Want to learn more about these artists? Visit their official websites!
For your reading enjoyment, a variety of Halloween jokes…
What’s a mummy’s favorite kind of music?
- Wrap!
Where does a ghost go on a Saturday night?
- Anywhere he can boo-gie!
Why did Dracula go to the doctor?
- Because he was coffin!
What instrument does a skeleton play?
- A trom-BONE!
What’s a witches favorite subject in school?
- Spelling!
Be on the lookout for the WUD homecoming float in the parade tonight…we’ll be wearing green!
Pay special attention to who’s driving….
These are the opening lines for the new mini-course “Spirit in the House: Union Theater Ghosts.” In 3 sessions, James Post will introduce methods of detecting paranormal activity and teams of ghost hunters will traverse the stage in hopes of finding some sign of our dear theater ghosts. (For more on the ghosts of the theater, visit our website).
This class is open to students, faculty, staff and union members. For more info, visit www.wisc.edu/minicourses.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After reading Courtney’s last post, I thought I’d take a moment or two to vent. Edgar Meyer buys a seat for his bass because of airline policies. How do I know this? I used to be a member of AFM (american federation of musicians) and this has been an issue for awhile. Many musicians have had troubles with the airline carry-on policy. An instrument is like an appendage to a musician. Forgive us if we don’t want to put it in the cargo section with 8,000 lbs of luggage, fido, and who knows what else. I won’t even get started on the horror of watching baggage-handlers chuck cases to and fro like they’re nerf footballs. Nevertheless, airlines have decided that the only way a musician can bring their instrument on board is if they buy it its own seat. Most musicians can’t afford to do this, so many have to check their instruments and spend the flight praying that it shows up in the same city as they do and in one piece. I have only one thing to say: long live the tour bus!
Whilst postering for various WUT shows, one generally goes about their business - stopping in at the usual places, stealing extra push pins from unsuspecting other postings and generally not paying much attention to the rest of the world. Last Saturday, however, was an entirely different story. Shelly and I found ourselves postering for Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall amidst the most random assortment of Madisonians I’ve ever encountered…
a) Geek Kon. A massive self-proclaimed nerd infestation in the humanities building. More people in capes and cat ears than I’ve ever encountered. Allegedly the inventor of Dungeons and Dragons was in attendance.
b) Legalize Marijuana Festival. Within a stones throw of the nerd convention, the Legalize Marijuana crowd had gathered in Library mall to spend the afternoon listening to music and speakers, revelling, and passing out information to those interested. Smelled rather reminiscent of Amsterdam.
c) Not one, but TWO(!) wedding processionals, darting through the already assembled groups. The first of the two processionals, led by a bagpiper, featured the wedding party skipping along to the tunes of the scottish highlands.
My bet is on the bagpiping crowd as the most likely to come to the concert…
- Courtney
Jason and several members of our tech staff here at the WUT made some pretty sweet training videos! Watch them by following the links to YouTube.
Want a tour of the backstage area of the Wisconsin Union Theater?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Learn how to run a 35mm film?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Learn about lighting?
Courtney: Nice to meet you!
Andrew Bird: Hello.
C: I’m Courtney from theater committee!
AB: Right. *shakes my hand*
C: *looking downward* Cool Chaco Sandals! I have some too!
AB: *blank stare*
C: Oh! Except, I’m not wearing mine right now. They smell too bad to wear. Do yours smell?
AB: um, no.
C: Right…um….best of luck with the show..
thankfully, Anoushka Shankar provided much fewer awkward moments on my part….
If you find yourself hanging around the theater offices, you might hear talk about M&M. Though we are all fans of the melt-in-you-mouth-not-in-your-hand chocolate treat, we are referring to the October 10th show of Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall, which will also be a treat. Edgar Meyer is arguably the world’s premiere classical bassist. Mike Marshall’s prowess on the mandolin is captivating. So what happens when you take two world-class musicians and put them on stage together? In one word: Magic.
This is not Meyer’s first visit to Madison . He performed in 2001 with Bela Fleck, and video excerpts from their Madison performance are featured on the duo’s CD/DVD combo Music for Two. If you’re unfamiliar with Meyer and unwilling to spend the money on a CD, find a bassist and casually drop his name. Their eyes will light up, you’ll likely have Meyer’s entire life story recited to you, and you just found someone to go to the show with. If you can’t find any bassists, from personal experience I suggest looking for them in dark corners or areas with few people nearby, try visiting Edgar Meyer’s website, www.edgarmeyer.com for more information.
Joining Meyer this time around is mandolinist Mike Marshall, who is just as well-known and respected in classical circles. In addition to performing, Marshall is a prolific composer, co-founder of the Mandolin Symposium, and owner of his own label, Adventure Music. As it is my duty to include an obligatory pop reference, Marshall often collaborated with fellow mandolinist Chris Thile of Nickel Creek. Marshall has a deep passion for Brazilian music, which is displayed in his latest CD, Brasil Duets. To hear some of Marshall ’s work, visit his myspace profile (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=61582380)
Perhaps it’s the melding of classical and brazilian music that will make this show magical. Perhaps it’s the fact that not one, but two of today’s most gifted musicians will take the stage together. Perhaps it’s all that and a little more. You’ll have to decide for yourself. Buy your tickets at our website (www.uniontheater.wisc.edu)
~’Rah
