See Poehler, Corddry, Fey, More at the Old UCB
Today, the Upright Citizens Brigade is a bicoastal force and national comedy brand. But in 1999, when founding members Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts opened their first theater in a former strip club, nobody would have mistaken it for a landmark. The quartet opened the shabby dive as a haven for long-form improv; there, they performed their weekly Sunday night ASSSSCAT shows (joined by Saturday Night Live cast members and Late Night with Conan O’Brien writer/performers trying to stay in fighting improv shape) and taught a new generation of comedians their craft. Looking back on this era is like seeing the origin story of today’s TV comedy casts: People like Rob Corddry, Huebel and Riggle, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Ed Helms, and most of the Childrens Hospital/NTSF:SD:SUV/Burning Love teams all learned how to be funny here at the turn of the century.
Jason Spiro, then a photographer in his mid-twenties, became a fan of this rogue New York comedy scene right at the outset, and was enlisted by Matt Besser to take photos of the theater’s various ensembles (or “Harold” teams, after the Chicago-bred brand of long-form improv). From there, his cataloguing continued, and Spiro was able to be a corporate photographer by day and snap shots at night — capturing many familiar faces when they were young and wrestling for stage time just like everyone else, along with old pals from the UCB’s Chicago days such as Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Horatio Sanz, who showed up to play. In honor of Vulture’s Comedy Week, we had Spiro excavate some snapshots of some very familiar faces, taken during the 1999–2001 period. Enjoy.
The Saturday Night Live cast mates sit in for an ASSSSCAT.
Corddry and Huskey, a Childrens Hospital regular, played together on the Harold teams Pound and Naked Babies.
The comedian (center) performed at the theater with a group that included (from left) Conrad Mulcahy, Ed Herro, Chris Fosdick, and Brian Donovan.
A young and Van Dyke–d Braunohler (third from right) observes a scene with (from left) Michael Bosniak, Frank Shea, Hayden Ward Kelly, Tami Vernekoff,...
A young and Van Dyke–d Braunohler (third from right) observes a scene with (from left) Michael Bosniak, Frank Shea, Hayden Ward Kelly, Tami Vernekoff, and Bob Wiltfong.
This classic Harold team featured (back row) Danielle Schneider, Huebel, Riggle, Scheer. (Front row) Dannah Phirman, Chad Carter, Owen Burke, and Jack...
This classic Harold team featured (back row) Danielle Schneider, Huebel, Riggle, Scheer. (Front row) Dannah Phirman, Chad Carter, Owen Burke, and Jackie Clarke.
At the first annual Del Close Marathon in 1999 (a 48-hour-plus endurance contest of nonstop improv to celebrate the late, formative Chicago teacher), ...
At the first annual Del Close Marathon in 1999 (a 48-hour-plus endurance contest of nonstop improv to celebrate the late, formative Chicago teacher), D.J./podcaster Fogelnest prepared a mountain of fake cocaine to keep the comics going. (The DCM will celebrate its fifteenth year this June.)
While at SNL, the duo reprised its Chicago sketch show “Dratch & Fey” at the theater in 2000.
This Harold group featured (top row of the bed) Rhea Dates, Shannon O’Neil, Chris Gethard, Go On’s Seth Morris, Dave McKeel, Tom Schmidt, (front of th...
This Harold group featured (top row of the bed) Rhea Dates, Shannon O’Neil, Chris Gethard, Go On’s Seth Morris, Dave McKeel, Tom Schmidt, (front of the bed) 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer, and Brian Huskey.
Daly (who has been seen playing innumerable hilariously upbeat squares, most notably in Eastbound & Down) and writer/actor Secunda in the appropri...
Daly (who has been seen playing innumerable hilariously upbeat squares, most notably in Eastbound & Down) and writer/actor Secunda in the appropriately titled show The Two Andys. The two were also members of the group the Swarm, which was assembled and directed by Amy Poehler.
Parks and Recreation’s Jean-Ralphio (bottom right) started on this Harold team, along with (top row, from left) Jim Santangeli, Will McLaghlin, Rob Ca...
Parks and Recreation’s Jean-Ralphio (bottom right) started on this Harold team, along with (top row, from left) Jim Santangeli, Will McLaghlin, Rob Cacy, Eddie Dunn, and (bottom row, from left) 30 Rock’s Sue Galloway, Eli Newell, and fellow Parks recurring guest star Alison Becker.
Gathering outside the theater.
The League co-star, in tamer-haired days, along with Bridesmaids and Best Friends Forever’s St. Clair.
The actor babysits poorly onstage with Jake Fogelnest.
Her Harold team also featured (top row, from left) Joe Spellman, Mike Still, Matt Fisher, and (bottom row, from left) Michael Paoli, Chris Schell, Jen...
Her Harold team also featured (top row, from left) Joe Spellman, Mike Still, Matt Fisher, and (bottom row, from left) Michael Paoli, Chris Schell, Jennifer Bartels, and Craig Rowin.
Silverman serves as guest monologist (and breakdancer) in a 2001 ASSSSCAT. (Behind her: Ian Roberts and Rebecca Sohn.)
The Saturday Night Live co-star, along with a pre-beard Gelman (Go On).
Pally (upper right corner) with his Harold group, which included (clockwise from below Pally) Justin Tyler, Jon Gabrus, Carl Arnheiter, Jon Gutierrez,...
Pally (upper right corner) with his Harold group, which included (clockwise from below Pally) Justin Tyler, Jon Gabrus, Carl Arnheiter, Jon Gutierrez, Susannah Becket, Michael Somerville, and Pam Murphy.
