The Marquee

I swear, we’re only waiting on one more MTS, but while we wait, let us read another one! Episode 453: Laura Katzman

1. Full Name. Laura Brooks Katzman
  

2. Official Job Title. Union Theater Committee Director  

3. The Job Title you’d give yourself. Union Theater Committee Director  

4. Most memorable theater experience. My most memorable theater experience was watching the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform “Revelations” at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. As a dancer myself, I performed in the piece “Revelations” at my local dance studio as a tribute to Alvin Ailey. Thus, I could instantly identify with the dancers on stage. Watching the piece, performed by beautiful dancers with such incredible grace and poise, truly moved me.         The words of the African American slave spiritual songs combined with the movement communicated a sense of universal human suffering and strength. It was an incredible show and it inspired me to pursue dance.   

5. Describe yourself in 5 words or less. Friendly, loyal, hardworking, dedicated, and perfectionistic.  

6. Your favorite way to spend a vacation day. My favorite way to spend a vacation day is with friends and family. I love dancing, talking, dining and hanging out with the people who are important to me.  

7. How you would decorate or change your office if anything went around
here. I am going to change/clean the Green Room! I want to clean and organize the files to make them more accessible. I also want to put up some pictures of the Union Theater members going to the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference in
New York City last year. In general, just make it more homey and comfortable.   

8. If you were having a dinner party, and you could invite 3
famous people (alive or dead) who would you choose? Toni Morrison, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt   

9. What would we find in your refrigerator? In my fridge, you will find peanut butter, strawberry jam (for peanut butter sandwiches, of course) and lots of Yoplait yogurt (I love that stuff). 

10. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? If I were a crayon, I would be the rainbow colored crayon because I am a multi-colored person with many different colored thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

It is my divine pleasure to (finally) present you with a vivid portrait of my boss, complete with her freshly dyed hair. A quote from the vibrant Esty: ” I needed more color in my life, so I put it in my hair.”

She’s wildly entertaining, and apparently very colorful. Please encourage her to show it off in a little bit o’blog posting herself. Also, consider suggesting a raise for her diligent (and allegedly beautiful) intern.

1. Full Name.

Esty Dinur

2. Official Job Title.

Marketing and Communications Manager
Co-Chair for Artistic Selection, Madison World Music Festival

3. The Job Title you’d give yourself.

She Who Is Way Underpaid.

4. Most memorable theater experience.

Hmmm, just one?

Being an Israeli I very much enjoyed meeting my countrywomen and men who have come through here. The Israel Contemporary Dance Theater, who I used to know as the Kibbutz Dance Company, was one such opportunity. I enjoyed hanging out with the techies, dancers and genius choreographer/artistic director, Rami Be’er (in Israel they call him a “Total Creator”). Then I was absolutely blown out when I watched their performance. It was superbly, fantastically, outstanding and amazing! I swore that they’d return here again–and have a larger audience next time around. Theirs was, without a shred of a doubt, our best performance of that season.

It was also nice to meet the Balkan Beat Box guys. Several of them, including Tomer, Tamir and Itamar (heh heh…and Ori too) are Israelis–and the others understand a little bit of Hebrew by now. Off-stage, the quietest and most shy of them all was Tomer Yosef, the crazy soloist who ended up climbing the structure above the stage (to Ralph’s undying horror! Luckily the structure didn’t collapse). He was a sweet, normal sorta guy off-stage - and a total stage monster once these limelights hit his Mohawk.

5. Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

Adventurous, curious, intelligent, beautiful (almost as much as Lauren)

6. Your favorite way to spend a vacation day.

Duh. Adventurous, curious, intelligent, beautiful people don’t have one favorite anything. Often things aren’t perfect unless they are totally new and different.

7. How you would decorate or change your office if anything went around here. 

First and foremost, I’d have a window. Secondly, I’d have it open for the length of at least three seasons. Oxygen and natural light are such scarce commodities here in the theater’s innards!

8. If you were having a dinner party, and you could invite 3 famous people (alive or dead) who would you choose?

Well, Che Guevara, naturally. La Pasionaria. Emma Goldman. We’d come up with a plan for a better world.

9. What would we find in your refrigerator?

Organic veggies, fruits, cheese and meat. Various exotic foods. Bagels. White wine (the red is in the cabinet).

