UCB Training Center Diversity Program

Welcome to UCB Training Center's Diversity Program blog! On this site, we will give you information about the program's schedule, but also information about diverse comedy shows around the city, about the shows at the UCB Thatre NY, and many, many more.

UCB Training Center Diversity Program

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Home

UCB Comedy

Follow our Tweets
Ask Us Anything

Tumblr theme by ahhfred

May 2nd, 2012
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

poupak:

womenimproviserstrust:

#SaveBFF

I interviewed Lennon Parham and Jessica StClair last week and intended to post this video online today to remind everyone to watch their really amazing show.  Unfortunately, we learned on Friday that the show was being pulled off the air, with two episodes left to go.  I decided that I wanted to share this with you any ways, as a means of reminding you of some of the ways you might be able to help save the show.

First of all, the fact that the show even AIRED demonstrated how amazing it is - the two stars of the show, although known in the world of comedy, are virtually unknown on television or in movies.  You can see Jessica in commercials, and Lennon was featured in supporting roles on various sitcoms, but they have never been leads in big budget movies, or big shows.  The world of sitcoms seems to be dominated or driven by at least one person who has star power - Jessica and Lennon are not there, yet.  The fact that the show was green lit to be on air just shows how strong and different it is form those we currently see on TV.  It’s about two adult women having real adult issues, and interacting in a supporting way with each other and with their friends.  It’s a very positive, upbeat show.  Even Queeneta (Daija Owens), who continuously antagonizes Jessica, is a perky, positive little girl, with a personality too big with the small screen.  The show also feature talented comedians Luka Jones and Stephen Schneider.

Any ways, there have been quite a few articles about this and about why you should help save this show (even if you have never seen it) in publications such as The Washington Post, VH1 (and here), and this morning, on Entertainment Weekly Online.  Splitsider also wrote a great article about them when the show was cancelled.  And a fan created a fan video, while others create a Tumblr page, and gifs.  Connor Ratliff wrote a couple of very good posts about this as well.

So, here is how to save BFF:

And most importantly, keep talking about it and sharing all this information so that people who haven’t watched it can discover it, and like it, and support the show as well.

#SaveBFF

Lennon Parham and Jessica StClair gave an interview to Women Improvisers Trust.  This interview is not about the show, but rather about women in comedy in general.  But if you want to see more of them, help save BFF bu taking the actions outlined in this post.

#SaveBFF: There is a campaign right now to save NBC BFF, which has a few UCBers working on it (Lennon Parham, Jessica StClair, Luka Jones, Anthony King).

We had an interview with Lennon and Jessica last week.

If you would like to contribute to the campaign to save BFF, it’s all explained in this article.

April 27th, 2012

Interview with @LennonParham & @JessicaStClair from @NBCBFF

Some great advice from two wonderful comediennes! 

April 23rd, 2012

UCBT NY - May announcements

Hi all, 

A few announcements for May. Read the bold heading of each to see what is relevant for you. 


New 3v3 improv opportunity at UCBeast - THREE FOR ALL
Starting in May, Fridays at midnight will be a new 3v3 improv competition show, hosted by improv team J. Leno. Show link. 


Stand-up Smackdown! 
Aspiring stand-ups, check out this monthly show at UCBeast - next show Monday May 14th. Show link. 
Creative Control - screenplay finalists
Congratulations to our screenplay finalists, Dan Chamberlain & Halle Kiefer’s I.O.U. and Morgan Evans’ Survival of the Fittest. A staged reading will take place next Monday at UCBeast to determine the winner, who will return to an industry showcase in early June, along with the winners of the pilot and web series events. Show link   


May 1st - 99 Comics For The 99% - hosted by The Tony and Johnny Show
This should be a gigantic fun spectacle. Stop by. We’re selling tickets ahead of time for this one, so buy tickets here. 


Training Center - office hours
Did you know that the training center does office hours? It is true! Spread the word to your students and people you coach/direct. If you direct people to the training center message boards, they times will be listed, like here. Anyone is welcome to come with questions/concerns/ideas/suggestions about anything they want. 


Del Close Marathon - when will we hear if our team/show was accepted?
Soon. I am finalizing the schedule this week. 


WHAT I DID FOR LOVE - new show that is free for students for a limited time
Starting in May, a new improv show called WHAT I DID FOR LOVE, UCBeast Fridays at 7:30pm, will be free for students for a limited time. Please let your students know. Show link. 


Karaoke Night for UCB Community - 4/28 6pm
Alan Starzinski is organizing a karaoke night. See below for a blurb from him with details about the event: 
“Come on out to the UCB Karaoke night.
April 28th starting at 6pm
6pm-7pm OPEN BAR!!!
7pm-9pm 2 for 1 drinks
FREE KARAOKE SONGS ALL NIGHT!!!!!!!
*****Pulse Karaoke lounge is located at 135 West 41st Street between 6th ave. and Broadway*****
Come out and get to know your community a bit better.  If I forgot anyone just invite em’ this thing is open to all!
FB Invite here.”


