UCB coming to Stateside 11/20-23

[happywaffle]

http://www.austintheatre.org/site/Calen ... l&id=35721

Anybody been to this show before? Worth spending $29-49 per ticket?

[trabka]

It's a rotating cast TourCo, so it probably wouldn't be fair to base any speculation on the last times they've been to town. Whether or not you think it's worth the asking price is probably going to be contingent on the level to which you enjoy the UCB style of improv.

[happywaffle]

It's a rotating cast TourCo, so it probably wouldn't be fair to base any speculation on the last times they've been to town. Whether or not you think it's worth the asking price is probably going to be contingent on the level to which you enjoy the UCB style of improv.

Well I only saw UCB once, and it was with Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz, and Jack McBrayer among others. So in my extremely limited experience, the UCB style is amazing.

[bradisntclever]

It's a rotating cast TourCo, so it probably wouldn't be fair to base any speculation on the last times they've been to town. Whether or not you think it's worth the asking price is probably going to be contingent on the level to which you enjoy the UCB style of improv.

Well I only saw UCB once, and it was with Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz, and Jack McBrayer among others. So in my extremely limited experience, the UCB style is amazing.

It's pretty safe to say you probably won't be seeing those improvisers, but the style of game-based scenework would be the same. The Touring Company is packed with very talented improvisers that the theater trusts enough to send around the country on gigs. Most of the New York improvisers on TourCo perform weekly on Harold Night or on weekend teams at the theater. I imagine the same is true for the LA improvisers, but don't know for sure. The Touring Company is handpicked and extremely difficult to join. As a result, everyone who is a part of it is a very solid improviser.

I've heard some TourCo teams have been as small as three people, but due to the size of the venue, I imagine there will be a few more people than that on stage. As far as what to expect, I've heard most TourCo shows are two halves: the first being like an Armando/ASSSSCAT (where they interview an audience member to generate premises for scenes), and the second being a more organic set (take a suggestion like someone's last text message, do a montage with callbacks or a monoscene).

Don't expect big name improvisers. Do expect good comedy from solid "up-and-coming" improvisers.

[Spots]

Perhaps if the ticket was 20 bucks we'd all be excited at the overall concept of improv being a viable source of income for an artist. And we'd be supporting it for that fact alone.

But approaching the 30-40 dollar digit, we are forced to debate the value. It really puts me in a tough spot because this is the dream isn't it?

I come to the conclusion that it's kind of awesome UCB has found a market which doesn't include me. In the same way that I know I can't afford to see Brockman on a yacht in the middle of the Bahamas, for instance.

I think it's fun to see improvisers making money (and support it for that fact alone) but I'm in the same boat! I could never afford this show based on brand value alone. I would need more assurances. People who own their own businesses go see it!

[valetoile]

People who own their own businesses go see it!

Ha!
-business owner who doesn't make minimum wage.

[kbadr]

People who own their own businesses go see it!

Ha!
-business owner who doesn't make minimum wage.

Seriously.

[Spots]

Become a corporation. Privatized gain, socialized loss!