UW–Madison Division of the Arts welcomes playwrights, musicians and composers Jay Adana and Zeniba Now, launching the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program series for 2022–2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2022

Media Contact: aryn kresol, Arts Residency Programs Coordinator at UW–Madison Division of the Arts, akresol@wisc.edu

UW–Madison Division of the Arts welcomes playwrights, musicians and composers Jay Adana and Zeniba Now, launching the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program series for 2022–2023

Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program for the 2022–2023 academic year will engage a partnership with the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI), presenting a series of short-term residencies with interdisciplinary artists. Each artist-in-residence in the series will represent the three pillars of OMAI: academics, arts and activism. 

The residency series launches with collaborators Jay Adana and Zeniba Now, in residence at UW–Madison October 6–16, 2022. The duo will be accompanied by Jess McLeod (“Hamilton”), Blu Rhythm Collective (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Christian Thompson (“Devil Wears Prada”, “Ain’t Too Proud”) Le’Asha Julius (“Random Acts of Flyness”), Tyler Fauntleroy (“Tambo & Bones”), Alessandra Valea (“West Side Story”), Jason Simon (Metropolitan Opera), Andrea Yohe and Kelsey Baehrens for a performance of “The Loophole” at the 16th Annual Passing the Mic (PtM) Festival. The residency will also include participation in the first Just Bust! Open Mic and Workshop events of the academic year along with guest lectures, workshops and open rehearsals.

The theme for the 16th Annual Passing the Mic Festival is Love & Revolution: how we revolutionize the ways we care for ourselves and each other across generations, languages, abilities, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, identities. Everyday is another revolution around the sun. We have seen the pandemic revolutionize the ways we can connect with each other, work together, access space and stories. We have seen and felt people across the globe call for revolution, demand revolution, fight for revolution of the status quo. All are invited to join for this intergenerational hip hop festival dedicated to this conversation: how does our love span borders? How does our love create change? How does our love save us? How far does our love motivate us to go?

Public Events

Friday, October 7 | 8–10 p.m. 

Just Bust! Open Mic

Wisconsin Historical Society (816 State Street)

Madison’s longest running all-ages open mic, Just Bust! Open Mic, includes community performances, First Wave and alumni spotlight performance, and performances by Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program Artists-in-Residence Jay Adana and Zeniba Now. Interested in performing during the open mic portion of the event? Sign up (in-person) begins at 8 p.m. and goes on throughout the night until all slots are filled. Make sure to arrive early to guarantee a spot in the lineup!
Free, all ages and open to the public

Saturday, October 8 |  1–3 p.m. 

Just Bust! Hip Hop Theater Workshop

Wisconsin Union Theater’s Play Circle Theater, Memorial Union (800 Langdon Street)

Just Bust! Hip Hop Theater Workshop led by Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program Artists-in-Residence Jay Adana and Zeniba Now. This workshop centers around an upcoming performance of “The Loophole” at the 16th Annual Passing the Mic Festival (October 15).

A sci-fi adventure musical set in The American Civil War with Book & Bars by Zeniba Now and Music & Lyrics by Jay Adana, “The Loophole” is the story of the self-liberation of Polly Danfield, a black scientist and cartographer stuck at a crossroads. As The Civil War rages and the call of the mysterious Alligator Queen beckons, Polly must choose: safety in hiding or love and revolution? With a folk/rap score, verse and body percussion, this swampy epic recasts the American hero. 

Free, all ages and open to the public

Saturday, October 15 | 7–9 p.m. 

Passing the Mic (PtM) Public Showcase

Wisconsin Union Theater’s Play Circle Theater, Memorial Union (800 Langdon Street)

The theme for the 16th Annual Passing the Mic Festival is Love & Revolution: how we revolutionize the ways we care for ourselves and each other across generations, languages, abilities, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, identities. We have seen the pandemic revolutionize the ways we can connect with each other, work together, access space and stories. We have seen and felt people across the globe call for revolution, demand revolution, fight for revolution of the status quo. All are invited to join for this intergenerational hip hop festival dedicated to this conversation: How does our love span borders? How does our love create change? How does our love save us? How far does our love motivate us to go?

