Wisconsin Union Theater

09/04/2026

Tickets on Sale Now: Celebrate the holiday season with GRAMMY Award–winning artists Aoife O'Donovan and Chris Thile at Wassail! An Evening of Carols and Merriment.

Gather, sing, and revel in the glow of the holidays on December 10 at 7:30 PM at Shannon Hall.
🎁 Get your tickets at https://bit.ly/4xb20sM

09/04/2026

Named one of Apple Music and BBC Radio 6's Albums of the Year, "Devotion & The Black Divine" has been widely praised for its ethereal sound and resonant storytelling.

Don't miss anaiis with Special Guest Elliott Skinner in the Play Circle on Friday, September 18. Get your tickets at bit.ly/43Adn0h

09/02/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED: Aoife O'Donovan and Chris Thile present Wassail! An Evening of Carols and Merriment.

Celebrate the season with GRAMMY Award–winning artists Aoife O'Donovan and Chris Thile as they illuminate treasured holiday songs with spellbinding harmonies and joyful musicality. Featuring newly written (and never before released) original songs, fresh arrangements of beloved classics, lively stories and good cheer in abundance, Wassail! is a warm invitation to gather, sing, and revel in the glow of the holidays.

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 4 at 10 AM. Learn more at bit.ly/4xb20sM

This event is co-presented by Wisconsin Union Theater and True Endeavors.

09/01/2026

Don't miss a unique collaboration between two acclaimed chamber ensembles as Cantus and Imani Winds open the 2026-2027 Classical Series with “My Ancestors Speak” at Shannon Hall on Wednesday, September 16. 🎶

This powerful program brings together lush vocals and vibrant winds across a diverse selection of musical traditions, including:
• “How Can I Keep from Singing?” by Robert Lowry, arr. Stephen Caracciolo
• “Mi Tierra” by Gloria Estefan, arr. Yosvany Estepe Diaz
• “Three American Spirituals” arr. Jeff Scott
• “My Ancestors Speak” by Pulitzer Prize finalist Alex Weiser, newly commissioned for Cantus and Imani Winds

View the full program selections and get your tickets at bit.ly/4vrOO1A

09/01/2026

Experience the infectious energy of “Africa’s premier diva” (TIME) Angélique Kidjo at Shannon Hall on Thursday, September 17! 🌍

From West African rhythms and Afrobeat to R&B and jazz, Kidjo’s music has connected audiences across cultures and generations. See the global icon live in Madison as part of her limited-engagement U.S. tour. Get your tickets at bit.ly/4b8l163

08/30/2026

Don't miss DownBeat Critics' Bassist of the Year Linda May Han Oh live in the Play Circle on Thursday, September 10! 🎶

A celebrated composer, bandleader, and collaborator, Oh kicks off the Wisconsin Union Theater's 2026-2027 Season with her quartet. Join us for an evening of contemporary jazz with one of the genre’s most distinctive musicians. Get your tickets at bit.ly/4bqNbJO

08/29/2026

“[Kidjo] has connected cultures, she’s crossed borders, she’s reminded audiences everywhere that while we may come from different backgrounds, her music unites in a way that few other things can.” - Harvey Mason Jr, Recording Academy CEO

Following her historic induction on August 18, 2026, as the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, five-time GRAMMY winner Angélique Kidjo continues to demonstrate the power of music to connect cultures around the world.

“She is without a doubt the hardest working woman in showbusiness,” says actor and Wisconsin native, Willem Dafoe, who also praised Kidjo’s music, dancing, and commitment when celebrating her at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.

Returning to the Wisconsin Union Theater stage, the legendary Beninese singer and songwriter brings her electrifying live performance to Shannon Hall on Thursday, September 17. 🎟️ Get your tickets at bit.ly/4b8l163

The musical icon from Benin tells the BBC about why Africa and Africans are so important to music.

08/28/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED: Folk and soul artist Elliott Skinner joins anaiis on the North American "Devotion & The Black Divine" tour!

An acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Elliott Skinner brings an ethereal sound, with past collaborations alongside Jon Batiste, Yebba and Leon Bridges. Skinner's debut EP, "How Far We’ve Come," arrives September 18, featuring Jensen McRae, Victoria Canal, and Radamiz.

Experience anaiis with Special Guest Elliott Skinner live in an intimate Play Circle concert on Friday, September 18. Get your tickets at bit.ly/43Adn0h

WUD Performing Arts Committee

08/27/2026

“anaiis' angelic vocals grab everyone by the throat. So clean, so controlled, and so pure.” -3VOOR12

Following her recent performance at Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands, 3voor12 named anaiis one of the festival’s top acts, ranking her among artists including Adéla, Dijon, and Tyler, the Creator. The publication praised her moving vocals, laid-back R&B grooves, and ability to captivate an entire audience without putting on a grand show. 🎶 Read the full review at bit.ly/4y3gvyN

Experience anaiis live in the Play Circle on Friday, September 18, as she brings her soulful vocals and poetic artistry to Madison on the “Devotion & The Black Divine” tour. 🎟️ Get your tickets at bit.ly/43Adn0h

08/25/2026

JazzTimes named Linda May Han Oh and Melissa Aldana’s “Beneath Lifted Skies” among its top picks for August jazz releases, praising the “master instrumentalists” for their spirited, genre-defying collaboration.

“Listening and reacting, exploring sound until the duo becomes the instrument.” - JazzTimes
🎶 Read the full review at bit.ly/4iuaIO4

A GRAMMY-winning bassist and composer, 2026 DownBeat Critics Poll Bassist of the Year, and longtime collaborator with artists like Pat Metheny and Terri Lyne Carrington, Oh brings her bass and vocal talents to the Play Circle alongside Fabian Almazan, Greg Ward, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on Thursday, September 10. 🎟️ Get your tickets at bit.ly/4bqNbJO