Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

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The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 2004.
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The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 2004.

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is an improvisational theatre in Chelsea, New York, and Hollywood, California. Their unique form of improvisational comedy makes the theater one of the more important comedy venues in the country.

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.

Comedy Death-Ray, L.A.'s premier alternative comedy show, moved from its former home at the M Bar to join them, appearing on Tuesday nights.


Contents

[edit] Notable performers who have performed on the UCB Stage

[edit] Current UCBTNY house teams

  • 1985
  • Beverly Hills
  • Creep
  • Death By Roo Roo
  • fwand
  • Kill Your Darlings
  • Mother
  • Reuben Williams
  • The Stepfathers
  • Tantrum
  • T.R.U.C.K.S.

[edit] Current UCBTLA house teams

  • Coffee Is for Closers
  • Gravy
  • Last Day of School
  • Mr. & Mrs. All-Star
  • Robot Doctors
  • Sentimental Lady

[edit] External links

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