This year’s festival features a performance of “The Loophole” by Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program Artists-in-Residence Jay Adana and Zeniba Now. A sci-fi adventure musical set in The American Civil War with Book & Bars by Zeniba Now and Music & Lyrics by Jay Adana, “The Loophole” is the story of the self-liberation of Polly Danfield, a black scientist and cartographer stuck at a crossroads. As The Civil War rages and the call of the mysterious Alligator Queen beckons, Polly must choose: safety in hiding or love and revolution? With a folk/rap score, verse and body percussion, this swampy epic recasts the American hero.

Free, all ages and open to the public

Artist Biographies

JAY ADANA (she | her) is loud and shy. “The Loophole” (Public Theater Studio, music and lyrics), “The Jordan & Avery Show”(The O’Neill Theater Center, book, music and lyrics), “The Woodsman”(New World Stages, lyrics), “Notes From Now”(59E59, contributed music and lyrics), “Fingerpaintings” (Playwrights Horizons Downtown, music and lyrics), “LeFay”(Musical Theater Factory,book and lyrics), “The Last Tiger in Haiti” (Berkeley Rep/La Jolla Playhouse, contributed music and lyrics). Currently developing “The Jordan & Avery Show” as a musical movie. 2020 Richard Rodgers Award, 2021 Vivace Award, 2018 Jonathan Larson Award, 2019 Dramatist Guild Foundation Fellow. Work featured by PBS, The American Theater Wing, Joe’s Pub, and The Dramatist Magazine. Residencies: Public Theater #BARS residency writer under Jeanie O’Hare, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, SPACE on Ryder Farm. Education: #BARS workshop founded by Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, Acting BFA SUNY Purchase Conservatory.

ZENIBA NOW is a musical storyteller and artscientist from Los Angeles. Millions of people have enjoyed her performances online and on stage. As a writer of musicals, her work includes “Beloved” (PBS, #BARS at The Public), “Human Resources” (St. Louis Rep, Woolly Mammoth), “The Loophole” (The Public Theater) and “Take the Lead” (forthcoming). Her one-woman specials “IQuit: Millennial Retirement Gala” and “Sincerely, Z” can be seen on TIk Tok and Youtube. Z has also collaborated with Buzzfeed, The New York Times, Mixed Blood, NYU Playwrights Horizons, Goodspeed Musicals, NYMF, Theatre Raleigh, Theatre by The Sea, RWS & Associates, La Mama, The Dramatist Guild Foundation, The American Theatre Wing, Joe’s Pub, The GreenRoom42, 54 Below, The Gibney, Ring of Keys, Democracy Now, Caveat, SPACE on Ryder Farm, SpeakEasy Stage, Signature Center, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat and more.

Zeniba is passionate about the effects of heart and brain coherence on human consciousness and has completed Alpha Brainwave Training 1 at Dr. James Hardt’s Biocybernaut Institute and two advanced retreats on piezoelectricity with Dr. Joe Dispenza. She has a degree in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee with an emphasis in Directing. Additional training in antiracism and leadership from Urban Bush Women, and graduate coursework in Trauma & Communal Suffering, The Shape of The Story, and Artist Identity from NYU Gallatin where she briefly pursued an Independent Masters in Musical Film and Television. Zeniba is the winner of the 2021 Jonathan Larson Award, 2021 Vivace Award, the 2020 Richard Rodgers Award and West High’s Funniest Senior.

About the Work

A sci-fi adventure musical set in The American Civil War with Book & Bars by Zeniba Now and Music & Lyrics by Jay Adana, “The Loophole” is the story of the self-liberation of Polly Danfield, a black scientist and cartographer stuck at a crossroads. As The Civil War rages and the call of the mysterious Alligator Queen beckons, Polly must choose: safety in hiding or love and revolution? With a folk/rap score, verse and body percussion, this swampy epic recasts the American hero. Winner of The 2020 Richard Rodgers’ Award, developmentally produced in Public Studio at The Public Theater, Dramatist Guild Foundation Fellowship, #BARS at The Public Alumni Residency, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Winner and featured commission at the 50th Anniversary of HAIR! gala.