Thanks all. 
-nate


—
Nate Dern
Artistic Director
UCB Theatre NY
145 30th Street, 4th floor
April 19th, 2012

Shows and Events - April 2012

MANEATER:  The True Story of the Champawat Tigress 
Thu. Apr. 19 6:30 pm - UCB Theatre NY (307 W 26. @ 8 ave) - $5
Written by/Starring:  Josh Sharp (a homosexual!) and Matt Dennie (a straight, married man…).  Directed by:  Brandon Gulya.  Choreography by:  Kassia Miller.

ANGEL & FRIENDS! 
Mon. Apr. 23 8pm - Parkside Lounge - Free
COHOST Melissa Gordon! Featuring: John Poveromo, Jessica Rionero, Becky Yamamoto, John Flynn, US National Improv Team, and The sketch group all the way from Philly: CAMPWOODS.

Pou & Nic: You’re Welcome
Sat. Apr. 21 7 pm - Peaple’s Improv Theater Underground (123 E 24 St. Bet. Park & Lex) - $5
Our Monthly show is back at its regular venue!! We wanted to celebrate by bringing you original comedy by a bunch of super talented teams!! Clowns: Everybody Nose!; Sketch: Pirate Sugar; Improv: North Coast.  And as usual, a surprise veteran improviser will be leading the jam. You know what we say: you bring the peanut butter, we bring the jam! Hosted by Poupak Sepehri & Nicole Lee.

The Soul Glo Project
Sat. Apr. 21 Midnight - UCB East (153 E 3 St. @ Ave A) - $5
Join Keisha Zollar and Poupak Sepehri as they host the Soul Glo Project, a comedy variety show featuring a diverse cast of performers bringing to the stage the very best stand up, sketch, improv, video, dance, and music. Just let your SOUL GLO!  This Month Features: Stand-up by Abbi Crutchfield and James Smith III; Improv by P.I.G; Music by People With Teeth; Sketch by Gay Bomb: The Musical.

The Lady Jam
Sat. Apr. 21 Midnight - UCB Theatre (307 W 26 St. @ 8 ave) - Free
Once a month something special will happen. We will all improvise together. If you want to perform in this lady only open improv jam come to the theatre, put your name in the bucket and get ready! Everyone who puts their name in will perform. All levels of experience are welcome and encouraged to participate. Guys are welcome to watch, just don’t be a creep about it.  Hosted by Shannon O’Neill (THE STEPFATHERS) and friends! 

April 10th, 2012

UCBT's Kate McKinnon Is SNL's Newest Featured Player

(Source: natedern)

April 8th, 2012

poupak:

Yep.

Kate McKinnon had her debut performance on SNL last night and she was trending on Twitter.  Go Kate!

March 16th, 2012

Shows and Events This Weekend - March 17-18, 2012

Just a quick reminder:

  • The Soul Glo Project is THIS Saturday, March 17, at midnight at UCBeast.  That’s right - it’s our St Paddy’s Day edition!  There’s a great line up of improv, sketch and music.  Hosted by Keisha Zollar and Poupak Sepehri.  After party in the Hot Chick Room, the bar adjacent to the theater on Avenue A.
  • The next meet-up for the UCB Training Center diversity program will be next Sunday March 18 from 2:00-5:00 pm at the UCBeast: 3rd St and Ave A; Everyone is invited, whether or not you’re enrolled in a course or have ever done improv or written sketches.  We’ll provide the food, and the bar will have cheap drinks.
February 20th, 2012

Diversity Meet-up and UCB Training Center Open House TODAY Monday Feb. 21, 2012

Hello folks,

Just a reminder that TODAY, Monday February 20th, 2012, there’s the Diversity Meet-up at 3 pm, and then the Open House at 5 pm, both at the UCB Training Center, 145 W 30th St. 4th Fl.

See you there!
The Diversity Team

February 12th, 2012
caitlintime: romancerosesandromance: The Bachelor: Romance, Roses, and Romance is in this morning’s New York Times! Hooray!

caitlintime:

romancerosesandromance:

The Bachelor: Romance, Roses, and Romance is in this morning’s New York Times!

Hooray!

