The Special in the Special: 2012-2013 Season Special Events

by Erin Bannen

Marketing Intern

This week the three fabulous (and graduating!) Wisconsin Union Theater marketing interns compiled a guidebook to document our collective knowledge and insight for interns to come. We agreed that the best blog articles go deeper than wikipedia to find something unique, less known, and utterly fascinating about an artist. So I give you a snapshot of the artists in theWisconsin Union Theater's Special Events Series that goes beyond the award-winning records of these artists, and into their quirky pasts.

Scott Alerik of The Globe says this of Fiddler Alasdair Fraser & cellist Natalie Haas: "you would think they'd been playing together for centuries. While his fiddle dances, her cello throbs darkly or plucks puckishly. Then she opens her cello's throat, joining Fraser in soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter."

Looking past the awards these two have garnered (like their duo release, Fire & Grace, which was awarded the Best Album of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards 2004), you'll find a story of a great student and a master instructor.

Two decades ago Fraser opened Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School. When Haas was 11, she attended the school and it was here (according to her biography) that her "musical journey found purpose" and she "fell in love with Celtic music." Watch the dynamic of these two onstage as the student challenges the master and the master challenges the student!

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas will perform on Thursday, November 15, 2012, 8pm, in Music Hall.

It's easy to brag about The Acting Company (who will be performing Shakespeare’s As You Like It); they have performed 136 productions for over three million people in 48 states and 10 foreign countries. Ticking off their alumni is like reading a Tony Awards winner's list. But did you know that they educate teachers?

Meet Shakespeare for Teachers, a series of "professional development workshops" that give teachers tools in "role-playing, text analysis, writing-in-role and other drama-based techniques." This is the kind of thing they don't tell you in your basic Shakespeare graduate seminar, and it's all in the name of getting students excited about the bard.

The Acting Company will perform Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Thursday & Friday, February 7 & 8, 2013, 8 pm, in the Mitchell Theatre.

So Karan Casey has recorded five solo albums, won Best Irish Female Vocalist twice and Best Irish Folk album and a Grammy for her collaboration with Paul Winter. And her musical partner, guitarist John Doyle, has not only been nominated for a Grammy, he also played for President Obama on St. Patrick's Day 2009 and was named a "dream guitarist" by Irish Edition. But what I love about these artists is the wordplay on their latest album, Exiles Return.

The last time these two played together was in the band they helped found, Solas, which they left in 2000. So we've got two Solas "exiles" reuniting on our Wisconsin stage. In an interview about the album, Doyle talks about how he always wanted to make an album with someone who liked taking a "modern approach to old songs." This album is rooted in songs that have been exiled by popular music, returning to the current music scene in modernized versions. I can't wait to hear the stories these two will tell onstage, I already love how they think.

Karan Casey and John Doyle will perform on Saturday, March 2, 2013, 8 pm, at The Sett in Union South.

The Special Events category is reserved for events that resist categorization, so Zoë Keating fits right in. Her brand of music is the "avant cello," in which she records herself onstage and layers recording after recording to simulate a veritable orchestra of cello players. Her fun fact? She worked in software for years after graduating college, and her "grass-roots, label-less approach" upholds her persona as an independent, new sound in the land of cellists.

Zoë Keating will be performing on Saturday, May 4, 2014 location TBA.

The Subtleties and the Intricacies: Mary Stallings Headlines the Free Isthmus Jazz Festival

by Howard Ladsman
Madison Music Collective

“Perhaps the best jazz singer alive today is a woman almost everybody seems to have missed. Her name is Mary Stallings.” So said the New York Times reviewer upon release of Ms. Stallings’ CD, “Live at the Village Vanguard.”  Fresh off her magnificent performance in Prague for the late Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, and through a new partnership between Madison Music Collective and the Wisconsin Union Theater, the great jazz vocalist Mary Stallings is coming to Madison to headline the 2012 Isthmus Jazz Festival. A tremendous opportunity for local music fans, Ms. Stallings will give a free concert at the Union Theater on Saturday, June 2^nd, starting at 8:00 PM, in what will be the Theater’s final program before closing for major renovations.