About the Presenters

The Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP), originated through the Cluster Hiring Initiative of the Office of the Provost, brings innovative, world-class artists to the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Since 1999, the program has hosted over 40 residencies involving more than 100 guest artists from 20 different countries, engaging over 60 university units and community organizations. 

All residencies center interdisciplinary arts, recognizing that interdisciplinarity can break down barriers and silos, advance intellectual artistic diversity and give opportunities to people who do not fit into the traditional modes of inquiry and practice (see the Division of the Arts’ guiding principle of The Arts for Everyone, Everywhere). The program often brings together artists, faculty, staff and students from various disciplines across the arts, sciences and humanities. Integrated with curricular activities, all arts residencies in this program are proposed by academic departments or officially recognized interdepartmental programs, centers or institutes at UW–Madison.

While in residence, artists teach interdisciplinary workshops and participate in public programming with campus and Madison communities. The program provides students with extended learning experiences with a working artist, including options to earn course credit; increases diversity of teaching staff on campus; and strengthens programmatic ties among individual departments, programs and other campus and community arts entities.

The Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) within the Division of Diversity, Equity, & Educational Achievement provides culturally relevant and transformative arts programming to promote positive social dialogue and to give cultural art forms a legitimate academic forum. By harnessing the broad cultural influence of spoken word, hip hop and emerging as well as traditional art forms, OMAI’s events and programming create learning environments that directly affect UW–Madison’s campus climate, improving retention and graduation success, preparing future leaders to reinvest in their communities. By continually refreshing this paradigm that integrates traditional academics and cutting edge arts activism, OMAI empowers transnational leaders with new tools for inclusive community building.

One of OMAI’s most prominent initiatives is the First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Learning Community, a cutting-edge multicultural artistic program for incoming students which offers a four-year full tuition scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Bringing together young artists and leaders from across the United States and beyond, the First Wave Learning Community offers students the opportunity to live, study and create together in a close-knit, dynamic campus community. First Wave is the first university program in the country centered on urban arts, spoken word and hip-hop culture.

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Wisconsin Union Theater: South African Gospel Choir Will Perform Songs in Celebration of Freedom and Civil Rights Oct. 8 in Madison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 23, 2022

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

SOUTH AFRICAN GOSPEL CHOIR WILL PERFORM SONGS IN CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS OCT. 8 IN MADISON, WIS.

MADISON – The Soweto Gospel Choir will perform a new program, called, “Hope – It’s Been A Long Time Coming,” on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall in commemoration of South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

The three-time GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble will open the show with South African freedom songs and then move into music of the Civil Rights Movement, including works by artists James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Aretha Franklin.

The Soweto Gospel Choir celebrates African gospel music and brings more than 50 artists from churches in and around Soweto, South Africa, together on stages across the world. The Choir is known around the world with its powerful blend of African gospel, freedom songs and international classics.

Patrons can purchase virtual and in-person tickets online, by phone at (608) 265-2787 or in-person at the Memorial Union Box Office. Wisconsin Union members, guests under the age of 18, and University of Wisconsin–Madison students are eligible for discounted tickets.

“The Soweto Gospel Choir has been touring worldwide for almost 20 years. It brightens people’s lives with its artists’ talents and stories wherever it goes,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “The spirit and energy its singing and dancing put into the world are infectious. People won’t be able to stay in their seats.”

The Wisconsin Union Theater presents this performance as part of its 2022-23 season, which also includes jazz, dance and classical music performances.

The Wisconsin Union Theater team presents the 2022-23 season in collaboration with the UW–Madison student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee. Ticket revenue and purchases from the Wisconsin Union Theater and the Wisconsin Union’s Memorial Union partly support WUD professional development experiences.

Patrons can click here to learn more about the Soweto Gospel Choir performance.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an extensive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to social justice and works to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater’s programming, events, and activities. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee is part of the Wisconsin Union’s leadership development program for UW–Madison students and supports the Wisconsin Union Theater’s mission of serving students through the performing arts. By helping to program the Theater’s annual season of performing arts presentations, the students learn about program curation, relationship-building, marketing, communications, budgeting, and production. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

[Click here to download photos of the Soweto Gospel Choir. Photos by Lorenzo Di Nozzi.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/soweto-gospel-choir.