February 8th, 2012

The UCBT Announces: LLOYD TEAMS + Team Auditions

Hello all, 

I am excited to make the following two announcements: 
1) the creation of LLOYD TEAMS at UCBeast 
2) the possibility of auditioning as either an individual or a team at the upcoming Harold/Lloyd audition at the end of March.
Read on for more information.  
What are Lloyd Teams?
  • Lloyd Teams are resident UCBeast improv teams that perform Harolds. Starting in April, they will be performing every Wednesday at 7pm at UCBeast. There will be four teams total, with two teams performing each week, so each team will perform biweekly. 
Why are Lloyd Teams being created?
  • Lloyd Teams are being created to expand the number of opportunities available to students who complete the ever expanding UCB improv program. With this change, we will expand from 64 total positions in the current Harold Team system to 96 positions in the new Harold/Lloyd Team system. 
  • Additionally, we hope that Lloyd Teams will serve as an additional training ground for future Harold Team performers, where teams work together to master the skills necessary to excel at Harold, so that when performers do enter Harold Night they are ready to hit the ground running. 
Who is eligible to be on a Lloyd Team?
  • The same eligibility requirements that apply to auditioning to be on a Harold Team apply (must be approved for advanced study and must have completed a multi-week UCB class since February 2011). 
  • If you are currently on a UCBT Harold Team or weekend improv team, you are not eligible to be on a Lloyd Team. 
How do I audition to be on a Lloyd Team?
  • The currently scheduled Harold Auditions  for the end of March will serve as both Harold Team and Lloyd Team auditions. So, based on your audition, you could be placed on either a Lloyd Team or a Harold Team. 
  • As previously announced here, Harold/Lloyd Team audition sign-ups will begin Wednesday March 7th, auditions will take place on Friday March 23rd and Saturday March 24th, and callbacks will be Tuesday March 27th. You MUST be able to make those audition times to be eligible to audition for a team. No exceptions. 
Once on a Lloyd Team, would it be possible to be moved to a Harold Team?
  • Yes! Going forward, if/when there are positions to fill on Harold Night, performers will be drawn primarily from Lloyd Teams. 
  • Going forward, the general progression through the UCB team system will be being placed on a Lloyd Team first and then being placed on a Harold Team based on performance on a Lloyd Team. Though it would be theoretically possible to be placed directly on a Harold Team in exceptional circumstances.  
Could a Lloyd Team become a Harold Team?
  • Yes! If a Lloyd Team was excelling as a team, at the discretion of the artistic director, an entire Lloyd Team could be made a Harold Team. I want Lloyd Teams to focus on being the best teams they can be. As with all good improv, the focus should be on the ensemble and on excelling as a team, not excelling as an individual. 

Could a performer or team be moved from a Harold Team to a Lloyd Team?
  • No! This is a one way system. 
What else should I know about Lloyd Teams?
  • Lloyd Team auditions will happen in some capacity every six months. Being on a Lloyd Team should be thought of as having a guaranteed six month run at the theatre (barring punching an audience member in the face or a similarly egregious offense). It is possible that team roster changes will happen before then, but if offered a slot, you can count on at least six months as a Lloyd Team performer. 
  • Lloyd Teams will have the same requirements that Harold Team members have: practice at least 3 hours a week with an approved UCB coach, send weekly practice reports to the AD, etc. 
  • Lloyd Team members will receive casting emails, getting into shows for free, and access to other benefits of being a UCBT performer, with the exception that Lloyd Team member bios will not appear on the performer page. This is subject to change, but at present we already are dealing with the reality that the more performers we add to the performer page, the less valuable it becomes for each performer on the page. With the addition of UCBeast, the NY performer page is already larger than it has ever been and we want to curb the expansion even further by not adding the influx of 32 bios that the Lloyd Team creation would entail. As stated, all other UCBT performer benefits apply. 
How will team auditions work? (NOTE deadline to apply to submit as a team = Monday March 2nd)
  • To be eligible, your team must have 8 members and all 8 members must meet the individual eligibility requirements. 
  • You must be approved to audition as a team. To be approved: send the artistic director Nate Dern (nate@ucbcomedy.com) an email with “HAROLD/LLOYD TEAM AUDITION - TEAM NAME” in the subject line. Include your team name and the names of all eight members. 
  • Upon being approved by the AD to audition as a team (meaning I verify that all of your members are eligible) you will be given instructions on how to sign up for a team audition slot. You MUST email the AD by Monday March 2nd to be able to audition as a team.
  • You may NOT audition both on a team and as an individual. But if you do audition with a team you will still be considered on your individual merits. 
  • Note that even though you audition as a team, it would theoretically be possible for only certain members (or all but one member, for example) of your team to be selected to be on a team. 
  • Furthermore, once made a Lloyd Team or a Harold Team, your roster would be subject to the discretion of the UCBT artistic director, meaning that even though you formed the team yourself, once you accept the offer to be a Lloyd or Harold Team, the UCBT AD would have the sole discretion to make roster changes. Them is the breaks. If/when your team gets promoted to that Golden City in the sky known as a UCBT Weekend Team, then you will once again enjoy roster autonomy. 
  • This is an experiment. It one year I will revisit the idea of auditioning as a team and decide if the pros outweigh the cons. As with everything, I welcome your thoughts. 
Since this is a new system, I imagine that there might be questions and kinks to work out. In time, I am confident that this system will benefit more UCB improvisers overall and result in higher quality improv happening on the UCBT stages. 
Yours in improv, 
Nate Dern
Artistic Director
UCB Theatre NY
145 30th Street, 4th floor