The great jazz vocalist Mary Stallings (Photo by Mars Breslow)

Profoundly influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Carmen McRae, and with a deep affinity for the blues, Mary Stallings was performing with legendary jazz artists – like saxophonist Ben Webster, pianist and bandleader Earl “Fatha” Hines, and guitarist Wes Montgomery — while still a teenager in the late 1950s. Over the next two decades, she secured long-term gigs with Billy Eckstine and Count Basie, but endured long periods of disinterest from record companies. Never interested in singing pop or R&B, Ms. Stallings went into semi-retirement in the 1970s, channeling her energies into raising her daughter (R&B singer Adriana Evans) while working at home doing fashion design and alterations.


It took nearly 20 years, and a call from Dizzy Gillespie inviting her to perform on his South American tour, to lure Ms. Stallings back onto the jazz scene. Through all the ups and downs, though, Ms. Stallings never lost confidence in her own abilities and now, at age 72, she is at the peak of her musical powers and in the midst of a major career revival. In recent years, she has performed at leading venues like the Monterey, San Francisco Jazz Festivals, the Chivas Jazz Festival in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Blue Note in New York City. Her December 2011 memorial concert for President Havel made her the first jazz artist to ever perform at the Prague National Theater, a hallowed home of classical music.

Since returning to the business in the 1990s, Ms. Stallings has recorded 10 CDs as a leader, including her Geri Allen-produced CD, “Remember Me” (2005), and her latest, “Don’t Look Back” (2012). Her repertoire includes standards from the worlds of jazz and the Great American Songbook mixed in with the music of younger songwriters. Says Ms. Allen, the great jazz pianist who performed in Madisonin 2010 with the Mary Lou Williams Collective, “Her voice is rich with the integrity that comes from a true and honored place in this music.”

Young lion jazz pianist Eric Reed, who performs on “Dream” and “Don’t Look Back,” says that “Stallings interprets lyrics with the ease of someone who has lived a full life with few regrets and deep passion for what’s ahead … Rarely does one encounter a singer who is so genuinely musical, so soundly in the moment.” He goes on to say, “if you want to talk about jazz, the subtleties and the intricacies, the storytelling and the harmonies, there isn’t a woman alive who sings better.”

For more about Mary Stallings:

http://jazztimes.com/articles/26803-mary-stallings-the-best-kept-secret-in-vocal-jazz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Mj4fCFp3o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_iPtZSPOy0&feature=related

For a complete schedule of this year’s Isthmus Jazz Festival, visit http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=36447.

 

All the World's a Stage in 2012-2013: Great World Music Coming Your Way

by Elana Siegel
Marketing and Communications Intern

Shakespeare tells us that "all the world's a stage", but next season the world stage will be coming to you with our World Stage Series here at the Wisconsin Union Theater.

The series starts at the Sett at Union South on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 8pm with Grupo Fantasma, a Grammy winning ensemble that plays a mix of funk, mambo, merengue, and cumbia. The ten piece ensemble features traditional jazz instruments as well as timbales, hand percussion, and vocals. Their live show is energetic and, as NPR says, "seamless whenever they're on stage." Plus, they've got a sense of humor. Check out this music video to their song "Gimme Some," or see them perform it live below (skip to 2:20 to see a killer bari sax solo).

Then, get the sounds of South Africa with the man billed as South Africa's Voice: Vusi Mahlasela. The concert is Friday, February 15, 2013 at 8pm in the Sett at Union South. Mahlasela, who writes his own songs, was an anti-apartheid activist and continues to be an activist today. He has performed with a ton of artists, including The Dave Matthews Band, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Josh Grobin and Warren Haynes. Here he is giving an encore at TED Global.

On Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8pm at the Sett, Oliver Mtukudzi returns to the theater. Mtukudzi, who goes by Tuku, is Zimbabwe's greatest singer, songwriter and guitarist. Tuku sings in the dominant language of Zimbabwe, Shona, along with Ndebele and English. But no matter what language he sings in, Tuku's deep, full voice and emotional singing make it easy to connect with his music. Here he is singing a song titled Ndakuvara.

Finish out the World Stage Series with Julie Fowlis, a Scottish singer and multi-instrumentalist. Fowlis, who was named as BBC 2's Folk Singer of the Year, performs on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 8pm in Music Hall (located at the base of Bascom Hill in the Humanities Building). Fowlis sings in the traditional Scots Gaelic style. In a beautiful and pure voice, she sings everything from dance songs to traditional laments. Below listen to her sing a dance tune. 

