Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improv Comes to Bay Street Theatre Tonight

Bay Street Theatre presents "The Upright Citizens Brigade Tour Company" on Thanksgiving Weekend! Mark your calendar for tonight, November 30 at 8 pm.

The show is 90 minutes of subversive improvised hilarity by the CBGB's of Comedy! The evening offers the best long form improv on the East Coast. Named "Hot Farm Team" by Rolling Stone magazine and "Best Comedy Club" by The Village Voice, The UCB Theatre (UCBT) is widely recognized as home to today's funniest actors and writers. The touring arm of UCB (UCB TourCo) is bringing the most innovative and hilarious comedians from UCB's New York and Los Angeles to Bay Street. The hand-picked cast is sure to delight and is known for presenting the nation's next wave of comedy superstars.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 day of event. Call the Box Office at 631-725-9500 or buy online at www.baystreet.org.

Past casts include: Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover), Bobby Moynihan (SNL), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), ADAM PALLY (Happy Endings), Horatio Sanz (SNL), Rob Corddry (The Daily Show), Ellie Kemper (Bridesmaids, The Office), Rob Riggle (The Daily Show), Zach Woods (In The Loop, The Office), Lennon Parham (Accidentally On Purpose, BFF)

Longform improvisation was pioneered by Del Close in Chicago at the Improv Olympics and was brought to New York City by the Upright Citizens Brigade. In longform improvisation, performers create an entire show consisting of interconnected scenes, characters and ideas completely made-up on the spot with no pre-planning or pre-writing.

The Upright Citizens Brigade (Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh) came to New York from Chicago in 1996. Noticing an absence of "Chicago-style" longform improvisation in the city, the four members of the UCB launched a training program in 1997. The UCBT quickly became the place for cutting-edge comedy. Casting directors, agents, festival producers, and journalists began to flock to the theater to see the best comic talent in the city. As buzz for the theater grew, the training program expanded with hundreds of students learning the art of improvised theater. The UCB Theater at 307 West 26th Street continues to offer the best and most innovative improv, sketch and stand-up comedy in the city. In addition to the performance space, UCBT is home to an intensive Improv Guerilla Training Center where students learn the art of improvisational and written comedy. In 2005, the UCB Theatre LA opened to make the UCB Theatre the only bi-coastal sketch, improv and comedy theatre in the country.

Bay Street Theatre is a not-for-profit institution, dedicated to presenting new, classic and contemporary works of the highest quality, which challenge as well as entertain, speak to the diversity of the community and champion the human spirit. Bay Street's commitment extends to educational programs for all ages to foster the continued value of theatre as a vital art form for future generations.

Photo courtesy of UCB.

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