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UCB Sells Off Sunset Location, Plans to Keep UCB Franklin Going

December 24, 2020

closure, covid-19 closure, ucb, ucb franklin, ucb sunset, upright citizens brigade

Just announced last night, The UCB4 (Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts) announced the closure and sale of the second LA based home of the Upright Citizens Brigade located near Thai Town on Sunset Blvd. The massive complex was bought and refurbished from an abandoned rehab center six years ago and represents a big step forward for UCB as a theater, institution, and company. There were three stories that housed a main stage, a training center, studios for film/video/podcast, cafe, lounge/second stage, and valet parking.

It was a big undertaking for UCB, but it was a bright, shiny, new home for one of the most recognizable brands for comedy in the country. The ever-enduring COVID-19 pandemic has forced a sale and subsequent closure of the theater since mortgage payments couldn’t be made with only so much revenue coming in from virtual classes (especially as it it’s still very murky as to when and how live venues will be allowed and have guidance to safely reopen).

Fortunately, UCB plans to keep their longstanding first location on Franklin Ave, the tiny black box theater that is just the main stage and nothing else, open as they also transition to a non-profit. If UCB Franklin does manage to reopen on the other side of COVID-19, it will be the Upright Citizens Brigade’s only physical location (down from 3 & 1/2 of them pre-pandemic).

While it had to go through its own shake-up and reckoning earlier this year to rid itself of toxic practices and institute true inclusion and diversity, UCB still represents a major pillar in comedy and we can only hope that it will keep getting to fulfill that role going into the future.

An update from the UCB4 pic.twitter.com/QN1lmjvHle

— UCB Theatre LA (@ucbtla) December 24, 2020

December 11, 2019

brad evans, caroline goldfarb, dayo adesokan, game show, maderia coleman, nick ciarelli, paige elson, sam o, ucb sunset, us constitution, will hines

The United States Constitution, while providing the basis of our government, is one hell of a complex, at times, infuriating document that will be debated to the end of time.

As such, it’s a perfect gold mine for comedians to dissect, which is exactly what’s happening at What The Constitution Means to You next week! A great panel of comedians (including stand-ups, improvisers, writers, actors, etc.) will attempt to make sense of constitutional precedents and decisions in order to become a “Chief Justice of Comedy”, as presided by host Max Sosna-Spear, “SCOTUS Justice” Carrie Poppy, and actual UCLA law professor Adam Winkler.

Sound pretty neat? Sure does. So, go get your tickets right now right here.

comedy show, free screening, fx, hollywood, improv comedy, los angeles, preview, sneak preview, ucb sunset, what we do in the shadows

In addition to getting a sneak peek at the highly anticipated What We Do In The Shadows adaptation coming to FX on March 27th, there will be a special improv show also happening at this exclusive event.

Yes, all the free tickets have been snagged, but there will be a waitlist/stand by line come this Thursday (and we’re betting that some people won’t show and it might be worth showing up early to UCB Sunset’s Inner Sanctum).

Get more details here and start making plans.

audible, august, bad reception, comedy show, long form improv, los angeles, release party, ucb sunset

Of the many things that you should keep your ears perked up for on premium audio streaming platform, Audible, the upcoming series Bad Reception from Justin Michael and Eric Martin should be at the top of the list.

Bad Reception gathers some of the best improvisers around including Drew Tarver, Betsy Sodaro, Paul F. Tompkins, D’Arcy Carden, Dan Lippert, Carl Tart, Mary Sasson, and more to weave the tall tale of the “incident” that befell South Grampers in Northern California. The story of the “movie butter capital of the world” is completely improvised in 13 acts and constructed completely through various phone (and phone related) conversations.

Having gotten a sneak listen to it, we really enjoyed the tinge of the fantastical given by a Choose Your Own Adventure book, except improvisors are making all the choices and are definitely making up their own satisfyingly absurd choices.

So, there will be a release party for Bad Reception later this month, Saturday, August 18th, at UCB Sunset at 9PM. The creators and much of the cast will be there. Tickets are $12 and you can (and should) go get them here.

Oh, you can pre-order Bad Reception (avail. Aug. 21st) on Audible here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

butt, chris stephens, joe mcadam, sketch comedy, ucb sunset

When it comes to where being daft and brilliant meet on the comedy spectrum, few duos coming up are quite as good as Joe McAdam and Chris Stephens otherwise known as Butt.

