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!
On Feb. 7, 2026, acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran will take the stage at Shannon Hall to present a moving tribute to the Harlem Hellfighters and James Reese Europe. This powerful live multimedia performance pays tribute to the legacy of Lt. James Reese Europe, a trailblazing Black composer, bandleader and World War I hero, through reimagined soundscapes and archival footage.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) 2025-2026 Classical Series.
The Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) team at the Wisconsin Union has many devoted people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the programming, performances and excitement we love center stage. Ted Harks’s role as the website and systems administrator impacts nearly everyone who steps foot into WUT’s performance spaces or visits the website. If you’ve purchased tickets to a WUT event online, chances are, you’ve interacted with Ted’s work without even knowing it.
You can officially check an item off your bucket list, because the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), one of the UK’s most beloved ensembles, is coming to Madison!
Whether you are a seasoned symphony attendee or a classical music newcomer, this is an event that is sure to hit all the right notes. Not convinced yet? Here are four reasons you are not going to want to miss this unforgettable event, packed with artistic brilliance and remarkable talent.
1. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event
Manual Cinema is an Emmy Award-winning performance collective, design studio, and film production company that creates innovative live theater, film, and immersive visual experiences.
Founded in 2010 by puppeteers and graphic artists Julia Miller, Drew Dir, and Sarah Fornace, along with composer/musicians Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman, the group combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and live music to tell visually striking, emotionally resonant stories.
Born in Hamamatsu, Japan, Hiromi was first exposed to jazz music at the age of 6 after her piano teacher introduced her to the work of pianists Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson. Soon after, Hiromi enrolled in the Yamaha School of Music and started her journey in songwriting. By 17 years old, she was invited to perform with American jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea at a concert in Tokyo.
Hiromi continued her jazz career by attending Berklee College of Music, and she soon became a mentee under inspirational pianist Ahmad Jamal.
From Tel Aviv to her upcoming Wisconsin Union Theater-hosted performance in Madison on Oct. 15, Noga Erez has forged an extraordinary path through the music scene across the world. She began her music journey with piano and guitar, pursued composition in Jerusalem, and explored jazz before pivoting to electronic pop.
Reinvention in Her Genre-Defying Path
Summer time at the Wisconsin Union means, along with our sensational summer schedule, we are preparing for fall and spring seasons full of exciting events, unforgettable performances and welcoming the new group of student leaders that will make it all happen for the community and visitors. Some of these students, who make up the 2025-2026 Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee (PAC), have officially been announced! These are the students who work closely with the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) to plan each memorable season.
With a Build-Your-Own Subscription, you can craft a 2025-2026 Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) season of performing arts that is uniquely yours! From our jazz and classical performances to hip-hop, theater, dance and beyond, experience the full breadth of this season.
This season, the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) welcomes a towering figure of classical music back to the Shannon Hall stage. On Oct. 23, Grammy-nominated pianist Richard Goode returns to Madison to perform selections from one of the greatest bodies of work in classical history: Beethoven’s piano sonatas.