10. If you were a crayon, what color would
you be?

Sometimes purple, sometimes green, sometimes turquoise, sometimes red.

By this point, you’ve got to be asking yourself, “How many more must I suffer through??” Just a couple, I promise–unless, perhaps, you’re desiring a second round of MTS. If that is indeed the case, I think we all need a (very, very) lengthy recovery period.

But, first, Meet the Staff continues with the winner of our longest official job title contest, Ms. Lydia.

Full name: Lydia Yuk Ting Leung

Official job title: World Music Festival and International Conversation and Coffee Hour Coordinator

Job title you’d give yourself: I don’t know, but I’m kind of a big deal.

Most memorable theater experience: Looking for the green room. I never knew there was a random door to the theater near the Park Street entrance of the Union. Who would’ve thought?

Describe yourself in 5 words or less: I like donuts.

Favorite way to spend a vacation day: I can’t tell you. It has to be unplanned and spontaneous.

How would you change your office if anything went around here? I don’t have an office, but I would add some ventilation to the Green Room.

If you were having a dinner party and could invite 3 people (alive, dead, somewhere in between), who would you choose? This is a hard one…maybe Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. It could be interesting!

What would people find in your refrigerator? NOTHING! Except a yogurt, pack of sausages, and a 2 month old bottle of milk.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple!  

Remember how I said almost all of our staff is accomodating? Well, that leaves room for people…uh, NOT to be. Despite my captivating beauty and charm, people do, on occasion, tell me no. I know; it puzzles me too!

“I don’t DO interviews,” remarks our operations manager, with a hint of inflated self-importance, as though he is a celebrity and people ask him to do interviews all the time. Luckily for us, he has agreed to let me do his “meet the staff” (or “MTS” as I am calling it from here on out, because, I’m L-a-z-y). So read on and enjoy Bruce’s MTS, take none of it seriously, and realize that it is all in good fun!

Full name: Bruce Beatrice Ehlinger

Job title: Operations Manager

Job title you’d give yourself: Bruce Almighty

Most memorable theater experience: It’d have to be the day they hired that incredible marketing intern. Her wit and brilliance amaze me every day.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less: Comical, Coca-Cola craving carnivore. And manly. Yes, that’s better. Manly, comical, Coca-Cola craving carnivore. *Insert grunt here*

How would you spend a vacation day: I’d have those All Campus Party people bring back that rapper guy at the Field House. Good times.

How would you change your office if anything went around here: I’d knock down all the walls first (I don’t much care for privacy). I’d install a throne of solid gold and a refrigerator, always stocked full of Coke and the reddest of meats. I’d also run cable through every room in the office so all of our staff could enjoy “Ambush Makeover” on the Style Network and re-runs of “Full House” on ABC Family. Oh, Uncle Jesse! Why did they take you away from me??

If you were having a dinner party and could invite 3 people (alive or dead), who would you choose? John Stamos (obviously), Goldie Hawn, and Bill Murray (people tell me we look alike. I don’t see it).

What would we find in your refrigerator: Coke and celery so I can make those ants on a log things, with the peanut butter and raisins. Man, I love those!

If you were a crayon, what color would you be: Purple Mountains Majesty. It speaks to me.

I am aware that all of my beautiful readers are on the edge of their seat in suspense for the conclusion of the “meet the staff” interviews. The saga continues with Ted Harks and the truth about what you really find in a man’s fridge!

Full Name: Ted Harks

Official job title: Box Office/Patron Services Manager

Most memorable theater experience:
Shaking Yo Yo Ma’s hand backstage as he thanked me for being here
following one of his performances

Describe yourself in 5 words or less:
Perpetually exhausted, but lovin’ it.

Your favorite way to spend a vacation day:
 Outdoors hiking/cycling through a state park or indoors producing my
free weekly mixed music podcast, *The RuckuS* <http://whatistheruckus.com>

How would you decorate or change your office if anything went around here:
 Decorations would include a lava lamp, string lights, modern art and
a beaded door.  Changes would include a window, 4 walls, and an /actual/
door.

If you were having a dinner party and could invite 3 people (dead, alive, somewhere in between), who would you choose? John Coltrane, Joss Whedon & Stephen Colbert

What would we find in your refrigerator: Guinness

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Theater Black, of course

Next up in our endless employee examinations…

The engaging Claire!

