Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

Congratulations to Chris Kelly (Oh My God, I Heard You're Dying, MAUDE NIGHT), who was hired as a full-time writer for NBC's Saturday Night Live!

Before this, Chris was a staff writer for Funny or Die and was previously a writer and director for The Onion News Network in New York, which won the 2009 Peabody Award.

He was also the head writer for Matt Besser's Comedy Central special "This Show Will Get You High" in 2010.

At UCB in New York City, Chris wrote, directed and starred in... Read More

Watch UCBT's
Charlie Sanders (Shitty Jobs, Minnesota Muslim) in the premiere of MTV's DEATH VALLEY tonight, August 29th tonight at 10:30pm/9:30pm CST

Also involved are UCBT's
Curtis Gwinn (writer) and
Eric Appel (director).

Here's the full summary from
MTV.com, where you can also watch the trailers!

A year ago, vampires, werewolves and zombies mysteriously descended upon the streets of California's San Fernando Valley. Death Valley is the dark comedy that follows the... Read More

<b>
Hot New Show: MTV's The Substitute</b>
by Laura Rosenfeld

Can you imagine getting paid to go to school? That's what happens on MTV's new game show The Substitute, premiering September 12! Students at high schools and colleges across the country think it's just a regular day when the "substitute teacher" walks into the classroom. When he opens up his briefcase filled with cash though, the students find out that he's really
Jon Gabrus, host of The Substitute, and they are on a game... Read More

Variety August 8, 2011
Middleditch takes 'Road to Nardo'
by Jeff Sneider

'Hangover' scribe Armstrong to make feature helming debut

Exclusive: Just weeks after being named one of Variety's 10 Comics to Watch, Thomas Middleditch ("Splinterheads") has landed the title role in Columbia Pictures' comedy "Road to Nardo."

"The Hangover" scribe Scot Armstrong will make his feature directing debut with the film, which follows two roommates who go to great lengths to save their friend... Read More

<b>NBCUniversal and The UCB Theater (NYC) 1st Annual Diversity Scholarship! - HOW TO APPLY</b>

NBCU will offer a scholarship to students with advanced skills in improvisation at The UCB Theater. NBCU will sponsor one student, for a full year of UCB Classes.

A live “Finalists Showcase” will be scheduled in the fall at The UCB Theater for 10 finalists selected by the Artistic Director of the UCB Theatre. The 2011/2012 Diversity Scholar will be selected by both UCB and NBCU... Read More

Variety July 26, 2011
10 Comics to Watch
by Justin Shady (Fadem), Steve Heisler (Holmes, Middleditch), Iain Blair (Wittels)

Whether on stage or screen, you?ll be seeing a lot more of these cut-ups, whose accomplishments range from voicing the E-Trade baby to shocking auds with a scandalous ?naughty Oprah? persona.

<b>Jerrod Carmichael</b>

<b>Chris D?Elia</b>

<b>Josh Fadem: Absurdist sketch artist has eccentric style</b>

By blending the physical humor of pratfalls and slapstick with... Read More

<b>
New York Television Festival 2011 Official Selections</b>

The New York Television Festival is proud to announce the following 48 Official Selections to the 2011 Independent Pilot Competition.


Check out the trailers! Visit the NYTVF Media Showcase.

Scheduling information and ticket reservation will be available in early September at the NYTVF Box Office.

Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our 2011 Artists!


Bandgirlfriends (Comedy)
Created by: Libby... Read More

<b>
Short and Sweet</b>
by Jason Wooden and Adrienne Urbanski
Samuel French OOB Festival


Jim Santangeli, Don Fanelli, Richard Armstead, and Michael Antonucci play New York Jets players in Travis Helwig's winning play Hanksylvania.

The Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, now in its thirty-sixth year represents, within the playwriting community in New York, an annual chance to make one’s mark in the business. Past winners include Theresa Rebeck and Shirley Lauro, as... Read More

<b>
The full list of New Faces debuting at Montreal Just For Laughs 2011</b>

You may have seen some lists floating around with the 2011 crop of New Faces for Montreal's Just For Laughs festival in 2011, but they forgot about the third batch.

That's right. In addition to two groups of stand-up comedians showing off their best sets for Montrealers and industry scouts, JFL is introducing a third group of comedic actors who specialize in sketch characters and one-person shows. In other words, the... Read More

The UCB Training Center gives out scholarships twice a year as part of its diversity program. This summer's applications are due Friday, July 15. For more information, check out
this web page.

They are looking to increase the diversity of the student body in terms of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identification, age (over 35), and differently-abled performers.