...And keep your eyes peeled: we may add another act or two. We can't wait to see you in the theater!

Isthmus Jazz Festival 2012 Line-up

by Ben Ferris
Isthmus Jazz Series Coordinator

I am very excited to announce the 2012 Isthmus Jazz Festival Line-up. All shows are on the Terrace, except for headliner Mary Stallings, performing a free show in the Theater. There are lots of great groups this year, so I hope you are able to check at least some of them out! And remember, the festival is free!

Friday, June 1
4:00: Ladies Must Swing
  Led by June Dalton, the band has played all over Madison. They just released a new CD, "Just for a Thrill"
5:00: The Rand Moore Quartet
  Rand Moore, drummer for the Madison Mellophonium Jazz Orchestra that played for the 2011 Isthmus Jazz Festival, returns with a quartet that plays every other Friday night at Liliana's in Madison.
6:30: Gerri DiMaggio and Friends with Special Guest Donna Woodall
  A well-known Madison area vocalist, Gerri DiMaggio is sure to bring out a fantastic band, this year with the guest vocalist Donna Woodall. Below is a video of DiMaggio performing at Overture Center last year:

8:00: The Ravij Halim Quintet
  Headlining Friday night is Rajiv Halim, a young, upcoming saxophonist and composer from Chicago. Halim has played with Orbert Davis, Von Freeman, Ari Brown, and many other notable musicians. I encourage you to check out some of his innovative recordings on the band's myspace page, linked above.
10:00: The Modern Sounds
  Another popular Chicago band coming to the festival this year is The Modern Sounds, a trio of Joel Paterson on Guitar, Beau Sample on Bass and Alex Hall on Drums. Below, they are featured on WGN TV, and you can learn all about the band from the interview.

Saturday, June 2
12:30: The Student Block
  This year's student block will feature the UW Jazz Orchestra, UW Whitewater Big Band, The Edgewood Big Band, and the High School All-Stars.
4:00: The Dave Stoler Quartet, Featuring John Greiner
  Dave Stoler, a fantastic Madison pianist will be joined by Wausau WI sax player John Greiner for a great set.
5:30: The Alison Margaret Jazz Quartet
  Vocalist Alison Margaret has released multiple CDs and will be playing with a number of Madison Jazz Greats; vibraphonist Geoff Brady, bassist John Christensen, and drummer Michael Brenneis.
6:45: The New Breed
  The New Breed Jam on Tuesday nights has become a Madison staple. I hope you can make it as they bring their jam to the Terrace stage!
8:00: Mary Stallings
  This years headliner, Mary Stallings, will be a free event in the Union Theater. This is the last performance in the Theater before it closes for two years of renovations. Presented in partnership with the Madison Music Collective.
10:00: Madisalsa
  Madison favorite Madisalsa will be sure to get you dancing to close out the 2012 Festival.

Announcing the 2012-2013 Travel Adventure Film Series

by Elana Siegel
Marketing and Communications Intern

We've got a packed Travel Adventure Film Series for you next year. All films in the 2012-2013 series will take place at The Marquee at Union South. Parking will be available for Travel Film Subscribers in Lot 80 below Union South.

In the fall, start by exploring Autumn Across America with Don and Fran Van Polen on Monday & Tuesday, October 1 & 2, 2012 at 7:30pm. The vistas promise to be spectacular as Don and Fran, professional landscape photographers, take us across the nation to view the enchanting season. Their narration is combined with old classic songs such as  “Seeing Nellie Home” and "Suppertime." Journey through New England, Kansas, Michigan, Colorado, Wyoming, and our very own Wisconsin as you explore the beauty of autumn.

Then, travel across the world to Korea - Land of the Morning Calm, with filmmaker Buddy Hatton on Monday & Tuesday, November 12 &13, 2012 at 7:30pm. Hatton takes us through the juxtaposition of the energetic, modern culture and the vibrant traditional culture that inhabit Korea today. Hatton travels from the capital city of Seoul to the bustling Southern port town of Busan

Marlin Darrah takes us across Italy: A Journey to the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence and Venice on Monday &Tuesday, March 11 &12, 2013 at 7:30pm. Darrah journeys through Rome, the gondola-laden waterways of Venice, Renaissance beauties of Florence, and finally to the Amalfi coast, arguably the most beautiful coast in the world.