Wisconsin Union: U.S. Spaceflight Record-Holding Astronaut Scott Kelly to Speak on Year-Long Space Travel at Free Event at Memorial Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 19, 2022

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director, Wisconsin Union
Office: (608) 262-8862
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu

U.S. SPACEFLIGHT RECORD-HOLDING ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY TO SPEAK ON YEAR-LONG SPACE TRAVEL AT FREE EVENT AT MEMORIAL UNION
Retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy captain will headline the first event of the 2022-23 Wisconsin Union Directorate Distinguished Lecture Series

MADISON – With 200 million miles of space travel under his belt, former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has seen the world from many angles – and 8,300 orbits – and will share his story at a free Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) Committee-hosted talk on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union. 

The event, titled “An Evening with Captain Scott Kelly: The Sky Is Not The Limit,” will feature a 90-minute talk and Q&A session with Kelly on his extensive space travel. No tickets are necessary – admission is free and open to the public. The WUD DLS Committee will provide live captioning during the event.

Kelly completed four space flights including two stays as commander on the International Space Station, one of which lasted a record-breaking 340 days in 2015. During his mission, called “A Year in Space,” he conducted three spacewalks and studied how longer periods in space affect the human body. TIME Magazine documented his journey in a video series and an Emmy Award-winning PBS special.

He authored New York Times bestsellers, “Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery,” an autobiography chronicling his experience during his longest space trip, and “Infinite Wonder,” a collection of his photographs from the International Space Station. Kelly’s most recent book, “Ready for Launch: An Astronaut’s Lessons for Success on Earth,” was published April 12.

Not only the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, Kelly is also a fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a member of the Association of Space Explorers.

“The best part was the challenge of doing something incredibly complicated and risky, working hard at it, and being successful,” Kelly said on being an astronaut in an interview with Harvard Business Review. “You’ve got to put a lot in, and you need the help of many, many people on the ground and in space to do it. So there’s a lot of teamwork, a lot of collaboration.”

The WUD DLS Committee brings engaging and influential people to the UW–Madison campus to encourage thought-provoking conversations. WUD includes 11 committees and six Wisconsin Hoofers clubs that program thousands of events each year.

Patrons can learn more about the upcoming free talk featuring Kelly here.

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About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Distinguished Lecture Series Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Distinguished Lecture Series Committee contributes to the educational experience of University of Wisconsin–Madison students, Wisconsin Union members and community members by bringing engaging and influential people to campus. Founded in 1987, the series aims to expose the campus community to a diverse and vibrant array of people, backgrounds, and ideas. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/dls.

[Click here to download photos of Scott Kelly. Photos courtesy of Scott Kelly.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/scott-kelly.

Wisconsin Technology Council: Apply for three chances to pitch at Early Stage Symposium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Kremer or Tom Still at 608-442-7557

Or visit wisearlystage.com to learn more

Calling all companies! Apply for three chances to pitch at Early Stage Symposium

MADISON, Wis. – Applications are being accepted now from young companies that want to tell their stories to investors at our annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, planned for an in-person format Nov. 9-10 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

The 2022 format includes two pitch opportunities – the Tech Council Investor Networks track (five-minute presentations) and the 90-second Elevator Pitch Olympics – as well as “Investor Intros,” which will allow pre-selected companies brief, one-on-one meetings with targeted angel and venture investors.

Instructions for how to apply for all or a mix of the investor presentation opportunities can be found at wisearlystage.com on the “ESS Application” tab.

General registration is also now open by clicking here!

At least one applicant must register in advance for the conference at a discounted rate of $179. Additional team members may register at the rate of $129. As always, student discounts will be available. Some young companies will be eligible for conference “scholarships” to help defray registration costs. Contact angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com after applying to learn about eligibility; early registrants will receive first consideration.

The deadline to apply online is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7.

Here are the three company forums; companies may apply for one, two or all three opportunities to be seen, heard and make a splash!

