Upright Citizens Brigade

Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) is one of the most influential improv comedy institutions of the modern era, having essentially defined the language and methodology of contemporary long-form improv comedy since its founding in 1993. The theater was established by four performers — Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh — who moved from Chicago to New York City in the late 1990s and opened their first permanent theater space in 1999, creating what would become the epicenter of a comedy revolution. UCB popularized the concept of the 'game of the scene' — the idea that great improv scenes are built around identifying and heightening the one unusual or absurd element in an otherwise grounded reality — a methodology that has become the dominant framework for long-form improv training worldwide. The alumni roster is staggering: Kate McKinnon, Donald Glover, Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari, Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Ellie Kemper, and hundreds of other performers and writers who populate the writers' rooms, casts, and creative staffs of virtually every major comedy production in Hollywood. UCB's influence on the comedy industry cannot be overstated — it has served as one of SNL's most reliable talent pipelines, a launching pad for comedy series, and a creative incubator for an entire generation of comedic voices. After closing all New York locations in April 2020 during the pandemic, UCB was acquired by Jimmy Miller and Mike McAvoy in March 2022 and made a triumphant return to New York in September 2024 with a new venue at 242 East 14th Street.

In 2025, UCB operates training centers and performance venues in New York City and Los Angeles, with a new training outpost in Pittsburgh/Allentown that opened in August 2025 and plans for UK expansion in 2026. The NYC location at 242 East 14th Street features a new 130-seat theater in the basement, ticket prices of $10-$20, and a return to the vibrant nightly show schedule that made UCB a cornerstone of New York's comedy scene for two decades before the pandemic closure. The LA presence includes the Franklin campus with additional classes in Silverlake. UCB's training methodology is built around its signature 'game of the scene' approach, which teaches performers to identify the one funny or unusual pattern in a scene and then heighten it through repetition and escalation — a technique that has proven remarkably effective at producing comedians who can generate consistent, structured comedy rather than relying on random inspiration. The curriculum is divided into Improv levels (101 through 401), Sketch levels (101 through 301), and Character levels (101 through 201), providing comprehensive training across multiple comedy disciplines. All core classes are structured as 8 three-hour sessions over 8 weeks, giving students consistent, intensive training that builds skills progressively. The performance opportunities at UCB venues are among the most valuable aspects of the training — students who advance through the program can audition for house teams, earning regular stage time on UCB stages in front of audiences that include agents, managers, casting directors, and industry professionals who attend specifically to discover new talent.

Enrollment in UCB classes is open to anyone for the entry-level 101 courses, with no audition or prior experience required. Advancement to higher levels requires completing the prerequisite courses, with instructors providing evaluations that determine readiness for the next stage. UCB's website provides class schedules and registration for each location, with classes typically filling quickly due to high demand. The Pittsburgh/Allentown training center, which opened in August 2025, offers both 101 and 201 courses at $450, providing more affordable access to UCB training outside the expensive New York and LA markets. The 101 level introduces the fundamentals of long-form improv including listening, agreement, scene initiation, and the foundational concepts of game that will be developed throughout the program. UCB has historically been known for an egalitarian admissions philosophy — the belief that comedy can be taught to anyone willing to learn, regardless of prior performing experience. The reopening of the NYC venue in September 2024 after four years of closure has renewed access to UCB training in the city where the institution had its most profound cultural impact, and the new 14th Street location represents a fresh chapter in UCB's history. Online classes are also available for students who cannot attend in-person sessions.

The UCB training curriculum is built around the foundational concept of 'game of the scene,' which is progressively developed through each level of the improv track. Improv 101 covers the basics of scene work, listening, and agreement — the building blocks of collaborative improvisation. Improv 201 introduces the concept of game — learning to identify the one unusual or absurd element in a scene and beginning to heighten it. Improv 301 deepens game work and introduces group scenes and more complex long-form structures. Improv 401 focuses on the Harold and other full-length long-form formats, bringing together all the skills developed in prior levels into cohesive, sophisticated performances. The Sketch track (101-301) teaches students to write, workshop, and perform original sketch comedy, developing the material-creation skills that are essential for comedy writers and performers who want to create their own content. The Character track (101-201) focuses on creating and performing distinctive comedic characters, a skill set that overlaps with both improv and sketch. Beyond the core curriculum, UCB offers specialized workshops in areas like on-camera comedy, musical improv, and stand-up that allow students to broaden their comedic skills. The performance ecosystem at UCB — from student shows through house teams to marquee slots — provides a natural progression from training to performing, with the most talented students earning regular stage time that builds their audience, confidence, and industry visibility.