That’s why we highly urge you to catch them on an early evening this coming Thursday for $5 at UCB Sunset. Get tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

amanda blake davis, baby wants candy, comedy musical, comedy show, hollywood, improvised musical, los angeles, musical, ross bryant, ucb sunset, zach reino

Baby Wants Candy’s Hamilton-style improvised musical is back yet again and something you shouldn’t miss, kind of like the actual Hamilton musical.

The latest edition is this Sunday, April 1st at 9PM at UCB Sunset and tickets are $7. Go get them real quick here (they will sell out).

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

October 3, 2017

comedy show, hollywood, live comedy, los angeles, max and ivan, sketch comedy, the reunion, ucb, ucb sunset, uk comedy

One of the UK’s beloved comedy duos, Max & Ivan, has crossed both the pond and the country to perform their award winning show The Reunion.

As of right now, this is a one-night-only special event, so you best get your tickets soon. They’re going for $7 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

August 14, 2017

comedy show, erin whitehead, hollywood, improv, lauren lapkus, live comedy, los angeles, mary holland, matt besser, sold out, stephanie allynne, ticket giveaway, ucb, ucb sunset, wild horses

Wild Horses (that’s Erin Whitehead, Mary Holland, Stephanie Allynne, and Lauren Lapkus) are absolutely one of the best improv teams around. So, any chance you get see them “prance” is one you should take.

Their show on Thursday at UCB Sunset has been sold out for sometime and just happens to feature Matt Besser, one of the UCB 4, as the special guest.

If you still want to go, you might just be in luck as we’ve got tickets that you can win.

Enter here: http://thecomedybureau.dola.com/giveaways

August 13, 2017

barbara gray, brian huskey, cheap comedy, diary, dustin marshall, hollywood, kyle ayers, lindsay ames, los angeles, my diary, riley silverman, storytelling, ucb, ucb sunset

Lindsay Ames’ My Diary is back for its August 2017 edition this week and has a line-up whose diaries will be undoubtedly something special including a cast member of People of Earth, the founder of Feral Audio, a host of Lady to Lady podcast, a trans comedian, and a comedian that created an entire complimenting contest.

Tickets are $7 and you really ought to get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

UCB Is Holding a Comedy Yard Sale Benefitting the ACLU, Full of Memorabilia From Your Favorite UCB Alums

aclu, amy poehler, aziz ansari, ben schwartz, benefit, fred armisen, jordan peele, lauren lapkus, maria bamford, nick kroll, parks and rec, patton oswalt, sarah silverman, scott aukerman, ucb, ucb sunset

If you’re in LA and you’re into collecting comedy memorabilia from Parks and Recreation, SNL, Key & Peele, etc., you better come before noon to get a decent parking spot and first dibs for UCB’s Comedy Yard Sale to benefit the ACLU.

If you’re not in LA, there is already plenty of stuff up for auction on eBay.

absurdist comedy, hollywood, natalie palamides, solo show, ucb, ucb sunset

Simply put, Natalie Palamides is one of the best around and this is one of our favorite things in recent memory. Also, this show is about to play The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This might be one of the last times you get to see it stateside for awhile.

So, go see LAID next week for $5 by getting your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

claudia o'doherty, hollywood, in conversation with, interview, los angeles, love, netflix, ucb, ucb sunset

Between her own innovative live performances and her roles in Trainwreck, Love, and more, Claudia O’Doherty is definitely one of the more fascinating comedians working today and one that we would love to know what makes her tick comedically.

The latest so, you do comdedy? at UCB Sunset on April 24th might just get to the bottom of that.

Get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

bojack horseman, comedy show, hollywood, live comedy, live reading, los angeles, netflix, raphael bob-waksberg, ucb, ucb sunset

As part of working on an upcoming book, BoJack Horseman, creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg will be putting up an exclusive live reading of excerpts of the book (well before it’s release) performed by some of his favorite folks.

“Raphael Bob-Waksberg Works Through Some Sh*t (With Friends!)” is happening next weekend and we’re guessing tickets are going to go fast. So, buy them up as soon as you can here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

February 12, 2017

alex fernie, betsy sodaro, charity benefit, hollywood, improv, joe wengert, live comedy, mary holland, planned parenthood, sketch, tim kalpakis, ucb, ucb sunset

UCB has gathered some of their best, that just happen to be a couple of some sort (married, dating, team partners, etc.), for a special Valentine’s Day show at UCB Sunset. If you’re not into the concept of Valentine’s because you see it as a corporate cash-in, take note that all proceeds from this show will go to Planned Parenthood.

