This past weekend, New York City's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre hosted its annual Del Close Marathon, a three-day whirlwind of non-stop improv shows performed at theaters across Manhattan, including the UCB's Chelsea and East Village home bases and the esteemed Hammerstein Ballroom.
Founded and still hosted by the UCB Four -- Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts -- this summer was the 19th annual Marathon, and during the fest's traditional kick-off press conference, the Four revealed big plans for DCM's 20th summer.
Every DCM, the Four and some of their oldest pals -- like Horatio Sanz, Jason Mantzoukas, Tim Meadows, and Anthony Atamaniuk -- share the stage for several performances of the UCB's flagship show, ASSSSCAT 3000, featuring high-profile guests telling stories to inspire their improvisation. During DCM's early years, the fest-ender was held at the Chelsea theater along with all other shows, but as the UCB has accumulated a cult following, it's been necessary to move the show to larger spaces, like the Hammerstein (though this year, there were two exclusive Sunday night ASSSSCAT shows on the intimate Chelsea stage).
For #DCM20, the Four will put on the festival's biggest show ever, kicking things off with a very special edition of ASSSSCAT at Carnegie Hall. The event will take place on June 18, 2018 -- mark your calendars now, because even though Carnegie Hall seats over 2,800 fans, the show will surely sell out.
What's more, instead of bringing in a special celebrity guest to inspire the show, the Four will create scenes based on one single suggestion from a random audience member.
In an official statement, Poehler expressed the magnitude of the move to one of New York City's most famous venues: “Twenty years ago we started doing improv in a bar where we could barely hear each other. Now we are going to do our show at Carnegie Hall where you can hear a pin drop. New York has been pretty good to us.”