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EARLY MUSIC NOW presents the ear-opening sounds of early music – performed by some of the world's finest Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque ensembles – winds, strings and voices. |
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UWM Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts
Lighting improvements and other modernizations as well as re-configurations of educational and office spaces created dance studios, rehearsal rooms, and faculty offices and studios. Aware of the importance of the building as an historical site, university planners did not alter the exterior or major spaces any more than was necessary. In the auditorium, curtains were added so that the windows could be covered for theater and other events, and some careful adjustments were made to the dome ceiling to improve acoustics. Seating capacity was greatly reduced, from 1200 to 760, as the stage was expanded to accommodate large choirs, bands, and orchestras. A pit orchestra area was excavated, and the large side-stage rooms were added in order to facilitate loading and backstage activities. The building was opened for classes in January of 2002. The long, flat, stone walls are impressive as one approaches from the outside, and the grand spaces of the main entrance and auditorium are also suitably imposing. Signs of the original use of the building as a house of worship are noticeable in more tangible ways; probably the most interesting and vivid sign is the large windows in the auditorium. Beginning at the south (right as you face the stage), on the end toward the stage, and moving in a circular pattern toward the rear of the auditorium, and then across to the other (north) side, from the rear to the front, the windows tell the story of the Jewish people. Hebrew words below the windows express the feelings or ideas which can be learned from this history. The windows to the south refer to ancient history with which most people have at least some familiarity. The first window expresses the pastoral time of the Jewish patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the word “blessing.” The next window shows the tablets of Moses and the word “commandment.” The third window shows the breastplate of the first high priest, Aaron, with the twelve stones which represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The word here is “worship.” The fourth window refers to King David, and shows his harp – “praise.” The windows continue in this way around the auditorium, each referring to subsequent periods of history and the ideals or lessons therein. The founding of America and the link between that moment and the ideals of freedom which Judaism also teaches is alluded to in a window on the north wall which pictures the Liberty Bell. The word is the Hebrew for “liberty.” The last window, the nearest the stage on the north side, refers not to history but to the ultimately peaceful future predicted by the prophets. The Hebrew here is the familiar “shalom”: peace, health, and ultimate welfare. The Zelazo Center hosts student arts events as well as a variety of public events, and the venue is becoming increasingly popular with various performing groups from the area. A full schedule is available by contacting the box office at 414-229-4308. Early Music Now first had a concert here in 2003. © Copyright 2003 Anne Humphrey, St. Charles, IL |
Three congregations dating back to the 1850’s eventually merged to become the Congregation Emanu- El B’ne Jeshurun in 1927. The cornerstone for this building was laid in 1923, and by 1927 the congregation occupied the sanctuary and some educational spaces. In 1985 a large building project added more classrooms and a second floor chapel. The congregation continues to thrive, and in 1998 began the project of re-locating to Mequon. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was approached about the possibility that the school might be interested in acquiring the synagogue property. As the university had been searching for some time to find a building suitable for large group rehearsals and performances, an agreement was soon reached. A fairly large fund-raising effort with several sizeable contributions helped to fund the January 1999 acquisition and the subsequent remodeling; many rooms in the building were re-named to honor large contributors to the capital campaign.