So, you can (and should) get your tickets for UCB’s Planned Parenthood Valentine’s Day Bonanza here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

January 17, 2017

comedy show, connor ratliff, george lucas talk show, hollywood, live comedy, parody, sunset blvd, talk show, ucb, ucb sunset

Basically, Connor Ratliff plays a version George Lucas who makes good on want to host his own talk show. It’s normally based out of NYC, but it’s stopping by for a special LA edition this week and you absolutely get your tickets for it here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

January 12, 2017

comedy show, eric jackowitz, ethan edenburg, hollywood, ian abramson, jacob jefferies, los angeles, musical comedy, the cooties, ucb sunset

One of our favorite musical comedy acts (they made our best 100 list), The Cooties, have their first show of 2017 lined-up for this Saturday, January 14th at UCB Sunset at 10:30PM. Their satirical power pop is to not be missed and they’ll have the great absurdist stylings of Ian Abramson joining them too.

Tickets are $7 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

December 29, 2016

experimental comedy, immersive theater, los angeles, new year's rockin' eve, parody, satire, ucb, ucb sunset, upright citizens brigade

UCB’s got something up their sleeve with Gene Wilder & Fidel Castro’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (in Limbo). According to the description, you’ll be able to wander halls of limbo that includes:

A Facebook Echo Chamber
Westworld World
The Physical Manifestation of Reddit
A Limbo Karaoke Room featuring the music of the approx. 1,000 musical artists who died in 2016
Hillary Clinton’s Woods
The Set of a Multi-Cam Sitcom
Fake News Ground Zero

Taking place all night long at UCB Sunset tomorrow, Friday, December 30th, this probably means you’ll get to actually wander the halls of the building (instead of just sitting in the theater), perhaps Sleep No More style, and see UCB’s go to performers recreate what they think 2016′s version of limbo is.

Interested? Good. You can (and should) get tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

December 18, 2016

allan mcleod, comedy show, director's commentary live, hollywood, los angeles, movie riffing, rudolph the red nosed reindeer, tim kalpakis, ucb, ucb sunset

UCB stalwarts like Allan McLeod, Tim Kalpakis, and Neil Campbell watch and riff on a movie as if they’re the ones who made it and are giving a commentary on the film at UCB Sunset.

This round of Director’s Commentary Live, happening this upcoming Wednesday, will take apart the holiday classic stop motion animation special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Tickets are $5 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

November 7, 2016

comedy show, great debates, hollywood, live comedy, los angeles, musical comedy, the cooties, ucb, ucb sunset, upright citizens brigade

You can (and should) get tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com

October 21, 2016

comedy show, hollywood, josh fadem, los angeles, stand up, ucb sunset, ucb theatre

Tickets are $5 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

October 16, 2016

andy richter, holiday special, hollywood, jon daly, lauren lapkus, live taping, matt besser, paul rust, seth morris, ucb, ucb sunset

Tapings are happening on Sunday, October 23rd at 4PM and 7PM at UCB Sunset.

Get tickets now as this will probably sell out pretty fast.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

September 11, 2016

aisling bea, comedy shows, fin taylor, hollywood, katia kvinge, los angeles, lou sanders, luisa omielan, stand up, totally non-american stand-up show, ucb, ucb sunset

Get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

August 23, 2016

after dark, august 26, comedy show, eric jackowitz, ethan edenburg, hollywood, jacob jefferies, musical comedy, the cooties, ucb, ucb sunset, what to do

Get more details and your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

August 22, 2016

august 31st, hollywood, josh fadem, los angeles, stand up, ucb sunset, upright citizens brigade, what to do

Yes, the one and only Josh Fadem is slated to do an hour solo at the end of the month. Get ready for an hour of silliness in its purest form.

Tickets are only $5 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

August 18, 2016

august 20, comedy show, eliza skinner, hollywood, improvised musical, musical improv, october 15, september 17, skinner box, ucb, ucb sunset

Eliza Skinner, with only one guest and musical accompaniment, make up an entire musical before your very eyes. If you’ve ever seen Eliza do musical improv, you’d know that she can not only pull that off, but do so in such a dazzling fashion.

Get tickets for the next show, this Saturday, with special guest Eugene Cordero.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Poster by Brie Spiel