Finish up the year with a tour of Hawaii & Beyond: A Pacific Island Adventure with Mary Lee and Sid Nolan on Monday &Tuesday, April 22 & 23, 2013 at 7:30pm. Begin with the famously beautiful Hawaii and then  explore other islands of the Pacific including Fiji, Toga, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia. Along the way, learn of the geologic origins and the cultures of the people, and experience the beauty of these island communities.

Subscriptions for the Travel Adventure Film Series are available on our website.

See you in the Marquee!

Hiring for Marketing & Communications Students Intern

We are hiring for a Marketing and Communications student intern. Here is the position description.

Marketing & Communications Intern

Wisconsin Union Theater

Available immediately. 6-10 hours/week. $8.25/hour. Please see “Intern Duties” below.

Please respond with a cover letter, resume, at least two writing samples and at least two samples of other marketing-related work.

Wisconsin Union Theater

Marketing Intern Duties

The Marketing Intern is supervised by and assists the Wisconsin Union Theater Marketing and Communications Director. The intern also serves as the liaison to the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee.

Marketing:

Market the theater to the student body and Madison community through a variety of appropriate and innovative methods

● Maintain connection between the WUD Performing Arts Committee and the Marketing Director

● Write newsletter pieces for e-newsletter and design the e-newsletter

● Write press releases

● Serve as resource at informational tables

● Assist with advertising in local publications

● Place theater events on community and university calendars

● Place advertisements on facebook

● Create facebook events for each show

● Write and update blog entries

● File all media mentions of theater events

● Develop relationships with student newspapers and work with them to carry coverage of theater’s arts events

● Add patrons to the mailing lists and compile email lists

● Under supervision, oversee graphics projects

● Email relevant student organizations and professors about upcoming events

● Communicate professionally via email to agents, WUT employees, and Performing Arts Committee

Work with committee:

● Plan and execute creative activities in conjunction with the Performing Arts Committee

● Organize and execute flyering and chalking times for shows

● Keep reports of all advertising that has been done for individual shows in committee folder

● Work with other student organizations to co-sponsor events

● Other duties as needed

Skills needed:

Good writing and communications skills

Familiarity with publishing software

Proficiency in Excel spreadsheets

Experience with social media

Self-starter/innovative thinker

Experience taking and editing video desired

Send to:

Esty Dinur, edinur@wisc.edu

Marketing and Communications Director

Wisconsin Union Theater

800 Langdon St.

Madison, WI 53706

Abroad on the Inca Road; or, Why My Life Will Never Be as Cool as Karin Muller's

Alexis Brown
Marketing Intern

I wish my life were as interesting as Karin Muller’s. Unfortunately, it is not. I’ve won a grant or two, even one that will send me to England next year, but nothing I have ever done or will ever do will be as cool as what Muller’s done with her grant from the National Geographic Society. Here, let me break it down for you. Have you ever:

     1.  Gone a on a six-month jaunt through Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Chile, with a camera man in tow?

2.      Map in hand, gone in search for remnants of the ancient stone-paved Inca Road that crisscrosses South America?

3.      Been hit over the head with a squealing Guinea pig, only then to be told your diagnosis by the look of its entrails?

4.      Been tear-gassed in an indigenous antigovernment protest?

5.      Witnessed the mysterious crash of a Brazilian military helicopter in the Andean highlands?

6.      Watched a military crew clear live mines that Peruvians planted during the Ecuador-Peruvian border war?

7.      Donned an orange cloak and gold sparkles to pull a roast pig (clocking in at 200 pounds) during the traditional Festival of Mama Negra?

Oh, you haven’t? Yeah, me neither. But Karin Muller has, and better yet, she’s interwoven into her adventures the vibrant story of the rise and fall of the Incan Empire. The remnants of the Incan people are everywhere in her travels, and she takes us from the persistence of ancient shamanism (curanderismo) to roundups of vicunas (which, by the way, are adorable), and the harvesting of coca leaves. She explores ancient traditions like chewing coca leaves, as well as contemporary problems, like the cocaine industry. That’s right—there’s a lively history lesson to be found in there too.

My life will probably never be this fascinating. But with any luck, for an evening, I’ll live vicariously through Karin Muller, and witness her South American adventures as if they were my own. If you’ve ever had an inkling for South America, or for adventure in general, I would suggest that on May 7th and 8th, you do too.