UCB attracts an extraordinarily diverse range of comedy students, from aspiring professional comedians and comedy writers to actors seeking to develop comedic skills, corporate professionals wanting to improve their communication abilities, and creative individuals who simply want to explore improvisation as a form of personal expression. The school's alumni network is among the most powerful in the entertainment industry — former UCB students and performers are embedded throughout Hollywood's comedy infrastructure, from SNL's cast and writing staff to the showrunners and writers of major comedy series, to the talent agencies and management companies that represent comedic talent. The New York comedy community in particular was profoundly affected by UCB's four-year closure, and the 2024 reopening was celebrated as a restoration of a vital cultural institution. UCB's influence extends beyond its alumni list to the very language and methodology of modern improv — the 'game of the scene' concept has become the dominant framework for teaching and performing long-form improv worldwide, meaning that even improvisers who have never trained at UCB have been shaped by its approach. The community around UCB is intensely collaborative, with students forming sketch groups, web series teams, and creative partnerships that extend well beyond the classroom. For comedy writers in particular, UCB's emphasis on game and structure provides a framework for generating comedy that translates directly to professional writing rooms.

UCB class pricing varies by location, with the Pittsburgh/Allentown training center offering both 101 and 201 courses at $450 — likely the most affordable access point for UCB training. New York and LA class pricing ranges from approximately $400 to $500 per 8-week level, with each class meeting once per week for three hours. The full improv track from 101 through 401 represents a cumulative investment of approximately $1,600-$2,000 in tuition alone, spread over several months of training. Specialized workshops in sketch, character, and other disciplines add additional cost for students who want comprehensive training. UCB has historically been committed to making comedy training accessible, including periods when some performance opportunities were unpaid to maximize the number of stage slots available. Compared to The Groundlings ($580 per 12-session course) and Second City ($300-$400 per level), UCB's pricing is in a similar range for the major improv institutions. The cost of living in New York or Los Angeles adds substantially to the overall financial commitment, and students should budget for housing, transportation, and living expenses alongside training costs. UCB show tickets at the new NYC venue range from $10-$20, making shows accessible to students who want to attend regularly.

UCB is an essential training destination for any aspiring comedy writer or performer who wants to learn the methodology that has become the lingua franca of modern long-form improv and the comedy industry. If you want to understand and master the 'game of the scene' approach that underlies most contemporary comedy writing and performance, UCB is the source — training here gives you fluency in the language that SNL writers' rooms, comedy series staffs, and improv stages across the country use. The school is particularly well-suited for comedians who want a structured, analytical approach to comedy that produces consistent, reliable results rather than relying on inspiration. Performers who prefer more free-form, emotionally driven, or character-focused approaches should consider the Annoyance Theatre, The Groundlings, or Magnet Theater as alternatives or complements. For Chicago-based comedians, Second City and iO offer geographically convenient alternatives with their own distinctive methodologies. Most serious comedy professionals train at multiple institutions to develop a well-rounded skill set, and UCB is typically a cornerstone of that training alongside The Groundlings (for character work) and Second City (for sketch creation). The New York reopening makes 2025 an exciting time to begin UCB training in the city where the institution has its deepest cultural roots.

Start with Improv 101 even if you have significant improv experience at other schools — UCB's 'game of the scene' methodology is specific enough that beginning at the foundation ensures you learn the framework properly rather than trying to overlay it on habits from other training. Attend UCB shows regularly before, during, and throughout your training — watching advanced performers and house teams execute the methodology you are learning will accelerate your development and help you understand what the training is building toward. Commit to the analytical framework even if it initially feels constraining — the 'game' approach may seem to limit creative freedom at first, but mastering it will give you a reliable structure for generating comedy that you can then adapt and personalize. Build relationships with your classmates from day one, as the creative partnerships formed in UCB classes frequently evolve into sketch groups, writing teams, web series collaborations, and long-term professional alliances. Take sketch writing classes alongside improv — the combination of improv skills with material-creation abilities is the most powerful professional toolkit a comedy performer can develop. If you are training in New York, take advantage of the rebuilt community around the new 14th Street venue by attending shows, participating in open mics, and becoming a visible, supportive presence in the UCB ecosystem.