This program is separate from the <b>NBCUniversal scholarship</b>, and students are encourage to apply for both if... Read More

The 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominations have been announced! Congratulations to UCBT co-founder Amy Poehler and UCBT alums and performers Heather Anne Campbell, Wyatt Cenac, Eric Drysdale, Peter Gwinn, Hallie Haglund, Brian Huskey, Anthony King, Eric Ledgin, Opus Moreschi, John Mulaney, Christine Nangle, Craig Rowin and Andy Secunda on their nominations.

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards will be televised on FOX on Sunday, September 18.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy... Read More

<b>NBCUniversal and The UCB Theater (NYC) 1st Annual Diversity Scholarship! - HOW TO APPLY</b>

NBCU will offer a scholarship to students with advanced skills in improvisation at The UCB Theater. NBCU will sponsor one student, for a full year of UCB Classes.

A live “Finalists Showcase” will be scheduled in the fall at The UCB Theater for 10 finalists selected by the Artistic Director of the UCB Theatre. The 2011/2012 Diversity Scholar will be selected by both UCB and NBCU... Read More

<b>
Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, and Matt Walsh of Upright Citizens Brigade</b>
by Joel Keller
July 8, 2011



In 1996, four Chicago-based improv comics—Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts—got together to form the group that would become the Upright Citizens Brigade. Fifteen years later, UCB has expanded to the point where its New York and L.A. theaters, as well as its website, are among the top places to recruit future comedy stars. Dozens of today’s comedy stars... Read More

Deadline June 28, 2011
<b>Comedy Central OKs Two New Sketch Series</b>
by The Deadline Team

EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central has ordered a pair of new sketch-based series for its 2012 lineup: The Nick Show Kroll, featuring the stand-up comic, and an untitled series starring MadTV alum Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. "I haven't seen either pilot yet, but I think so highly of the talent involved, I can't imagine the shows won't be great," said Kent Alterman, Comedy Central's head of original... Read More

<b>NBCUniversal and The UCB Theater (NYC) 1st Annual Diversity Scholarship! - HOW TO APPLY</b>

NBCU will offer a scholarship to students with advanced skills in improvisation at The UCB Theater. NBCU will sponsor one student, for a full year of UCB Classes.

A live “Finalists Showcase” will be scheduled in the fall at The UCB Theater for 10 finalists selected by the Artistic Director of the UCB Theatre. The 2011/2012 Diversity Scholar will be selected by both UCB and NBCU... Read More

<b>The UCB Theatre Partners With NBCUniversal's Talent Diversity Initiative to Offer An Improv Training Scholarship</b>

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- May 12, 2011 -- NBCUniversal’s Talent Diversity Initiative has partnered with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade (UCB) to offer year-round improvisational scholarships -- particularly for talented women and people of diverse backgrounds.  Kendra Carter, Director, NBCUniversal Talent Diversity Initiatives, made the announcements today.

The Upright... Read More

<b>
Upright Citizens Brigade Joins SiriusXM Radio</b>
Compiled by ADAM W. KEPLER

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater will start a weekly hourlong live radio show on SiriusXM Radio, that satellite radio company announced. “Live From UCB Theater” will record a different show each week at its theaters in New York and Los Angeles, showcasing the comedy troupe’s usual mix of improv, sketch comedy and stand-up. The first episode will run at 11 p.m. on Saturday on the radio service’s Raw... Read More

Backstage June 2, 2011
<b>10 Comics to Watch</b>
by Backstage Staff

<b>Blake Anderson</b>

<b>Hannibal Burress</b>

<b>Carly Craig</b>

<b>Paul W. Downs</b>

<b>Hails from:</b> Sussex, N.J. <b>Greener pasture:</b> Los Angeles. <b>Fresh off the boat:</b> Downs just moved to the Southland from New York, where he recently won an ECNY Award for best emerging comic and praise from Time Out New York magazine for his solo sketch show, "The Paul Downs Syndrome," which he's just introduced to his new fellow Angelenos. "The show is so out... Read More

Congratulations to The Chris Gethard Show for being accepted to Chicago's Just For Laughs Festival. Here's a message from Gethard himself about this epic event:

"A few months back the organizer of the alternative comedy programming wing of the Just for Laughs festival in Chicago got in touch with me. He wanted to know if The Chris Gethard Show would like to travel to the Windy City to do back to back midnight shows on Friday, June 17th and Saturday, June 18th. I immediately said... Read More

Congratulations to
Zhubin Parang, who has been hired as a writer for Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart!

Zhubin can currently be seen performing with UCBTNY Maude team
Thunder Gulch.
Read More