UCB’s 20th Annual Del Close Marathon Lineup Announced, Premium Show Tickets on Sale Now
Comedy lovers, it’s time to start stretching those laugh muscles. The lineup for the 20th Annual Del Close Marathon has arrived and it’s relentless. Taking place June 29 to July 1, this year’s improv fest runs 56 hours straight and consists of over 750 shows across 11 stages. UCB founders Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts will once again preside over the proceedings. Other funny people set to perform include Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), Jason Mantzoukas (The League), Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation), Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley), Sasheer Zamata (SNL), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Adam Pally (Most Likely to Murder), Chris Gethard (The Chris Gethard Show), Scott Adsit, Zach Woods (Silicon Valley), Jordan Klepper (The Opposition), Bobby Moynihan (SNL), Ellie Kempler (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Paul Scheer (Veep), and many, many more. Tickets for premium shows are on sale now.
The Del Close Marathon is an annual celebration that honors Del Close, the grandfather of modern improvisational theater. Close led a fruitful comedic life that included performing with Mike Nichols and Elaine May, touring with the Merry Pranksters, teaching improv at Chicago’s Second City, and serving as house metaphysician at Saturday Night Live in the 1980s. Since his death in 1999, the gang at the Upright Citizens Brigade have been paying homage to him with a marathon of uproarious, off-the-cuff theater.
Those who have been to the festival in the past will find that the venue composition is different from previous years. This will be the first DCM since UCBT moved to its new home in Hell’s Kitchen. Additionally, the fest is now set to inhabit two other venues in that hood, All Stars Project, which has 3 stages, and The Griffin at the Pershing Square Signature Center.
As for the fest’s premium shows, you’ll find a complete list below. UCBT’s flagship show, ASSSSCAT, will have three installments, the first will be on fest eve, Thursday, June 28, at Carnegie Hall, with the other two occurring on Sunday at UCBT Hell’s Kitchen. The Griffin, which is a 191-seat theater, will play host to popular premium shows such as Nick Kroll & Friends, Asian AF, and Mother, while the 110-seat Demo stage at All Stars Project will be home to Grandma’s Ashes, and UCBTLA favorite Benetton. Premium tickets run $12-$25 and are now on sale. Passes for DCM 20 go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 29 and run $45. For additional information, visit the Del Close Marathon website.
Thursday, June 28
8pm – ASSSSCAT at Carnegie Hall – tickets
Friday, June 29
5:30pm – Women & Men at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
6pm – Asian AF at The Griffin – tickets
7pm – Rumpleteaser: Musical Improv at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
7:45pm – Improvised Seinfeld at The Griffin – tickets
8:30pm – Benetton at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
9:15pm – Facebook at The Griffin – tickets
10pm -Fuck that Shit at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
10:45pm – Nick Kroll & Friends at The Griffin – tickets
Saturday, June 30
12:15am – The Tony & Johnny Show at The Griffin – tickets
3pm – Hot Sauce at The Griffin – tickets
4:45pm – Womp It Up Live at The Griffin – tickets
5:30pm – The Law Firm at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
6:30pm – Mother at The Griffin – tickets
7pm UCBT’s Women of Color at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
8:30pm Grandma’s Ashes at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
9pm – White Women Presents: Your Token Friend at the Griffin – tickets
10:15pm – Higgins at All Stars Project: Demo – tickets
10:45pm – Adam Pally Presents: Vino Diesel at The Griffin – tickets
Sunday, July 1
12:30am – A Big Dumb Thing at The Griffin – tickets
2pm – Nicole Byer and Friends! at The Griffin – tickets
3:45pm – Gravid Water at The Griffin – tickets
7:30pm ASSSSCAT 3000 at UCBT Hell’s Kitchen – tickets
9:30pm ASSSSCAT 3000 at UCBT Hell’s Kitchen – tickets