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Michael Goldberg Obituary
February 6, 2026
Michael Goldberg, age 82, was born in the Bronx, New York City. When he was a teenager, his family was gifted boxes of LPS of classical music and a record player, which began Michael's lifelong love of classical music. He and two friends started attending performances at the old Metropolitan Opera, standing during the first act until seats opened up during the second. He heard greats such as Rise Stevens in Carmen, Cesare Siepi in Don Giovanni, Birgit Nilsson in Tristan and Isolde, to name a few.
Michael attended the Bronx High School of Science, where he graduated at the age of 16 and took a greyhound bus to Madison, Wisconsin, to attend the University of Wisconsin. He often said that when he got off the bus, he took a look around and saw blue sky and BLONDS!
At the UW, a friend invited Michael to come to a tear down (strike) of the set for a production of "Our Town" at the Wisconsin Union Theater. That launched another passion of Michael's, live theater, and a love for the Wisconsin Union Theater in particular.
Michael graduated from the UW with a BA in English Literature in 1964. After graduation, he joined the Peace Corps where he served in Ethiopia for two years with his first wife, Maxine Sidran. It was an experience he has never forgotten, and he continued to speak Amharic with Ethiopians he met here in the U.S.
His career was varied, working in New York City, Wisconsin, and California. In the early seventies, he authored a cross-country research project for the fledging presenters' organization, the Association of College, University and Community Arts Administrators (ACUCAA, now known as APAP). He finally came back to Madison in 1977 and soon after met his second wife, Allisanne Apple, when she was a featured soloist in a chamber orchestra he was managing. They married in 1980, and spent the next 45 years building a life full of music and laughter. There was nothing he loved more than listening to Allisanne sing.
Michael was Director of the Wisconsin Union Theater for 23 years, Vice-President of Programming at Overture for 5 years, and Director of the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford, Illinois for 5 years. He was known and respected throughout the arts presenters network as a smart, capable consumer of the arts, a mentor for those just starting out, and in general, a mensch. Michael directed operas for the UW, operettas for Madison Savoyards, and dabbled in acting in theater productions. Hiking, camping, backpacking, poker games, reading anything and everything-Michael absorbed and was interested in it all. He was also an avid Wisconsin Badgers sports fan, especially women's hockey (currently #1 in the nation).
In 2013, Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's. He approached the disease with grace, humor, and an unflinching desire to participate in as much of life as he could.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends and colleagues. Donations may be sent to the The Parkinson's Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation, or buy a ticket and/or donate to the arts organization of your choice.
Epitaph:
He loved his family.
He loved his friends.
He loved the arts.
And he told pretty good jokes.
Memories and Condolences
for Michael Goldberg
Kenneth Ferencek
February 28, 2026
I first met Michael in 1980 when I began lighting Gilbert and Sullivan productions for the Madison Savoyards. Michael directed The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. His wife, Allisanne, was one of the "three little maids from school" in the Mikado. Michael loved all of the performing arts
and all of the people involved in a production. He was a true showman. When I was living in New York City and came back to Madison, I would always go over to the Union Theater to see him. I can remember Michael's enthusiasm when he would describe a performance that he had seen many years before, as if it was just yesterday. Michael was a good friend and mentor. He always gave me good advice and encouragement. Michael loved the UW Women's Hockey team and was a season ticket holder. How happy he would be he with US Women's hockey team's gold metal!
Susan Crofton
February 20, 2026
Michael was a mentor and friend. And, for a time, my boss. I worked for him briefly at the Union Theatre and again at Overture Center. He was a kind, supportive man, with a great sense of humor. He had a deep understanding of the arts and was an admired leader in the field--not only locally, but regionally and nationally. I am grateful to have experienced and personally benefited from his empowering style of leadership and more importantly, his friendship. Expressing my sincere condolences to his family, and deep sorrow at his passing.
