Ruminations of a Festival Coordinator

What makes working at the Wisconsin Union Theater so exciting?

I've asked myself that very question countless times throughout the last few months. Was it the opportunity to chow down on jazz legend Poquito D'Rivera's leftover catering? The feeling of omnipotence granted by snazzy Theater name tags and access to artists' dressing rooms? Or was it the chance to meet my idol, fellow double bassist Edgar Meyer, when he performed as part of last year's Concert Series? I have to admit, I still lack anything in the way of a concrete answer.

This summer I, along with Jenn, Emily, Courtney, and others, will be busily working to bring you two great Madison traditions: the Isthmus Jazz Festival this June 5th-8th and Madison World Music Festival next September. My main prerogative as Festival Coordinator is to ensure that Union Catering's famous fudge-bottom pie will be served at both events.

Just kidding.

The fact is, the Wisconsin Union Theater is a world in itself. A bizarre world populated by Grammy Award-winning musicians, ground breaking creative minds, a knowledgeable staff, and, most importantly, a perceptive and enthusiastic audience. I knew I wanted to be part of that world after attending last year's Madison World Music Festival. Little did I know I would be helping plan and run the festival the very next year!

I am truly glad to have joined the Theater Committee last year, and to have had the chance to meet so many wonderful individuals and artists. It's really rare on a college campus to see students have such a huge role in selecting which artists will perform on our stage. Perhaps this fact is what makes the Wisconsin Union Theater such an exciting place to work: anything can happen!

Rose

introducing...

Me! Hi there! I'm Jenn, and I will be taking over as WUT Theater Committee Director, since Courtney has to go off and do this thing called "graduating and entering the real world." Having switched majors and added a second major, I'll be sticking around a while longer and delaying diving into "reality."

I found the WUD Theater committee by deduction. I was on the WUD Film committee my sophmore year, and figured since there was a theater that did stuff, there had to be a WUD Theater committee doing it. I emailed the director at that time to find out when and where the meetings were, and have continued to attend them ever since. It also helped that WUT was bringing two of my favorite Irish bands - Lunasa and Karan Casey - and that I have a great affection for bagpipes and accordions in any form.

I was the World Stage Coordinator this year, and started out by helping with the World Music Festival this past fall. I found out about new types of music that I never knew existed, such as Tuvan throat singing, and have learned how much effort goes into a multi-day festival as well as each WUT show. I think next year our World Stage Series, well, each series for that matter, will rock everyones' socks, if I do say so myself. I am particularly happy with our mini-Louisiana Sounds series with the Pine Leaf Boys (cajun), Buckwheat Zydeco, and Trombone Shorty (jazz).

I hope to see you all this fall at WUT- woot!

Jenn

spring awakens...

#1: Isn't it just beautiful in Madison today?

#2: The original cast of Spring Awakening is coming to the WUT next Spring! For those of you that aren't familiar, Spring Awakening won the Tony for best musical in 2007, and... it's awesome.

According to the blog of Mr. Zach Braff, Spring Awakening is "like "Dead Poet's Society" on extacy set to music." Read his blog here...

#3: The composer of Spring Awakening also wrote this: Barely Breathing video (a one-hit wonder, 90's classic)


That's just enough for me to keep going through finals week.