had audiences roaring out of their seats. The satire was written by a former University of Wisconsin graduate and Haresfooter, Howard Teichmann, in collaboration with playwright George S. Kaufman. Ruth McDevitt, pictured above, played a stockholder who outwits some of the country's top business tycoons. In the program for the show, she admitted that she never played a role she liked better.

Back to top

Above: Amanda Poulson as Maria and Beau Martin as Tony

Courtesy of Barry Roal Carlsen

Sharks, Jets, Love: It's West Side Story Time

Four Seasons Theatre, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Union Theater, will present West Side Story on Friday, August 24 at 7:30pm; Saturday, August 25 at 7:30pm; and Sunday, August 26 at 2pm. Join us as we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of this monumental musical--a triple threat with beautiful music, incredible dancing, and a riveting story. With direction and music direction by Andrew Abrams (FST Artistic Director) and choreography by Katrina Williams Brunner, the Four Seasons Theatre production of West Side Story will feature a cast of 40+ local singers, dancers and actors along with a full 27 piece orchestra.

As part of FST's ongoing preshow discussion series, Maestro John DeMain will speak about his relationship with Leonard Bernstein at 6pm on Friday, August 24 and at 12:30pm on Sunday, August 25. The lectures are free and will take place at the Memorial Union in the Old Madison Room. Check the Today in the Union (TITU) board to confirm the room location.

This production marks the second FST and WUT collaboration on the Backstage Arts Internship program. Supported by the Jean C. Hodgin Fund, the program pairs local theater professionals with interns who'd like to learn more about the technical aspects of theater. The eleven interns involved in this production are working on everything from wig and make-up design and costume crew to lighting and sound crews.

Tickets ($15, $20 & $25) are available through the WUT Box Office at (608) 262-2201 or by clicking here. Visit www.fourseasonstheatre.com to learn more about Four Seasons Theatre.

Sarah Marty

Sarah Marty is Four Seasons Theatre's General Director. 

Back to top

Andrew Bird: This Season's Anticipated First Sell-Out!

If anyone doubts that the Andrew Bird concert on September 20^th will sell out, I encourage them to sit in our box office for a day. Or even two hours. Not only did we receive the expected phone calls and pile of mail orders, but many Bird fans came down to place the order in person. They weren't taking any chances.

What makes this guy so popular anyway? In one word: talent. Classically trained in violin at an early age, by his teens Bird delved into Gypsy, early jazz, and country blues. Bird graduated with a bachelor's degree from Northwestern in violin performance, and in the late 1990's created his own band, Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire.

In 2003, Bird again began releasing solo albums, including 2005's The Mysterious Production of Eggs and his latest release, Armchair Apocrypha. Both received critical and popular acclaim, with Armchair Apocrypha marking his 12th CD release in the last decade. Not bad for someone who is only 34.

Bird's stop in Madison follows a summer tour in Europe and is one of the last Midwest stops before shows in Canada and on the East Coast. Numerous critics report that hearing Bird live leaves listeners in awe. Pitchfork wrote, "I looked at my notes and next to 'Skin Is, My,' the only comment I had scrawled was 'Wow!' The same dumbfounded comment was chicken-scratched next to three other song titles. Fitting as there's no better word to describe Andrew Bird live."

Don't miss out! Buy your tickets to Andrew Bird by calling our box office or by clicking here.

Sarah J. Smogoleski

Back to top

Meet our Staff: Sarah Crist

What is your position here at the Wisconsin Union Theater?

I am the Marketing Intern

What is your favorite part of the job?

I love getting to meet all the artists that pass through. Everyone that performs here has such talent and I get to meet them in person!

What projects are you working on currently?

I just finished designing a mini-brochure that I am sure most of our readers will eventually see. I am working on setting up a few more literature tables for upcoming farmers markets and I also am going to write my e-newsletter article about the upcoming Keyboard Conversations series that you should all read in this newsletter.

How does it feel to have your own blog, "The Marquee?"

I am not sure how many readers I actually have, but either way, it's fun to be able to write about anything I want!

What is one of your most memorable moments from this past season?

I watched David Finckel and Wu Han taking pictures of the poster in our green room with all of our past performers on it. It was really amazing to see such great artists in awe of the other great artists that have previously graced our stage.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at the theater?

Newsletter staff:

Editor: Esty Dinur

Layout Designer: Claire Weissenfluh

Back to top