Terry Penner
February 15, 2026
I can’t say how sorry I was to learn of Michael’s passing, and, lo, all these years on, of the health burdens that he and his family had to endure for so many years. I saw Michael mostly during the time when I had a role in a production of modest operetta, The Zoo, by Sir Arthur Sullivan (but without Gilbert) in, I think, the late 1970’s. Alisanne, whom we all admired, as we admired her singing, was the female lead; the much-lamented David Cosby the conductor; and Michael the stage director. When performance time case, Alisanne was struck with a cruel laryngitis, as a result of which the chorus-master, Lisa Jablow, sang Alisanne’s music from the pit, and Alisanne heroically lip-synced her part from the stage. (Lisa was later a singing teacher, at a summer music clinic, for our daughter, Jane, and later still I heard Lisa singing Frasquita in Carmen at the Met.) I have been in quite a few opera and operetta productions, but none did I enjoy more than this production of The Zoo. And that was mostly down to Michael. I don’t remember the details of his directing, but I do remember the feeling I had that he knew how to bring out the best that each performer had to offer—how he observed them and listened to them, how supportive he was of what we were trying to do, and how his seeming total grasp on the fact that a genuinely felt friendship with the people he was working with could help both them and him to do best what they were trying to do. Alas, after the production, I saw all too little of Michael—a few chance meetings at the Union Theater while he was there, and maybe one or two chance meetings with Michael and Alisanne at or near the Union Terrace. What a pleasure on each of those occasions. But then, we didn’t see each other for years. What a loss that I didn’t see more of him. To Alisanne and the family, deepest sympathy.
Carol Olsen
February 14, 2026
He had a wonderful life. I worked with Alisanne before her marriage.
How you can show support
Jacob Stockinger aka The Well-Tempered Ear
February 13, 2026
https://welltempered.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/michael-goldberg-master-arts-presenter-has-died-at-8/
Ruthi Duval
February 12, 2026
Michael was a wonderful mentor to me when I worked at The Memorial Union. He will be missed.
Marilyn Gilbert
February 11, 2026
Michael was my cousin. He was my only boy cousin and I adored him. His Mom and my Dad were sister and brother. I used to love to visit him - he had the best comic book collection evaaaah! I am so happy that I got to talk to him recently and reminisce about old times. You will be missed Michael - R.I.P.
Mary Ann Nanassy
February 11, 2026
Rest In Peace, dear Michael. I will never forget singing in the chorus of many Savoyards productions with you. You truly made a difference in this world.
Jeff Laramie, SRO Artists
February 10, 2026
Michael was a dynamic and trusted arts advocate, leading both the Union Theater and the Madison Civic Center over his long career. He´ll be remembered for bringing the highest level of programming to our community. We worked closely for many years to develop the Union Theater´s World Music series. He will be greatly missed.
Bob Israel
February 10, 2026
We were both in a production of Ben Jonson's 'Volpone' at the Union Theater in the early 60's. His was a large and welcoming personality and I'm sorry that he's no longer with us.
Jennifer Sloan Lattis
February 10, 2026
Michael once played Il Lucevan Le Stella on a record player. I think it was Domingo. Allisanne cried. Much later, Michael told me to put on big girl pants and go see Dead Man Walking because I would love it. He was mostly right. What a wonderful man and a great teacher. So eager to share his passions. We miss him. Jennifer Sloan Lattis.
Caylen Kahl
February 7, 2026
"Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
- William Shakespeare
With deepest sympathy to you all. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
Debbie Konkol
February 7, 2026
My deepest sympathy for the loss of this wonderful man.
Lecia Keaton (Schwartz)
February 7, 2026
Condolences and prayers to the family. And thanks for being my WUD Theater Arts advisor and advisor for life... Lecia Keaton (Schwartz)
Jeff Greenfield
February 6, 2026
He was a delight to break bread with, swap stories with, laugh with, hang with. He was a source of splendid memories for me of my Wisconsin years. Much love to his family.
Jeff Greenfield
James Rhem
February 6, 2026
So sorry to lose him
George
February 6, 2026
Some of my very best jokes came from Uncle Michael..... "what's she got that I don't have?"
Evey Fleming
February 6, 2026
An English major! Who knew?! Loved this guy, his jokes and music and theater lore. Sail high and land softly, my dear friend.
Marja
February 6, 2026
He truly was a mensch! I am so very sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathies.
Allisanne Apple
February 6, 2026
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