Skip to main content

Wisconsin Union Theater

About Us

As the premier performing arts presenter at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) brings extraordinary music, dance, and theater to life through its annual season. More than a stage, it serves as a learning lab for student leaders. Through the Wisconsin Union Directorate, students gain hands-on experience in artistic curation, artist services, and event promotion, honing invaluable skills with guidance and mentorship from professional staff.

Beyond presenting a vibrant season, WUT welcomes university departments, student organizations, and the greater Madison community, who rent our state-of-the-art venue for performances, symposiums, graduations, and conferences. WUT also owns and operates Campus Arts Ticketing, which provides seamless ticket sales and box office services for the arts on campus.

Whether bringing world-class artists to the stage or empowering students behind the scenes, WUT is at the heart of Madison’s cultural scene.

See the 2025-2026 Season Lineup

WUT's performance spaces include Shannon Hall, Play Circle, and the Festival Room, a large rehearsal space/dance studio. All spaces have fully sprung stage floors, state-of-the-art lighting, and comprehensive sound and video systems.

The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to creating an inclusive place for the staff, crew, and students who work in the WUT and for the performers, artists, and audience members who engage with the WUT through our programming, events, and activities.

Upcoming Events

Oct
23
Oct 23 2025 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
A leader in American classical piano for decades, Richard Goode returns to Beethoven’s piano sonatas—repertoire that earned him a GRAMMY nomination.
Richard Goode 800x800 v2
Oct
30
Oct 30 2025 | 8 - 10pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Boasting 33 million likes on TikTok and over 1 million followers across social platforms, PARTYOF2 blends floating melodies with hard-hitting beats and even harder flows.
Photo of Jadagrace and SWIM wearing black and white formal attire.
Nov
15

Samara Joy

Music
Nov 15 2025 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Earning five GRAMMY Awards, including 2023’s Best New Artist, Samara Joy’s “live performances are just as breathtaking as experiencing her on wax” (JazzTimes).
Samara Joy 800x800
Dec
05
Dec 5 2025 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, one of the premier chamber-music organizations in the U.S., boasts a roster of world-class musicians as they perform Bach’s most transcendent works: the complete Brandenburg Concertos.
Photo of musicians performing the Brandenburg Concertos on stage, dressed in red and black formal attire.
Jan
28
Jan 28 2026 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Led by music director Vasily Petrenko and featuring pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, the Madison community has a rare opportunity to welcome the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, considered one of the best international orchestras in history.
Photo of string musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra sitting on stage with the audience in the background.
Feb
07
Feb 7 2026 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Part historian and part magician, jazz pianist Jason Moran explores band leader James Reese Europe’s groundbreaking music to reveal what jazz was and what it became.
Photo of Jason Moran wearing a blue suit, leaning on a railing with his arm extended towards the camera.
Feb
12
Feb 12 2026 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato joins Time for Three in a new work by Kevin Puts, which synthesizes music, visuals, and poetry to celebrate Emily Dickinson.
Emily No Prisoners Be 1200x800
Feb
28
Feb 28 2026 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Featuring trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, and pianist Emmet Cohen, celebrate the centennial of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Photo of Emmet Cohen leaning against a wooden desk.
Mar
05
Mar 5 2026 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Two of opera’s brightest stars and Metropolitan Opera favorites, soprano Erin Morley and tenor Lawrence Brownlee, share the stage for an evening of bel canto brilliance.
Split frame featuring images of Erin Morley (left) and Lawrence Brownlee (right)
Mar
12
Mar 12 2026 | 7:30 - 9:30pm
Wisconsin Union Theater
Ticketed Event
Virtuoso singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter from Côte d’Ivoire, Dobet Gnahoré, offers a message of hope for the future with her new album.
Photo of Dobet Gnahore wearing a red dress with yellow and green jewelry, standing with her hand on her hips.