Now located at 555 West 42nd Street UCB continues to offer great sketch and improv at reasonable prices. Note the Chelsea location closed Dec of 2017.
The founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade (Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh) came to New York, from Chicago, in 1996. After staging their award winning sketch comedy show, and introducing the long form improvised structure of the "Harold" to New York audiences the UCB soon began their training program.The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre opened February 4, 1999 at 161 West 22nd Street, the former home of the New Harmony, a strip club reported to be seedier than seedy. The UCBT quickly became the place for great, cutting-edge, comedy. Casting directors, agents, and journalists all began to flock to the 74-seat theater in Chelsea to see the best comic talent in the city.
On April 1, 2003, the New UCB Theater opened its doors. The 150-seat theater at 307 West 26th Street continues to offer the best and most innovative improv and sketch comedy in the city every day of the week. The UCB Theatre produces over 25 unique shows a week, often 4 shows nightly, ranging in price from $8 to free. There is never a drink minimum and beer, wine and soft drinks are available for a moderate price.