We all know the MadHatters, or at least what they look like.
With their iconic cardinal blazers and khaki pants, they strut around campus as
quasi-celebrities. They don’t garner the double takes and whispers that follow
on the coattails of the football or basketball players, but it’s not uncommon
to see a gaggle of bright-eyed freshmen girls swoon as the Hatters pass by.
The MadHatters will take the stage at Overture Hall for
their final performance of the year Friday. Not only will this show be their
biggest of the year, but also it represents a growing tradition that ties the
MadHatters and the University of Wisconsin ever closer together.
For those of you who don’t know, the MadHatters are an
all-male a cappella student group consisting of about 14 members. They are
known for singing pop songs and performing ridiculous antics on stage, such as
prancing around and often using multimedia for some farcical purpose.
The group brings this climate of fun and entertainment to
many different venues for many different crowds.
“We perform annually between 80 and 90 performances a
year. These range from high schools, private parties, community events and UW
sororities,” said Mike Jurken, member of the MadHatters. But despite the
staggering number of shows per year, Friday’s will be the largest.
“This concert will be special because it is our biggest
concert of the year. … We have
Marcus Monroe flying in from L.A. for our opening act. He is
currently filming
for a CBS show; Marcus is a nationally touring extreme
juggler. We will be performing around nine new songs from this school year
which is exciting, too,” Jurken said.
But this is more than just a musical performance by some
random band. For 11 years, the Hatters have been singing together. Along the
way, they have earned many laurels and become representatives of UW.
“I love all the different and unique personalities that
come together on stage to create this aura of genuine charisma. The fun that
they’re having shows, big time, and it makes the audience feel so good like
they truly are a part of the show,” said freshmen Lisa Kibiloski of the
MadHatters.
They have won numerous awards from the school including the
Outstanding Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Campus from
the Student Organization Office. Such a level of recognition is no small
accomplishment considering the countless student groups on campus.
And this visibility extends even beyond the scope of
Madison. They have been featured on national a cappella compilations, won
national recording awards and toured across the East Coast and Midwest. They
display to the rest of the country — and certainly Wisconsin — the fun,
creative atmosphere that can be found all over this campus.
That air of fun further pushes the MadHatters past the
bounds of the college demographic, appealing to both young and old alike.
“They are hilarious, and my mom loves them,” said
junior Chris Sover.
So, while beer pong and hangovers may epitomize Madison, so
too do the MadHatters. Attending a MadHatters concert may never cultivate the
feverish Badgerism that grilling out for a football game does, but every year
it plays a larger role in student life.
This Friday, the MadHatters are performing in their most
concentrated form. The show, being their main event of the entire year, will
surely feature the group’s best efforts vocally and comically, offering the
best chance to experience and participate in this aspect of being a Badger.
?
The MadHatters spring concert is Friday at Overture Hall at
8 p.m. Tickets are $10-22 and can be purchased from Overturecenter.com.