Tech Council Investor Networks Track – Wednesday, Nov. 9:

These tracks will feature more than 20 companies from the Midwest representing an array of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, information technology, medical device and mobile application sectors.

Companies selected will have many opportunities to interest investors: a five-minute presentation, networking receptions and an executive summary published in the investor-only program. Selected companies will also be invited to participate in a pre-conference practice session with a group of mentors.

Elevator Pitch Olympics – Thursday, Nov. 10:

Companies or entrepreneurs selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics will give a 90-second pitch in front of conference attendees and a panel of investors. The investors will score the presenter on a scale of 1 to 5, focusing on whether the pitch was compelling enough to arrange a follow-up meeting, and will offer immediate feedback.

About 15 companies will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. In past years, these have been companies just forming, seeking a smaller investment round or planning to do so within the next year. There are crystal awards for the top presenters!

Investor Intros – Thursday, Nov. 10:

Companies selected for the popular Investor Intros will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with investors from Wisconsin and beyond. To foster this type of communication, the Investor Intros will feature pre-scheduled, strategic meetings between investors and emerging companies. This format will resemble a “speed dating” exercise, allowing both parties to learn more about each other and explore potential relationships.

The conference will also feature:

• National keynote speakers and targeted panel discussions featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors and others tied to the tech sector making an impact nationwide.
• The 9^th annual “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award presentation and luncheon.
• Exhibit hall showcasing innovative Wisconsin companies.
• A Nov. 9 conference reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities, including an investors-only dinner.

The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors thus far include: Aberdean Consulting, Advocate Aurora Health, American Transmission Co., AT&T, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, City of Fitchburg, Concordia University, DeWitt, EUA, Exact Sciences, Findorff, First Business Bank, Godfrey & Kahn, Google, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, KW2, M3 Insurance, Madison Development Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ Hey Communications, Marquette University, Michael Best, Mobile22, Morgridge Institute for Research, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, One City Schools, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, RSM US, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Tech Council board member Susan Healy, UMOS One Workforce – TechStars, University Research Park, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Computer Sciences, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, Venture Investors, Versiti, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., WIPFLi, Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions and Ziegler.

To learn more about sponsorship information, please reach out to Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.  

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Colectivo Coffee & UW–Madison Partner Together for New Coffee

Media Contact:
Marissa Worzella
marissaw@colectivocoffee.com
Office: 414.837.4446
Cell: 608.558.9830

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2022

Colectivo Coffee & UW-Madison Partner Together for New Coffee

Milwaukee, WI- Colectivo Coffee Roasters is excited to announce its newest coffee: Wisconsin Badger Blend. In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the coffee proudly features an artistic illustration of Bucky the Badger and aims to unite Badger fans and coffee enthusiasts everywhere.

Colectivo, a Milwaukee-based coffee roastery known for its coffee sourced from origin and made-from-scratch food, has three cafes in Madison, including one on State Street in the heart of the UW-Madison campus.

“We love all the Badger pride here in Madison,” said Aaron Cantrall, General Manager of Colectivo State Street. “We’re thrilled to launch this pairing of team spirit and delicious coffee just in time for the new school year.”

The coffee has notes of plum, dark chocolate and concord grape with a medium body and is Fair Trade Organic Certified. It will be available in 12 ounce bags at all Wisconsin Colectivo locations, plus online for shipping across the US.

The blend is one of the three new college coffees Colectivo is launching this fall. Along with the Wisconsin Badger Blend, customers can find a Northwestern Wildcat Blend & a UW-Milwaukee Panther Blend- a college coffee for each of the three geographic markets they have physical cafe locations (Chicago area, Milwaukee area & Madison).

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About Colectivo: Colectivo Coffee has been dedicated to delivering a remarkable coffee experience since 1993. From its beginning, they cultivated strong, direct relationships with producers and exporters around the world to source great-tasting coffee. Each batch is roasted by hand on a pair of vintage machines in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood. Along with coffee, customers can enjoy made-from-scratch food at their cafes in Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee. Learn more at www.colectivocoffee.com