Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
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The theater was founded by Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts, a group of comedians who perform as the Upright Citizens Brigade. The troupe had a show on Comedy Central from 1998 to 2001.
The UCBT was originally housed at 161 West 22nd Street, a 75-seat auditorium that used to be the Harmony Theater, an all-nude lap-dancing club. The original theatre was closed by the city of New York in late 2002 due to code violations, and on April 1, 2003, the New UCB Theater (a 150-seat theater at 307 West 26th Street in NYC) opened its doors.
The UCBT features a variety of comedy-related acts, including one-person shows, stand up, and sketch comedy acts, but the theater is best known for its long-form improv shows. Teams that performed the classic Harold improv format, like Mother, Respecto Montalban, and The Swarm, developed their own forms and helped the UCBT become the place for great, cutting-edge, comedy. The longest running improv show at UCBT, A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T, has featured famous comedians like Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Will Ferrell and Tina Fey as participants.
In addition to the performance space, UCB is home to an intensive Improv Guerilla Training Center where students learn the art of improvisational and written comedy.
The Los Angeles division of the Upright Citizens Brigade was opened on July 2, 2005 at the Tamarind Theatre.
Notable performers who have performed on the UCB Stage
- Jessica Allen, VH1
- Scot Armstrong, screenwriter of Old School
- Owen Burke, VH1
- Rob Corddry, The Daily Show
- Andrew Daly, MADtv, The Showbiz Show with David Spade
- Kevin Dorff, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Rachel Dratch, Saturday Night Live
- James Eason, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Jesse Falcon, creator of Hulk Hands
- Dannah Feinglass, MADtv
- Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
- Jake Fogelnest, Squirt TV
- Chris Gethard, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Jon Gemberling, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
- Ed Helms, The Daily Show
- Rob Huebel, Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Brian Huskey, Best Week Ever
- Rebecca Johnson, Boiling Points
- Adam McKay, Saturday Night Live
- Tim Meadows, Saturday Night Live
- Billy Merritt, Boiling Points
- Caitlin Miller, My Favorite Mistake
- Andy Milonakis, The Andy Milonakis Show
- Eli Newell, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Rob Riggle, Saturday Night Live
- Horatio Sanz, Saturday Night Live
- Paul Scheer, Best Week Ever
- Danielle Schneider, Best Week Ever
- Eric Appel, The Andy Milonakis Show
- Jon Gutierrez, Twisted Toyfare Theater
- Dan Bakkedahl, The Daily Show
Current UCB NY house teams
- 1985
- Beatrice
- Creep
- Death By Roo Roo
- Killebrew
- Kill Your Darlings
- Mailer Daemon
- Mother
- Reuben Williams
- The Stepfathers
- Tantrum
External links
- [The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Official Site]
- [UCBTNY on MySpace]
- [UCBTLA on MySpace]
- ["Masters of Improv Are Stumped"], by Jesse McKinley, New York Times, January 27, 2003; article on the first UCBT.
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