This Saturday the Entertainment Board (E-Board) and Improvabilities are cosponsoring Comedy Night, a performance featuring the nationally-known comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company (UCB TourCo) an improvisational theatre group based out of New York City and Los Angeles. UCB is famous for discovering current and future stars of the comedy world.
According to UCB TourCo’s website, the UCB Theatre is “the greatest producer of comedic talent in America today” and the touring group is “handpicked from the best improv comedians in New York City and Los Angeles—these performers are the ‘next wave’ of comedy superstars.”
Comedy greats such as Horatio Sanz, Rob Corddry, Amy Poehler and MTV’s Human Giant have performed in the UCB TourCo cast. The group’s alumni have gone on to write for a variety of television shows, including Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, MadTV, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Chappelle’s Show.
“There’s a lot of great comedy that comes out of there,” said Michael Hannaman ’13, co-chair of the E-Board. “We’re excited to bring them to campus. We had been talking about doing a comedy show for reading period since October. It’s a great time to bring comedy to campus since everyone’s stressed out and needs some release.”
Karoline Dubin ’13 is a devoted fan of the UCB Theatre and has seen the company perform several times in her home city of New York.
“This summer I went four times—they’re so great,” said Dubin. “There are a lot of famous people, and if you don’t necessarily recognize their face you’ll probably recognize their work.”
Dubin explained that the UCB theatre in New York performs two shows every Sunday night, one at 7:30 and one at 9:30. The later show is free but often has a two-hour wait, which weeds our tourists and makes for a grittier and raunchier audience, what Dubin calls the “real New York crowd.”
On Saturday, students can expect a lecherous show with a great deal of audience interaction as well as a surprise guest.
UCB TourCo is especially strong because of the cast’s ability to play off each other. Bringing a full group of sketch comedians is unusual for Bowdoin, which usually hosts solo comedy acts.
“This show’s a little different,” said E-Board member Ruiqi Li ’13. “Most of the comedians we bring are one person who just does standup, and this is a troupe, so it’s going to be more sketch comedy.”
This troupe is similar in performing style to Bowdoin’s comedy group, the Improvabilities. The UBC TourCo is conducting a workshop with the Improvabilities before the show on Saturday at which the two groups will be able to share ideas and techniques.
“It’s a really great opportunity for us,” said Improvabilities member Simon Brooks ’14. “I think working with professionals will be a good experience. There’s definitely a lot to learn from them.”
Both Hannaman and Li have worked to generate interest and say they have been met with great enthusiasm from the student body.
“When I checked on Tuesday, over half of [the tickets] were gone, and they were just released that morning,” said Li. “Hopefully it will fill up.”
Li does not have much to worry about, as the event will be held in Kresge Auditorium, an intimate venue that often fills up for Imrovabilities shows
“I know that a lot of people come for Bowdoin Improv; that always gets filled up quickly, so I hope that the same crowd will come to the show on Saturday,” said Dubin. “It’s going to be really fun.”
UCB TourCo will perform this Saturday, December 8 at 8 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium. Tickets are required and can be picked up for free at the Student Info Desk in Smith Union. Open seats will be filled at the start of the show and the E-Board recommends students arrive early.