1. Full Name:
Claire Victoria Weissenfluh

Well, at this point in the blog, you and are the grandest of old friends, but, considering I imposed the infamous interviews on my (mostly) accomodating coworkers, it’s only fair that I follow suit and answer these (very well-written and clever) questions myself!

Onward to some insight into the mystery that is me!

Full name: Lauren Vanessa Zink

Official job title: Marketing Intern for the Wisconsin Union Theater

The job title you’d give yourself: Marketing Maiven and Alliteration Advocate

Most memorable theater experience: Doing the introduction to the La Guitara show. It was the first time I’d ever set foot on our stage, and I got a round of applause before I even opened my mouth. I know there were only, like, 8 people in the audience that knew who I was, but I felt like a superstar anyway.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less: Let’s try…passionate and sassy singing liberal…

Favorite way to spend a vacation day: What’s a vacation day?? I’d sleep until 11, eat a brunch of chocolate chip pancakes, strawberries and bacon (the real kind!) , maybe go back to bed (I have a loving relationship with naps). I’d spend awhile running around with my puppy, kicking around a soccer ball. Then I’d drive to the mall with my windows down, singing very, very loudly to the radio. I’d proceed to drop hundreds of dollars on clothing/shoes/accessories that I will be very excited about for approximately two weeks. I’d finish it off with open mic night on the terrace.  Apparently for this vacation day to work, I have to spend it both in my hometown and Madison, and it must be approximately 46 hours long!

How would you decorate your office if anything went around here: Well, first, I’d give myself an office. After that, I’d hire a contractor to put in some windows, paint the walls a deep purple and stash lots of Moroccan-inspired pillows everywhere. I’d also install a vending machine stocked with diet soda, which I would hide behind a wall of sheer, gold curtains because, frankly, it wouldn’t match.

If you were having a dinner party, and could invite 3 famous people (alive or otherwise), who would you choose? Marilyn Monroe, Buddha and Shakespeare.

What would we find in your refrigerator: Diet Mountain Dew, apples, fat-free strawberry yogurt, alfalfa sprouts, lean meat

If you were a crayon, what color would you be: magenta

The staff chronicles continue with Heather Good. I’d love to give you her middle name, but someone (cough, cough…okay, it was Heather) didn’t include it. Everyone knows that “full name” includes your middle name, right? I didn’t just make up that rule, did I?

Read on to enjoy the (apparently middle-nameless, but still enjoyable) Ms. Good!!

Full name: Heather ___________ Good (Okay, Lauren inserted that blank line)

Official job title: Grants and Outreach Coordinator for the Wisconsin Union Theater

The job title you’d give yourself: Verbal Technician and Spreadsheet Enthusiast

Most memorable theater experience: I was sitting in the balcony listening to Ben Heppner sing, and I kept thinking, “I never realized how close the balcony is to the stage, because I can hear him so well, it’s like he’s standing right in front of me.” Then I realized that the theater’s acoustics and Ben Heppner’s famous operatic voice were coming together perfectly to create this feeling of closeness in a large space. Very cool!

Describe yourself in 5 words or less: contact improvisation enthusiast

Your favorite way to spend a vacation day: A perfect vacation day would include a long dance jam session with my friends, an excellent meal and wine afterwards, then a few hours with a good book, and to top it off, a sauna and a shower.

How would you decorate your office if anything went around here: I would paint my walls bright yellow to make things a little sunnier!

If you were having a dinner party, and you could invite 3 people (living or dead), who would you choose? I would choose Agnes DeMille, Simone Forti, and Meredith Monk, three women artists whose work I admire.

What would we find in your refrigerator? This week: a pot of chili, ginger brew, lots of cheese, a bottle of wine, sweet potato salad, soy milk, juice, eggs, tortillas–everything organic.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Orange

Ever think to yourself,  ”Who are the geniuses that run the Wisconsin Union Theater?” I know I used to, before I, myself, became one of the spunky staff superstars here at WUT. Since I’ve been enlightened, I thought it was only fair to let you in on the mystery that is meeting our staff. Enjoy!

First up, Mr. Derek Kwan!

 1. Full Name.
Derek Stephen Kwan

10. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Cornflower blue (my wife’s favorite color…of course I’d want to be
that).